Tuesday, February 19, 2008

A Little Sunshine

It has stopped raining temporarily and the weather is warming up a bit, so I decided to encourage the sunshine by knitting some of my own.



Pattern: Lavori Artistici #11, design #26, 60 rounds
Needles: 2.25mm
Thread: Clark's Big Ball cotton thread, size 30
Finished size: 12.5 inches in diameter

Thursday, February 14, 2008

More Antique Laces

I'm slowly washing more of the antique laces in my friend Nancy's box of treasures (see previous post). As before, I am taking a gentle approach both on washing and blocking. I hope some day a conservator will give them a proper cleaning and protection.

Several more still need attention but they are very long and I'll have to figure out a blocking scheme before I attempt them.






Saturday, February 09, 2008

Antique Laces

While clearing out some family belongings, my friend Nancy found a metal box (bread box?) filled with needlework: mostly crocheted items, some tatting and about a dozen knitted lace edgings and insertions. She thinks the laces belonged to her great grandmother and her sisters, who lived in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

With Nancy's permission, I gently washed one of them. This is one of the larger pieces. It is about 34 inches long and 7 inches wide. Does anyone recognize the pattern? It appears to be knit in very fine thread — size 40? 50? Maybe finer?


The lace is cleaner than it was but still discolored and is damaged in some places but overall it's in pretty good shape for something that's 100+ years old. I think any further cleaning and conservation should be done by a professional.


Monday, February 04, 2008

What?! Another Scarf?!

Yes, another scarf, part of my ongoing effort to work through stash.



Details:
  • Pattern: Little Leaf Lace by Sivia Harding.
  • Yarn: Fleece Artist sock yarn, 1 skein
  • Needles: US5 (3.75mm)
  • Finished size: 9.5 inches x 72 inches