my lace
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My Lace work
Starting the snake bookmark by Christine Springett
I should have taken photos of everything I've made but sometimes, even when you have spent hours making a piece, you are in a rush to give it someone as a present. Over the next few weeks and months I am going to try and see the people I have give my work away to and photograph the pieces to place here.
When I started making lace, you were encouraged to make long pieces of lace in thin, white thread that were about 4 - 5mm wide. Each piece was a single stitch.
The first week, I made a piece in whole or cloth stitch. The second week, half stitch. The third week I did footside. The fourth week, fan header.
By week five I was ready to kill someone.
For a month's effort, where I had spent four or so hours in my lesson and every waking hour afterwards I had four things that looked like worm bandages to show for my effort.
When I started making lace, you were encouraged to make long pieces of lace in thin, white thread that were about 4 - 5mm wide. Each piece was a single stitch.
The first week, I made a piece in whole or cloth stitch. The second week, half stitch. The third week I did footside. The fourth week, fan header.
By week five I was ready to kill someone.
For a month's effort, where I had spent four or so hours in my lesson and every waking hour afterwards I had four things that looked like worm bandages to show for my effort.
For a month's effort, where I had spent four or so hours in my lesson and every waking hour afterwards I had four things that looked like worm bandages to show for my effort.
So, what do I encourage people to make in order to learn lace? I am an unashamed fan of Christine Springett and her work on easy to follow when you are starting out. She even tells you how much thread to cut so you don't waste any.
The snake bookmark is taken from Lace for Children of All Ages. Still in print and available from the author's website.
The reason this piece works so well is that it introduces the basic cloth or whole stitch and because you make it in thick, coloured thread, you can quickly see if you make a mistake. Better still, the thick thread quickly builds up to make the piece and most people can go from beginner to finished bookmark in about two evenings. You also learn about which way you move the bobbins for a 'twist' and get to learn 'sewings' when you add two glorious sparkly glass beads for eyes.
For any Ophidiophobics out there (those with a fear of snakes) then I would suggest you call this a 'bookworm' instead.
A word about Christine Springett's work. The reason that I like it so much is that she often comes up with quick and easy projects that you can make as a present for yourself or a friend. She also produces patterns that will give you cause for thought and extend your skills, but I love the fact that she sees something in the everyday world and then makes a pattern to use it. One Christmas I made twelve different decorations to give as presents to my family. (no, I forgot to photograph them all). Each took just a night or two to make and everyone was thrilled to receive them.
So, what do I encourage people to make in order to learn lace? I am an unashamed fan of Christine Springett and her work on easy to follow when you are starting out. She even tells you how much thread to cut so you don't waste any.
The snake bookmark is taken from Lace for Children of All Ages. Still in print and available from the author's website.
The reason this piece works so well is that it introduces the basic cloth or whole stitch and because you make it in thick, coloured thread, you can quickly see if you make a mistake. Better still, the thick thread quickly builds up to make the piece and most people can go from beginner to finished bookmark in about two evenings. You also learn about which way you move the bobbins for a 'twist' and get to learn 'sewings' when you add two glorious sparkly glass beads for eyes.
For any Ophidiophobics out there (those with a fear of snakes) then I would suggest you call this a 'bookworm' instead.
A word about Christine Springett's work. The reason that I like it so much is that she often comes up with quick and easy projects that you can make as a present for yourself or a friend. She also produces patterns that will give you cause for thought and extend your skills, but I love the fact that she sees something in the everyday world and then makes a pattern to use it. One Christmas I made twelve different decorations to give as presents to my family. (no, I forgot to photograph them all). Each took just a night or two to make and everyone was thrilled to receive them.