Project Diary

Spangled Lace for a Coif

I just finished a length of silk bobbin lace with metallic spangles/oes/paillettes, which I intend to apply to a coif. The pattern is a simple one from the 16th century pattern book, Nuw Modelbuch.

The Extant Hose – Again

A friend just emailed that the picture I’d originally posted of the extant hose my project is based on, is no longer showing on the site. So, here they are again. These appeared in Janet Arnold’s Patterns of Fashion #4.

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New Draft of Embroidery Pattern

As I mentioned before, I have struggled to decide just how true to the extant embroidery pattern I should be. The extant piece is not perfectly symmetrical or equally spaced. The first draft I posted was drawn exactly from the orignal but I just couldn’t be happy with it. I decided to clean it up a [...]

Lace at Magna Faire

I completed a sample of the stocking lace and submitted at Magna Faire, Regional Arts & Sciences. I was very pleased with the results!
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The Original Lace Pattern

Back to the original lace pattern. I loved the pattern from Elizabethan Lace by Gillian Dye but ultimately I chose not to use it for the following reasons:
1. It didn’t allow for the same 4 color progression as the extant lace.
2. It had a modern footside edge not seen in period patterns.
3. Gillian Dye didn’t [...]

Update on the Stockings

It’s been awhile since I posted on the Stocking Lace. I have been playing with an almost identical pattern from Gillian Dye’s book, “Elizabethan Lace.” I am thinking of using this pattern instead of the one from the Janet Arnold book. I am still having some trouble with getting that pattern to come out just [...]

Taking a Break

I got a little frustrated with stocking lace, not able to find the exact threads that I wanted.
So, I took a little break to teach myself the technique used to add spangles and beads to the bobbin lace.  I ended up putting it on a little bag as a favor for my husband. The embroidery [...]

The Embroidery pattern draft

Here is the pattern I have drafted for the hose.
The Dilema? I think this draft is relatively true to the original. It’s not professionally embroidered. I keep fighting the urge to clean it up, making it more symetrical than the original. (I’ve already done that a tidbit.) So, ideas? Shall I get out the ruler [...]

Lace on Hold

Well, the lace is on hold for now. I’ve determined that I need a different pillow. The Roll pillow that I borrowed is made of straw. Problem 1 – It’s hard to stick in the pins and they keep bending. Problem 2  – The pins aren’t securely held by the straw and when I tension [...]

I LOVE Internet videos!

I learned something new today! Have I mentioned that I’m a beginning bobbin lacer? Silk is slippery on the bobbins and while I’ve practiced with silk, it’s been a heavier weight and twist which while still slippery, is not nearly as slippery as the stuff I’m trying to use now. It took me an hour [...]

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