Cool in-laws

My in-laws, one of which edits this blog for me, got me some real cool Christmas gifts. If you have read this blog for a while you know I like old fashioned tin eggs and have been looking for them for awhile. My mother-in-law, the dear she is, gave me 2 dozen eggs for Christmas to add to my collection. It was real cute: she put them inside of egg creates to give them to me. At first I was "what is this?" when I saw the side of the egg boxes. Then, when I flipped it over and saw the top of the box, I could see the tin eggs inside! So cool, to say the least. My MIL started looking for these back in March when I posted about them. I think she found them on E bay. When they showed up at her house after my birthday and after Easter she decided to hold on to them 'till Christmas.

I also got some real cool craft books from them for Christmas, too. I have been wanting these for awhile; just was waiting for the right time. I guess the right time came to someone else.

Christmas swap at MJF

Group1

1. creatmyworld : Beaded Wreath ornament sun catcher.
2. smoothiejuice : I can't remember which was in which swap -- hot cocoa and Santa mitten.
   
   
3. sunshine : Boa scarves.
4. botanical bath: I can't remember if soap was in group one or group two; same goes for the lotion she made, but you either got this or lotion.
5. Gaias Rose : Hand-made ornaments.
6. Willowtreecreek : hand decorated notebook.
7. Bertha : Pin in box with ornament decoration on box.
8. Rebekka Mae : Citrus ornament and needle case.
9. Cheryl : Hand towels, there are 4 styles; each person gets one, not all four. I kept a tree.
10. Tina Michelle : Heart ornaments and bookmarks.
11. Farmgirlwannabe : Embroidered Christmas sock with Sees candies inside.
    
    
    Group2
    

1. creatmyworld : Snow flake beaded ornament sun catcher.
2. smoothiejuice: I can't remember which was in which swap: hot cocoa and Santa mitten.
   
3. sunshine : Handmade brooch.
4. botanical bath: I can't remember if lotion was in group one or group two; same goes for the soap she made, but you either got this or soap.
5. Gaias Rose : Tree-shaped ornaments.
6. Willowtreecreek : Hand-made pin.
7. yarnmamma
   
   
8. ktknits : Basket.
9. allee: She sent a crocheted tree; can't find photo of it, don't know why.
   
10. dropped
    
11. dropped

My last two weeks have been too busy and this post shows it. Yikes!

More on Lace Hunt

I have this book called " The Batsford Book of Crochet" by Ann Sterns isbn 0-7134-33124 publish year 1981. This is a book made in London, so the stitches are in the European style not the American style. But that is fine, I know both; just one stitch different by name. There is a little bit in this book on Oya laces on pages 144-155 and one color picture in the color plate section of a piece of needle lace that is 150 years old. You can definitely tell this is a 1980's book ,but that is fine. I am not trying to design clothing the way they show in this book; I just want the skills to make Oya.

Another Book on Needle Lace

The hunt continues. Here is another book I have on needle lace. This is Mediterranean Knotted Lace By Elena Dickson isbn 1-86351-346-9.

A lovely book, it shows how to do needle stitches, but it was intended to make doilies more than edgings. Yes, I can use the techniques, but I wanted to start off making the lace edgings I like so much. I am not interested in doilies so much, but the lace that dangles with decorative lace flowers that blow in a soft breeze -- that is the look I want. I know the books I want to buy, but they are out of my price range at the moment.

Lace Hunt Continues

Still looking for lace patterns. So I went looking through my books, and I already have these books on Armenian lace because I went looking a few years back on this subject, too. All mine are on the needle lace version of the lace; I am also looking for the beaded and crochet and tatted versions. I think I have a few more books around here, too, but I think they may still be boxed up. The top two I think are the same book; I can't find the top left one right now. I think they are just different editions and didn't realize that when I bought them. The PieceWork is the July / August 1996 edition. I think there is another PieceWork with this type of lace, or so I have been told. The nice person who said this is checking her books; if so, I may order that one too the more references the better. The middle left book I know I have, but it is one of those I can't find at the moment.

update
The bottom left book is the other PieceWork magazine that has this type of lace in it.

Just so everyone knows, I do know that Turkish lace and Armenian lace are different and not the same. I am intereseted in both of them because they give a similar look and feel, and I am saddened about how hard it is to find this information. Because when I do have this much trouble, it usually means it is a dying art form and makes me want to learn about it all the more and sooner, so if any one can help me I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks Sunshine

Prize

I got my prize in the mail today for the rug I entered in whip ups whip lash competition awhile back. I received a book on how to make rugs. Hey, it is even one I don't already have; how cool is that (sort of don't have, read below).

