This week’s knitting pattern is based on a knitted doily edging from 1884. The reason it took me two weeks to get this one online, rather than giving it to you last week is because I had to rework the way the diamonds transition from one to the next, and kept changing my mind about how to do it, which meant a LOT of knitting.
This week’s installments of “And So To Sew” and “And So To Embroider” are all about giving your home a little love.
And So To Sew bulletin 13a is all about soft and hard furnishings with instructions to make a bedspread with frill or pleats, pillows, fancy up your dressing table with a skirt, a wall pocket for all your bits and pieces and so much more.
And So To Embroider bulletin 13b teaches you how to design and liven up your curtains and cushions with embroidery and clever self made fabric trims. From box pleated trims to a clever folded triangular edging that can be used on a range of different projects (I think it would be really cute on the bottom of a little’s girl’s skirt).
This week marks almost the halfway point for our And So To Sew series, and a third of the way through And So To Embroider. I hope you’re enjoying them as much as I do.
If you’d like to check out the rest of the series that I have uploaded so far, plus a large range on vintage embroidery and sewing books, check out the whole collection on the “Vintage Embroidery and Sewing Books” page. And don’t forget to come back next week for more!
This week “And So To Sew” bulletin 12a teaches you how to measure yourself and choose the right size sewing pattern and make basic alterations to the length and width.
While my edited version of “And So to Embroider” 12b takes designing embroideries with paper even further, teaching you how to change your pattern by using different stitches. These designs are used on a patchwork beach bag, felt handkerchief sachet, and woollen baby blanket.
As always, I have included modern videos or photo tutorials for all of the techniques used.
Today’s knitting pattern is a very unusual lace edging rescued from the advice column of the Melbourne Leader from 1884. I’m a sucker for any 19th century lace edging that doesn’t have a picture of the finished lace, because they’re usually ignored or missed by modern knitters and are sometimes very special, like this one.
One of my favourite types of needlework is any textile for which the major tools needed are a needle and thread. Whether it is needle lace edgings such as oya ignesi with it’s stunning floral and geometric designs, needle lace (I’m a fan of the more colourful and modern pieces), or teneriffe lace, if it’s portable I’ll give it a go.
Many years ago I bought a teneriffe lace cushion called a Koppo cushion and was flooded with requests to buy it or to tell people where they could get one. Unfortunately, since they were made in 1955 that wasn’t going to be possible. Even worse, I seem to have lost mine when we moved house, so I made a replacement and you can too. (I’m hoping it will still turn up but considering how organised most of my gear is, I doubt it).
My poor lost, beloved Koppo cushion
I’ve written a full tutorial on sewing the cushion with two options on how to make the top (leather or paper), what to fill it with and a link to an amazing book that will teach you all you need to know about making your lace. Thanks to some notes I kept and the patent online, I even managed to recreate the top of the Koppo cushion accurately so I have my favourite piece of needlework gear back!
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