Third Scarf

The third scarf is made from "Royal Purple" Perfection by Kraemer Yarns (30% Domestic Merino and 70% Acrylic in worsted weight) and Mango Moon (100% recycled silk) "supporting safe shelter, health care and education to women in Nepal".

This scarf is worked in Torchon ground, like the first scarf using 24 pairs of bobbins. The bobbin pairs are arranged in the pattern: AB AB BA BA. The pattern repeats 3 times across the scarf. This produces diagonal stripes. Diamonds form where stripes of the same color meet.

Second Scarf

In December I started a second scarf. I used the leftover solid turquoise (Mermaid) yarn from the first scarf, BFL Light DK by the uncommon thread. The second yarn for this scarf is Moda Dea Orbit in the color Stratosphere. (Nylon, Acrylic, Polyester, Wool, Alpaca) I chose the "Scandinavian Ground I" from Cook & Stott's The Book of Bobbin Lace Stitches. The stitch is always cross twist twist pin cross twist twist so the yarns work back and forth in vertical paths. This is another pattern where it is easy to see if you have gone astray from the pattern.

Bobbin Lace Sample Grows

The first sample from the IOLI convention was posted in August. The color of the picture was inaccurate. The sample became the ground for embroidery. Blossoms, vine and leaves were added. It was mounted on ultrasuede to hang like a bellpull.

Niddy Noddy Yarn

On November 5 I started winding bobbins at R Rabbit Fiber Studio. I used "Niddy Noddy" handspun Merino wool yarn by Tammy Colmon that I purchased in South Australia in July 2014 when we were on the OIDFA outback tour. I found it in a little shop when we were visiting a station. The other skein is "the uncommon thread" BFL Light DK 100% superwash Bluefaced Leicester wool. On November 9 I started making lace. The grid is 1/4" between dots. I used alternate dots so I was working on a 1/2" grid (measured horizontally). Saturday afternoon Sandy, Steph and I made lace at the Coralville library. I finished the lace this weekend. Today I made the fringe when we were stitching at Meth-Wick. The scarf brightens a rainy misty day.

Beaded Blossoms

Now that convention is over I have had a chance to stitch a small 5 x 7" sampler for an exchange.

I.O.L.I. 2015 at Coralville, Iowa

I signed up for Jane Atkinson's Contemporary Bobbin Lace class.

Since I knew I would be busy with convention responsibilities, I chose to work on samples using prickings that Jane provided instead of working on creating a design. I started making samples with threads that I have purchased from www.Bart-Francis.be at previous lace events. The first sample is made from Lino Flandrica or Linnen Fantasy 50% Linnen/49%wol/1%Pes. The color is actually a pale blue-green with ecru. I had no trouble winding it on bobbins or advancing the thread as it was woven into the sample. The narrow portions did not break. The sample is worked on a pricking that has 14 mm between pins and 13 mm between pins.

The second sample is made from Tulipano 100% silk 50 gr with Viscose Multimetal 50/2 NeC. I had no trouble winding the 2 threads on bobbins or advancng the thread as it was woven into the sample. The threads did not break. The sample is worked on a pricking that ranges from 3 mm between pins to 7 mm between pins.

The third sample was also worked on the pricking that ranges from 3 mm to 7 mm between pins. This time 3 different fibers were used. 2 pairs of bobbins were wound with 30%/70% Ananas/Zijde-soie-silk Nm 30/1. 2 pairs of bobbins were wound with Vanish Aqua solube 100% Natural XL-1PL-Core. The other pairs of bobbins were wound with Silk 100% 40g with a label marked Institute Karo Bobbin Lace. The color changes from brown with off-white twist to ecru with off-white twist to gray with off-white twist. After working the sample, it was immersed in water to dissolve the water soluble fiber. The threads are soft so the sample tends to shrink in width and stretch in length.

The fourth sample was also worked on the pricking that ranges from 3 mm to 7 mm between pins. This time 1 fiber was used. The label says: SQUARE-SAIL FREDERICK J. FAWCETT BOSTON, MASS. 100% LINEN YARN 20/2 LINEN VAT ROSE #16 DYELOT 849.