I sat down for only a few minuets to look at it because I have lots I have to get done today. Even if I hadn't won this book as a prize, if I had seen in a store I would have purchased it. It is great.

There are rugs in this book that will just blow your mind away. That is saying something because I have made a lot of rugs, and have seen many hand-made rugs that my relatives have made, and this still is amazing.

I actually have the older edition of this book, but the new edition has so much more stuff in it, it is like having a whole new book recommended, whether you do or don't have the old version.

I am in an E-zine (Magazine)

There is a E-zine (electronic magazine) that just came out called "Small Town Living". Yes, I live in a small town. Anyway, I got a write up in this magazine on pages 20 - 23. This is the first magazine I've had a feature in. I wish Tina and her husband lots of success with their baby mag; it is on its third edition. Please feel free to follow the links and read this magazine and their other two editions; they are at this link, too.

Centerpiece Pattern in Baby Irish Crochet from 1912

This pattern is from needlecraft November 1912 page 30.

This pattern was originally drafted by Mrs. E. W. Walker. I am not changing it from the original text so if it looks funny it is the way patterns were written about 100 years ago.

Make a chain of 8 stitches, join.

1. (Chain 6, fasten with 1 double in ring) 5 times.
2. A single under 5 chain, chain 3 fro a treble, 5 trebles under same chain, (chain 3, 6 trebles in next loop) 4 times, chain 3 and join to top of 3 chain.
3. Chain 3, a treble in each treble and 3 under 3 chain all around, join.
4. Chain 4, miss 3 trebles and fasten between next 2; repeat around, joining last chain where 1st started.
5. Slip-stitch to center of 4 chain, * chain 6, fasten under next 4 chain; repeat.
6. Slip-stitch to center of 6 chain, * chain 6, fasten under next 6 chain: repeat.
7. Under each loop of 6 chain make 1 double, 7 trebles and 1 double. This row completes a wheel which serves as a very pretty medallion for shirtwaists, combined with embroidery, or it may be used in a variety of ways for which such a wheel is suitable.
8. slip-stitch to center of 1st scallop, * (chain 9, fasten back in 6th stitch from needle to form a picot) twice, chain 3, fasten in center of next scallop; repeat from * around
9. Slip-stitch to center of 1st picoted chain, * (chain 9 picot) twice, chain 3, fasten in top of loop between next 2 picot; repeat around, joining last chain where 1st started.
10. Slip-stitch to center of 1st loop, * (chain 9, picot) 3 times, chain 3 fasten in center of next loop; repeat around, joining where 1st chain started.
11. slip-stitch to 2d picot ( or, if preferred, the thread may be fastened off and joined in at the place designated), chain 4 a double treble in same picot, keeping top loops of each on hook and working off together, chain 3, 2 double trebles,worked off together, in same picot, * chain 12, 2 double trebles in picot at top of next loop, chain 3, 2 double trebles in same picot, always working the groups of double trebles off together, repeat from * around, chain 12 join to top of 1st group.
12. NOTE from Sunshine: I do not know if there is a row 12 or if the numbering was off as all the pattern was intact no rips or any thing. It just went from 11 to 13 with no 12. So I hope the pattern works, it looks to be all there.
13. Chain 5, * miss1, a treble in next stitch, chain 2; repeat from * around and join to 3d of 5 chain.
14. Chain 7, miss 1 space, fasten in next; repeat.
15. Slip-stitch to center of chain, * chain 7, fasten under next chain;repeat around.
16. same as 15
17. Under each loop of 7 chain make 1 double, 9 trebles and 1 double. This row completes a very pretty doily.
18. Slip-stitch to center of 1st scallop,* chain 4, a double treble in same place, working off together, a double treble in top of next scallop, chain 4, fasten in same place; repeat from* around, ending with a double treble in stitch where the row started, chain 4, fasten in same.
19. Slip-stitch to top of cluster, * chain 5, a triple treble in same place, a triple treble in center of next cluster, chain 5, fasten in same place; repeat, ending with a triple treble and 5 chain to complete the row.
20. same as 19th row.
21. slip-stitch to top of 1st cluster, chain 4, a double treble in same place, chain 3, 2 double trebles in same place, working off together, * chain 4, 2 double trebles, as described, in top of next cluster, chain 3, 2 double trebles in same place; repeat from *, joining last 4 chain tot op of 1st cluster.
22. Chain 5, * a treble under 3 chain, chain 2, a treble in 1st of 4 chain, chain 2, a treble in last of 4 chain, chain 2, repeat from * around, joining last 2 chain to 3d of 5 chain.
23. A single under 2 chain, chain 7, a treble under same chain, * miss 1 space, 1 treble in next chain 4, a treble in same space; repeat from * around, join to 3d of 7 chain.
24. A single under 4 chain, chain 8, a treble under same chain, 1 treble, chain 5 and 1 treble under next chain, repeat around, joining to 3d of 8 chain.
25. Slip -stitch to center of 5 chain* chain 7, fasten under next 5 chain; repeat around.
26. Slip-stitch under 7 chain, chain 5 for a triple treble, a triple treble under same chain, (chain 4, 2 triple trebles under same chain, working off together) twice, * 3 groups of triple trebles under next 7 chain, with 4 chain between each 2 groups, repeat from * around and join to top of 1st group of cluster.
27. Slip-stitch to center of 1st chain, *chain 5, fasten under next chain; repeat around.
28. Same as 27th row.
29. Same as 27th row.
30. Slip- stitch to center of 1st chain, chain 5 for triple, a triple in same place, * chain 4, 2 triple trebles under next chain, working off together, repeat from* around, chain 4 join to top of 1st cluster.
31. Same as 30th row
32. Slip-stitch to center of 1st chain, * chain 5, fasten under next chain; repeat around.
33. Slip-stitch to center of 1st chain, *chain 6, fasten in next chain; repeat around.
34. Under each loop of chain make 1 double, 8 trebles and 1 double.
35. Slip-stitch to center of scallop, * chain 5, fasten in center of next scallop; repeat.
36. Chain 5, * a treble in 3d of 5 chain, chain 2, a treble in double, over top of scallop, chain 2, repeat from * around, join to 3d of 5 chain.
37. A single in space, * chain 12, miss 2 spaces, fasten in next, chain3, fasten in next space, turn; ( chain 5, a double treble under 12 chain) 5 times, chain 5, a treble under same chain, chain 2, fasten in space back of where the 12 chain started, chain3 fasten back in next, turn; a treble under 2 chain, 6 trebles under each 5 chain, fasten in next but 1 space forward, turn; chain 6 miss 3 trebles, fasten between next 2; repeat around scallop, turn; chain 7 fasten under 6 chain,repeat around scallop, catching in 2d space forward after fastening the last chain, turn; chain 7 fasten under 7 chain, repeat around scallop, fastening in 2d space back, turn; chain 3, fasten in next space, * 2 double trebles under 7 chain, 2 picots ( that is, chain 5, fasten in 1st stitch of 5 chain) twice, 2 double trebles under same chain, picot, repeat from* around scallop, miss 2 spaces after making last 2 double trebles, fasten in next, then slip-stitch along over 8 spaces, again chain 12, and repeat the scallop.

