Friday, December 6, 2013

A little lace

One of the very first thing most often used to embellish doll dresses is lace. You can buy it by the yard, in fabric yardage, in appliqués, and it comes in many many style and colors. One can spend a lot of time just talking about lace. So what is it,  exactly?
  Lace- a delicate kind of network, used for the ornamenting of female dresses.
    It first began in Egypt, more in the form of a net, then what we are use to today. In time it evolved into different forms divided by countries, and fashion styles. And of course, money. {Only the rich could afford lace and it had to be white.} From that very beginning lace making has been described as being a form of needle work. So what is needlework?
Work executed with a needle; sewed work; embroidery.
So does this mean any form of needle? Knitting needles for example?
 For my purpose, I would say yes. Anything made with any form of needles, including crochet hooks, and tatting. {I'll explain about that at a later time}.
  The subject of embroidery by it's self is another very large area of discussion , so lets leave that for now and get back to lace.
  Lace consists of two parts, the the ground and the pattern. The ground is plain, and the pattern is the fancy stitches that create the design.

  Lace work listings:
  Cutwork
  Point or needle made
  Oya- Turkish crochet
 drawn-work
 Chinese Tissues

Places known for their lace.
  French,
 German
Italian,
Spanish
Dutch
Belgium
England
and nowadays, Ireland as well.
  I don't plan on going into these lists any further but only to show the wide range depending on the area you where in or going to. Lace was traded a lot from country to country, allowing for many different designs and creation.
Today one can even learn lace making {with bobbins, needles or hooks}, and not be left to only what can be found at the store. I've tried my hand at Torchon lace made with bobbins, twisting the threads into designs and patterns.
  I am beginning to learn Oya lace or flowers. This is created with needles and knots.

I would have to mention bridal lace as part of this subject, as so many gowns have lace on them as well as other decorations. Used more here, then in any other item worn by women {unless you count lingerie}.
  Widening the picture still more, is the art of combining lace with other forms of needlework.
  If you have every had the chance to see, hold or feel old lace, you will wonder at the making thereof.
I have a collection going back over 100 years old. Not a lot, and someday soon I hope to use it in a doll dress. I've been holding onto it for far to long, it's time to use it.
  Each area splinters into different designs created to identify where they were from.
  How one uses lace on a dolls dress is best served "pleasing to the eye". One can over do it, and then I've seen some with the wrong size, pattern or kind there of in too little and to much.
Try experimenting with different pieces of lace worked together. {patchwork, layer ,rows and single} And don't forget colored lace. One can even get lace with elastic built in so it stretches.
Try your hand at lace making, there are many books and much to be found on the internet. It's really not as hard as it seems. It's what use to be called "fancy work". Meaning it takes time and patients.
Use ribbon to trim the lace edge, or embroidery and you will have taken the use of lace one step away from the ordinary. From time to time I will mention lace in combination with something else, but for now it is it's own show all by it's self.
Reference -
History Of Lace by Mrs. Bury Palliser

Until next time…. Use a different accent.

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