Fran’s Creative Corner, Lace, Part III

Oh my gosh did I have fun working with the Hairpin lace from the early 1900s and will continue to work on patterns. I’ll share my progress as they come together.

This week I’m working on crocheted lace from the old magazines. Lace trimmings were very important and popular during the early 1900s If women wanted lace trimmings they had to make them. I’m constantly amazed at the creativity of these women in creating their own designs.

One of my favorite projects to make for new babies is a receiving blanket with crocheted edgings. After hemming with a single crochet stitch I work a delicate lace design around the blanket. They are elegant little coverings for the new baby. I’m working on a couple now for Clover’s graphic designer, Leslie, and her new baby. Crocheted lace is not a fast project so I advise anyone wanting to do this to start early … or make several and keep for future gifts.

One of the crocheted lace designs I have been working with is the  Trefoil Lace.  I will put it on pillow cases and if time allows me to make enough lace, a top sheet.

This sweet little bit of lace was fun to work with and will find it’s way onto several of my future projects

I would love to hear from any of you that work this pattern and share how you use it.  Send me a picture and I will post it in Show and Tell.

The lace in the photo below is my first attempt to work this design. Who can see my mistake? I get ahead of myself and think I have a new pattern imprinted in my brain and go off on my own, but that doesn’t always work. I started this on a road trip with my hubby and when I returned home and looked at the picture I realized my ego had gotten the better of me. I’m reworking it.  The design works up quickly and gives a lot of “punch” for your effort so it is worth my time to redo it correctly.

I have found that crocheted lace was very popular in the magazines from the early 1900s and will spend several blogs showing some of the beautiful designs.

If any of you have vintage lace patterns you would like to share I will be over the moon with excitement.

I have shared before that I have arthritis in my hands and crochet work puts a lot of repeat motion on the fingers and thumbs. Crocheting for hours on end as I was able to do in my youth are over but I share with joy that using the Soft Touch Crochet Hook from Clover allows me to work much longer than the straight tube design of my “other” hooks.

During the research through the magazines I came upon a “helpful hints” from readers and would like to share some with you.

WHAT OTHER NEEDLEWORKERS HAVE FOUND OUT

Needlecraft Magazine

1916

“I have greatly enjoyed learning ‘what other needleworkers have found out,’ and should like to add something. A short time ago a friend told me of a nice easy way to start filet-crochet, and I will pass the idea on: Instead of making a chain of a great number of stitches, and working the spaces back on the chain, if a pattern calls for, say four rows of spaces make a chain for four spaces and work back and forth until you have the requisite number wanted for the length then turn and work along the side.” … Mrs. E.W.W., Wisconsin

“Before putting a new band on your sewing-machine, wet it in castor oil and see how flexible it will be; I coiled mine in the bottom of a teacup and poured on just enough oil to moisten it well, perhaps a teaspoonful. After the oil has been absorbed wipe the band with a cloth, and it is ready for service.” … Mrs. C.A., Pennsylvania

Till next time …