Romanian Point Lace & Course for Intermediates and Advance cen nen St Sylvia MurariIyrRonvcriox Lace has.a very old history, Lis origin might be in the Garden of Eden. Ince isa reminder of all that belongs to women: feminity, geace, charm, delicacy, beauty, creativity ancl Isard working tands, Lace naling I fudlependence for a worn. ‘meant sate 81 From nGlily to erentivity ts but a short step and exery woman kpws that [As pearls axe ereated in oysters, so the most exspuisite snd peceious laces have been created in times of war or poverty or dung times of soreos. Much of the history of this world was written in the work of women's ands, Many’o! these aze snvahable laces, which were kept with love and eare by Ince lovers, who collected them all over the world. and we, the fortunste following generation, benefit from Uh inwwalsuble leyney Tr Romani there is a cave called Vomen's cave". Centuries ago, when the Otto: man Empire inaded the surrounding countries, including Romania, » lot of women were taken slaves by the Turks to be put into harems. The wonten used this cave as a hiding place. There, in harsh circumstances, by eandle light, some of the most exquisite hand work were created Tn more recent times, to pay their taxes, have worked some of most distinguished laces and then sold them to rich people ‘The Romanian Point Lace may be called ast art because over the centuries it combined crochet, embroidery, weaving, wrapping, loop ing, chaining, knotting and all of the nicest Thane work that some hare working hands and creative spirits have put together. Needle lace is the Bnest flowering of the needle worker's wet. | hupe to ereate an aware ness toward this unique art The objective is to pros Bne old laces and to preserve dhem techniques for posterity, to help people identify and warke lace. People ave still discovering lace making from the books. The viswal diagram of most of dhe “filling stitches” eliminates the Tanguage basrier. ‘Taking classes és another way to leaza lace iiking. A class is 2 place and an opportunity bo meet old friends and to make new ones. Know! satin the nd dei te inte edge shared is knowledge multiplied. The lmawledge and the confidence yuined in cont pleting @ piece of work mukees the worker eager w do more, and the learning process never comes to an end because most of the Billing stitches, when worked, jospire new stitches. Even mistakes can result in new discoveries, This book és the second of a series of books to follow which are going to share 3 years of collecting af pattems and filling stitches, old and new AKXOWLEDGEMENTS. L would lie to thank everyone who helped. and encouraged me to write this book. First to my students who asked for it, to Laura Forton, my niece, to Melodie Francisco, my best student and the sample maker, to Ria Ferrell, to Roberta Olives, to my Iussband Areadie far hiss help, to my friend Ana Stincan, who helped me swith patterns, and to my friend Aurien Mic, from Romania, who tanght me (© work this lace when [was 10 years old: Special thanks to Polly Womack for her invaluable help, Rowastay Powe Lace History Romanian Point Lace is an exequisite combi- nation of luce worked with the needle and lace worked with the crochet hook. This lace was created in the eighteenth century in Central Europe and was inspized by the Reticella lace of ‘the Ttalian Renaissance period. When, at the end of the eighteenth centusy, the French Revolution caused many noble French families to flee into exile, the basic techniques of point ace were intzoduced in Ute Inds where thy settled. In countries as Delginm, Ireland, England, point lace becante enormously poplar in the Victorian era, Sometine later, point lace spread also to Germany, Denmark, Yugoslavia and Romania, Every country created its own patterns, its own designs, and its awn stitehes, Some of the filling stitches ean be found sn more haa one county, others ean he found only in certain “Phe True Lace” is another sane used for this lace. Te Romanian people call dais lace “Macrame”, because to worl the lace they used very thin “macrame" thread. This name is an inappropriave name for other conntries where the word “macrume” is