Made in No. 90 linen thread, this gives a centerpiece about 15 inches in diameter, if worked rather closely. Coarser thread would, of course, result in a much larger piece, and there is such a difference in methods of working that it is quiet impossible to state the exact size of an article, even though the same number of thread is used by two workers. It must be understood, too, that if one does her work tightly more chain-stitches are required than if loosely done. These variations every experienced crocheter understands and makes allowances for.

Except for the red part above typed as written in 1912.

Showing the Latest style Touches

This is from the November 1912 edition of the Needlecraft magazine.

These were sewing patterns you could buy and make for yourself. WOW!!!!! How long would it take to make those ensembles? Look at these outfits they are so precious. I wish woman still wore hats like this. I think they are un-practical but oh, so lovely. Even the dresses are "to die for" as the saying goes. You can just see people taking their daily strolls down tree lined streets in these clothes. I don't think I could live like that on a daily basis, but it would be fun to dress that way for a day or two.

The Postman

I think I am going to have to give the postman a gift at Christmas, he just keeps bringing me gifts from the girls at MJF.

Today from Tina Michell came these magazines for my kids and yo-yos for our table topper. From Blue Apple farm came this magazine I thought it was just great. There is an article on lace making in it, and they picture the "Princess Lace Machine", an item from 1904. I have one, but mine is from 1903. The part that was neat was the one they show was from the collection at the Smithsonian. How neat is that! I have an item that has a sister in the Smithsonian! There is also a cool pattern for making crochet buttons and knitted lace. Some day I will be a better knitter. The cow is not part of the magazine; it is the card that came with it.

Bobbin lace pattern book

To Nancy Jo,
The book arrived yesterday. Thank you!