Where has all the Lace gone?

[MadL]

Where does one go t' find fine lace? Preferably 'leaf' or other pattern (Not flowers!) and preferably linen or silk (even cotton will do).

I know where t' find Cravats but no one seems to know where t' find lace more then 6 inches long, I need at Lease 10 inch or better yet 15 inch!

(and NO, pirates did NOT make their own lace - They Plundered It!!!)

[LadyBarbossa]

Tis a very, very good question, MadL. Been seeking out lace m'self. I'm severely kicking myself for not pick up some "lace" at the local Goodwill that was PERFECT for the period as a cravat.

Sterling may know. Sterling's sported fine lace before.

~Lady B

[Capt. Sterling]

Mine is original late 17th century/early 18th century turtle head lace... Ebay

[Jack Roberts]

FA

[Capt. Sterling]

I know FB but what is FA and exactly a..hem... how does that rank?

[Guest]

You can try looking in second hand and thrift stores... check out the curtans.... some of them have longer lace trim...

[Jack Roberts]

Ask Master D. Dogge. He makes these rules up and yes I do believe FA is higher then an FB.

[Capt. Sterling]

Oh I know the rules well.... just wondering if ye did, which obviously ye do not... best run and take cover, I feel a keel hauling coming on

[callenish gunner]

Unfortunately these ranking are in a converse order ...they run to a lower scale as opposed to a higher scale i.e. and FB is low, an FA is even lower

[Jack Roberts]

Depends on how you look at it.

[Littleneckhalfshell]

Back to the topic at hand, Lace.

How many kinds of lace are there? I am have heard of lace trim, and lace curtains, and lace table cloths.

apparently other personal item can also be made of lace, (cravats). This whole subject is so far beyond what a simple seaman can ponder.

is it all interchangeable ? in other words can a lace curtain or table cloth be cut up to provide other smaller lace items?

I know I have some lace table cloths of my grandmother's around somewhere, (not in the best of condition).

Can they be used for other than their original purpose?

[Jack Roberts]

I couldn't see why not. Especially if your not trying to be PC. With that viewpoint, if you want lace, use anything to get what you need. The only thing I can think of is when you cut lace does it unravel? I'm not sure. Perhaps someone who has can share their experience.

[lady constance]

BEFORE CUTTING LACE ANYTHING--- you MUST mark your size and pattern....

THEN TAKE IT TO YOUR SEWING MACHINE AND 1. ZIG ZAG on your cutting marks, with loose then tight or just tight zig zag ALL THE EDGES where you will be cutting

then

2. SATIN STITCH THE EDGES

3.then cut the piece out....and trim very carefully the threads that stick out beyond the edge that you satin stitched to be finished

if you cut before you zig zag, you will lose the design and it will unravel into a ungodly mess and doubt/KNOW you would NOT NOT end up with the finished size you want....

and as faras lace.... look in the wedding gown section of fabric stores....( some times they are in glass cases because they are expensive to purchase BY THE FOOT--versus by the yard}

also ,look at good will for old wedding dresses-- pay attention to the laces on edges and ruffle and trim...

you should have good selections in doing this...you can even try ebay....old wedding dresses.. not antique , but older out of style ones

good luck! andhappy hunting fro bargains....

[michaelsbagley]

I haven't read enough on lace to really know what I am talking about... So please take everything I say on the matter with that in mind...

But from the little I have read, there are different kinds of lace (construction wise) on top of different styles. The main two I know anything about it bobbin lace (lace made with little bobbins and a cushion), and then netted lace (made with a little tool found at your local sewing supply store), I think I came across a third style of lace (and there may be more yet that I know less than nothing about). From the little I read, netted lace came into dominance during the Victorian era (although it's roots may go back further), and bobbin lace was what was popular during the GAoP. So if you are really interested in getting more into the nitty gritty of lace, that might help you start the search. I'm not sure if there is any highly visible difference between the construction styles, or whether the difference is something only a borderline expert would notice. And ultimately caring about those differences or not would really rely on how much one cares about that particular kind of detail.

Hope this has helped.

[LadyBarbossa]

Local Library should have a book on lace making of any sort. I went to the Library today and found two books on making lace: bobbin lace making and Lace making for beginners.

But, as I've glanced about, Googling and searching online, it's more about what type of lace rather than just... any lace. Ye just may find something out there at some store that will look like the lace from some outfit in a museum somewhere.

~Lady B

[Capt. Sterling]

http://www.mendes.co.uk/antique.lace.p.two.html

different examples of period laces... including needle and bobbin etc..

Edited February 21, 2010 by Capt. Sterling

[callenish gunner]

To buy some of that lace Capt. I guess I could fore go that kidney transplant I was needing :lol:

[lady constance]

Captain that lace is beautiful....

but i would not purchase any...too pricey ...

but if one was so inclined, one could learn to make thatkind of bobbin lace....

i know there are so many fine alternatives out there now adays.....

and i have seen many a portrait where it s a linen cravat with lace only on all the side edges..

[Capt. Sterling]

In all honesty, I do not expect anyone here to make any purchases from the link I posted. My intent was to provide examples of originals for people to learn from and to provide examples that people can use for comparisons when looking for replicas laces in stores or for hunting in such places as Ebay... IF you know what you are looking for, you never know when you might get blessed...Like I did on ebay when I won my auction for only fifty bucks (and that included shipping)...

As for learning how to... there are some very good tutorials online for needle lace, time consuming aye, but a lot easier than it looks and you do not have to invest in bobbins. Although either a bobbin lace or needle lace demo in camp would certainly be a plus for the hobby.

[Rumba Rue]

Thank you all for some great ideas. I never thought of canniblizing a wedding dress. That's a terrific idea!

[callenish gunner]

That's actually the only good use for a wedding dress ....Parts is Parts

[Salty]

how true on the wedding dress,

draper has a book on making bobbin lace, sometime, in my non existent free time i may purchase and try to get good enough to do a camp demostartion. if i really want to drive myself the rest of the way to insanity this year.

ebay and thrift shoppes are good places to find lace that may work for pc projects as noted before hand

[Guest]

You can also check with some of the SCAdains.... I've met a few that were working on making lace....

[LadyBarbossa]

OOoo awesome link, Sterling. Now why can't we find modern lace similiar to those designs? Would be a lot easier for we historical folk.

Those are great examples though.

I'm leaving the lace making to the professionals. Maybe if I obtain the coinage, I'll have a fabulous lacemaker from this region to make me some special lace for a fine gown. Maybe. Need th' darned money for it though. Or cuffs... or a cravat.

~Lady B

[lady constance]

i think it would well be worth learning--

as i tell my kids-- every skill you have means you are not dependant on some one else to provide you with that service or item.... you get to keep more money you make and then you can make some more with your new skill!!!!

and personally , i like the fiddly parts of life ... the things you must refine and fiddle with to make good and better and look and feel wonderful!!!

lady c