attributed to another type of band-work. Stil another name for this. tte", from French. In Romania, this Ince is “I mie directly from Tce ‘vance, the exact period heme wnlenown Romanian Point Lace possesses a widevariety of filling siftches. This exquisite Ince- malking tradition produced a distinctive and extremely beautifid style, showing a great ration, After 1950, Romanian Point Lace experienced n wide popularity and many new filling stitches and gorgeous designs were developed. Ti the last forty years, His luce has become very much in vogue, replacing the erochet lace Almost every stirface in the house was adomed ‘with point lace. A bride's tronssean usually inclules some very valuable pieces of fancy work: for her new home decoration as well as for her wedding dress. ‘The more this lace is worked and new stitehes are being created, the more beautiful and delieate lace designs evolve. Itis very enjoyable to work and in the process it taps the creative spirit hidden in all of us. Sonciat Reswares Working Romanian Point Lace, you'll diseover the joy, the peace and the thrill that may become u passion. This three-dimensional lace is a womanly art worked with patience by skilled hands. Romanian Point Lace 3s to be worked in a single peice This lace looks more difficult to work than it really is, Even for the beginner it is very easy to lear, The dingrams and the instructions are clear and explain the working technique step by step. T recommend starting with a small project, Anish it, then try a larger project. Usually, this lace has two identical sides. Only & few specific stitehes, like the grapes, will create a good side andl a wrong sid ‘This lace doesn’t contain knots, and every single thread end is very carefully hidden in the cord in order to obtain two good sides-of the lace, in contrast with most nces hat have a front and a back side. Exery milimeter of this Jace must look as 0 good looking point. The size of the Nnished lace is usually a litde smaller than the pattern’s size. It depends ‘on how the tension was maintained in the process of working it. Every woman works differently. Different kinds of colored theead may be used but this requires more attention in hiding the working areads into the cord. White, eer or champaigne threads muy be used or a combi- nation - like darker shades for the cord and lighter shades for the filling stitches. Some stitehes are found in Belgian lace or in Battenberg lace, cut work embroidery, ardanger, or Reticella, The point luce that originated in Ttaly was called “Punto de Aria” fand some of the stitches carrying dhe name ‘Point de Venice” led to this needle lace. Romanian Point Lace offers an infinite ‘yarlation of net stitches, weaving stitches for eaves or other Ikinds of shapes, a large variation, of designs for patterns and countless ideas for hhow to use Usis wonderful lace in a practical [ELEMENTS oF iss TION Working Romanian Point Lace isa very inexpensive way to obtain a very expensive and valuable lace, Many inspirations for designs came from nature such ag all kinds af flowers, plants, eves, fruits, animals, birds, butterilies, fish, shells and snails. Other designs came from. shapes of objects such as wnbrellas, baskets with flowers or feuit, musical instruments and heart shapes, Religious motifs such as angels, crosses anid stars can also be incorporated into pattems. Holidays or special events like wed dings, very often ingpire the lace How to vsu rue Lace ‘This wonderfil lace ts being used to decor rate home interiors. Almost every surface in the house may be adorned with this elegant lace: tablecloths for the diaing room tuble or for a coffee table with matching doilies around, for a buifet or under a bibelot, a curio or a vase, (0 cover a pillow, to decorate a bedroom comforter, to frame it asa picture, to decorate a lampshade or as a lace curtain, as a lining for & ‘ea tray, for napkin rings, for straight edges, comers, circles, as a book marker, to decorate a {jewelry box, to adorn fancy towels. Tecan be used ns initials, for a sofa back (in the place where the heads lay), a small piece of doilie 48 practical for keeping a well polished table from being stained or scratched by a vase fr a figarine. A ring bearer’s pillow may be decorated with this nnusual lace, ora needle to decorate a photo album, ete Point lace may be used wonderfully to decorate clothing. Beautiful collars, necklines, cuffs, yokes, litle Dowers to decorate a dress or a blouse, An entire vest can be worked in point lace, a litte edge for a jacket, a bomnet or a Tittle blanket for a baby, « lace bodice garniture, a hat trim or a three-dimensional corsageflower, to decorate a bay or a purse, to decorate a hanger, to decorate sleeve This exquisite lace makes a very unstal gift for a family member or a friend. What new Ideas for it ean you thinks of? MATERIALS USED TO WoRK THE LACE Trccommend only the best quality of cotton crochet thrend he used, Your time is ta valuable to spend on poor treads that will not look good when finished or will not Inst well. Thread should be tightly (visted mercerized and have a nice shine. Although white and coru threads ae traditional, with practice colored threads cant be inconporated into the design as well Size 10, 20 oF 80 ure most commonly ased. The Uureads Cebelia, Cordonnet oz Baroque, by DNC or ANCHOR, COATS, CORDONET, Manuella, work very well Boye or Susan Bates crochet hooks are good because they have a thin shank, The tapestry needle (blunt) shoul have an eye large enough to accomodate the thread For every thread size the following chart gives the recommended hook:and needle size: Thread Some people use even smaller sizes of dread fand this makes a very, very beautiful Ince, but of course, itis a ide harder to worl Basic supplies are: a small scissors, ncedle threader, a sharp needle and color sewing thread for busting the cord on the design, andl a pattern drawn on a piece of fabrie Basie Wonine Trenton: A summary! Prepare the pattern, ‘Baste the crocheted cord on the fabric contain Ing the design starting at about 1/2" longer than the design's line shows, using a sharp needle and. pastel color thread. The other end of the cord should stop at the point showed on the design. Cut this end 1/2" longer than necessary Clean the end of the cord with your fingemails and find dhe end of Ue thread, Pull il about 1/ 2".as the desiga shows. ise Ue tapestry needle and the daread ob- tained by unravelling Che 1/2" cord to make @ neat connection, “Work the bridges and the filling stitches. Everything should he worked on the surface of the fabric carrying the Hisead fom place to place through the cord hiding the working hs -When all stitches ave finished cut off the thread that was used for basting and take the Ince off the fabric Incase beads or chars ase being 1 cau be stitched on using fae fishing line, they Pecraar ni working nurnity The working pattern is deawn on a light color cotton nivslin, Measure the size of Ox pattcen and cat the mustin 2-8 inches larger, Using a spray starch press it with a hot iron; vill make if easier to drow the pattern on it, The following are 3 different methods of tcansfering patterns: 1. To transfer the pattern from paper to Une fabric, use a glass table, place a lamp under the table, tape dhe paper with the pattern on the glass, then the fabric, Secure the four comiers of the fabric to the paper with pins. Using a permanent fabric marker with an ultra, Bne point (as Pilot permanent SC-UF, black only) Draw the pattem very carefully on the aussi. A large niamber of palvems axe sya metrical, for those you may transfer lal the design ala time, hen turn the design to the opposite sidle and transfer it, oF if you have only a quurier of fl, use a mirror irom die broclsen line for half of design. 2, Another method is to Bx the pattern avd the muslin together working 8 or 4 stitches is. every comer, and x them with tape om a win dow8. Sul another method mney be ws! for null patterns by mike u Xerox copy an ttl it face deur to the randin asd pressing Sith a ot ime. There maybe other methods to tranafer Ue pattern, bn using the fabric perma rent marker isthe best in ercer to abiinin ssh pattern avbicl may be used as rans Lumies as you want, and the draming dows mot affect the color of the Ince. Aftce the pattem ts tranaferred waal: he aval, let §€ dry and tron Jcresing @ hile starch topstionally (Caociurr ante THenbnsersseoxaL, Cova Using the best quality crochet cation and a cevohiet litok (ee the above elvart for dhe righe ‘site, roadl and fatlow the direction af dhe ‘patter for the cord which yous chose, It ks a ‘oa idea to Ive a few sards worked 60 08 to ‘have exon cord for a small prnfoct ray tine ‘There are different kinds af cards, some are thin, others wide Choose the cord hich beat matches the design san tte pat metinies whe contains a design with parillet thin cords, the space between them may be filled with either » wide cord or sith a needle nlite, Canchieting the core [s the most time ng tke, but fs very peaceful ta work. If nywlere yon yon keep thls work ‘fo, you ea yan fran: Sylea's Flowers arud Lace: lagapisitworldpet att.net); Provo Eetesprise (800) 770.8024 of (7H) BTO-AZSL we Forget Me Kaot, 17828 BelMuwee Bld, Bellawee, CA HT06.0614. Cor or ras time esen row Rasen fore gine cut the thread webs as mcd for boating, it is recommended to check every Liridge and all the junctions were worked aud the hice ts holding Itself together. On the troniuyt table put a bath towel amd tuen the Lace face to the towel, cover it will # plece of nizallse nil press Walle with a hor trom, Be nat pros “The «puality point hice i that aebich does uot reytire ta be pressed becamise (Llans i ery nice bed Alsen de trot prea tne lace tmeavered, bocnuse i tases Ue quality aad he cl, With the wark fice dav, with Sean ripper, Tura the work face up and Gnisl cutting the thrend or the sewing thread kaots, pall every remiminig Harends-om die Ince ising a twecezers: tly ey ta pce wp thee Bace front the if there are places tut still consicet them, cut the sewing iread, Do not pall the Ince from the muslin boeanse the body of the lage miagrbe mained, Using 1 Wweszers poi out all the eemaining threads. fan ue Ince. Put the see on the ironing table on a tensel and caver it with: another towel and press it exe gently with hot iron if needed. Ifyou prefer to have a. darker color, or aaifferent kind of shade, dhe Jace may be colored with lier tea. Brcey hech tea hias a different shade. Tt is good to try -eolar on a piece of cotton before using it on lace. The herb tea his torbe boiled for 2 to. rmirtes, Tet it eaol and filter it ery well. Din the lnee in Ue tea and leave it there for 4 to 6 hours ‘Take i€ ont and smoathe it orn tomed until itis almost dry. Cover itith another towel and press. it ena. [Note far left hamders: When rvading € ‘with "Tel Itwld the hook 1 the eg Took inthe Left hand") insimctions, eepliwe ihe ssample: Instead of = and” evel “ol Bie: Stars roe Croce cHarsen sat Holi the hook in the right hand between the dhumb and lorefinge, just Tike a pen. Te rests on the middle finger which acts Uke 0 spiide. The Usrcaul fs controled byte left yossing over the 2h Bed figcr and areal the Mlle Reger 1 Binger bs kept slightly crooked inwards, town the palew of the hand. As the work grees iis held quite taut between the thumb wnd the Seat finger of the left Rash Make a slip Kot andloots shone a che Logis insert tke hole this erin: tension of the thr the edges of Use cord are called ram (fig. Lap, index ager. The fs dread over wl with the hook anid theo. ack hic frestrictions for this the hooks pick wp the pull it through the loup already ‘his is Ue frst chain stitch, ‘Having mode the ini threw aeafer sive fool ding Toop tml the cba relatos to the tsp Nate: Observe ant the Ure Iho when yom work he 2 lous atthe exh tand e thevaad fy taken ewer onthe top. Take ke sway Deca shee st Be af equal aire, neither to loose cord, yowll be abet rll the ht cf, 1 Gireads from bot shes easily to join the cords, Do not worl too tight or too loon StOSAE Oona tapestry mewille ey cord lenghorise, and see IF1 feels cos chien worked inna Cou r 6 the most caanistenily ssw dutlining core. Parry #1 Cox #8 Tue Eas iv the Isook. gral the thee ‘both loops, thirend over Ute ho Baniclee Step Ie Chain 4, close the eing (fy. 2a Step & Six doub wing fe dhe hook and gall vds-on the hook fig Iwots this loop, 3 thr If) Take the threadd aver the hook the nto Deft fe right rider, Repeat the tec hs