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Monday, May 3, 2010

TUTORIAL ON CREATING A NEELDE LACE PILLOW

Greetings to Everyone, 

I am venturing out a bit to learn the art of Needle Lace.  In my last post I showed you a wee green leaf which was very difficult to create in an embroidery hoop.  So hence, I asked two fellow needle lace makers how they created their Needle Lace Pillows and they referred me to their blogs.  Lenore who is from SW Michigan was very helpful and her blog is called,  tatt3r'slacystuff. Click on Lenore's blog to see how she created her Needle Lace Pillow.  Also Britt from Perth Western Australia also shows her Needle Lace Pillows on her blog called "Stitchety Grub".  Both sites were very inspirational.   

So I started off searching for a container to use.  I found a Bungee Cord container like Lenore had in our basement so I used it too.  I wrapped it with blue foam I found in the sports department at Meijer's. It is approximately 1/4 inch thick. I applied the foam to the bottle with E-6000 Glue and then tied a string around it and let it set for 24 hours.

In the above photo it shows the fabrics I decided to use for this project.  I have endless supplies of fabrics so I decided on some batiks fabrics I bought years ago.  It was time to use them.  I also Crazy Quilt Pieced a CD Pincushion top and started stitching on it while the glued was drying on my container.  The tutorial for the CD Pincushion is on Lisa's blog called,
 "Ivory Blush Rose".  Lisa's blog is very lovely and she is a very talented and creative stitcher.

I then wrapped the plastic container with two layers of "Warm and Natural Batting"  and hand stitched the seams together.  My Needle Lace Pillow is approximately 9 inches long and 18 inches around with the batting on it.

Then I added my Orange Batik fabric and made it approximately 18 inches long so I had plenty of lenght to fold over both ends and make a casing.  On one end I pulled it tight and tie it off.  This is the end I plan to add the CD Pincushion too.  The other end I left a bit of room too.  The cap of the container can still be unscrewed to put my needle lace supplies into for storage.

Then I added my second layer to fabric all away around. It is very loosely added so I can place a wooden dowel under this area.

In the above photo you will see my completed CD Pincushion and I am now ready to stitch it to the closed end of my Needle Lace Pillow.

Here is a photo of my CD Seascape Pincushion fully attached to My Needle Lace Pillow.

To make the wood Needle Lace Dowel, I had to recruit "My Sweetie" whose has a passion for woodworking. Lucky Moi!!!  But first, I went to Menards and bought a Wooden Dowel that was 1 1/4 inch thick. It was the largest they had available.  Then My Sweetie took it to his wood shop and started creating my Needle Lace Dowel. The total lenght of the dowel is  9 1/4 inches long.  He cut the fancy end on it to make it easier for me to pull on it. Then he spray painted it with a primer, the aqua paint was next and he put a sealer over it. It is now nice and smooth so it will not catch on my fabric.

So this is a photo of My Completed Needle Lace Pillow with CD Seascape Pincushion.  You can see in the background My Sweet Grand Daughter Chloe.  She will soon be 4 years old.

Because stitching is my first passion I thought I would show you all the Seascape Stitching I put on the top of My CD Pincushion. I never really have a plan when I start.  I just pull lots of flosses and beads and start stitching away.  I have recently in the last year learned how to do the "Drizzle Stitch" and "Open and Close Woven Picot Stitches" so I like using them often.  vbg 

 Some of the flosses I used was "Kreninik Metallics Medium #16 Braid", "Mouline DMC Variations" in the aqua and oranges, "DMC Cotton Perle" in variegated colors, "Valdani Pearl Cotton", "Necessities, Over Dyed Floss" "River Silks" hand dyed Silk Ribbon and "Flair" tubular Ribbon and "Frosty Rays" which I scrunched up to look like seaweed.

The colors and fabric I choose for the project is not in my comfort zone.  I rarely use these colors.  I truly enjoy the stitching and at time I find myself having a difficult time stopping.  You can see I did leave a wee bit of space for the pins.     

This is a photo of my completed CD Seascape Pincushion.

The above photo is of two vintage Needle Lace books I bought recently.  I am very anxious to start learning the art of Needle Lace. 

My Friend Ann an Expert Needle Lace Maker from England advised me she uses "Pearsall's Embroidery Silk" which is made in England. The above photo is my recent purchase of this silk floss.  I can hardly wait to use it. 

I am going to the Mid Michigan Lace Maker's Guild Meeting this coming Saturday and I am taking their class called "Pin Lace".  I am looking forward to it.  In My Next Posting I will share with you all photos of this meeting and what kind of Lace I create.

During the mean time I would like to thank all my blogging friends for visiting My Blog and leaving lovely comments for me to read.  They are all greatly appreciated. 

Our weather has been so glorious that My Flower Gardens our sprouting and blooming everywhere.  "Spring" is my Most Favorite time of year. 

When I was at my favorite book store I found the "April Issue of British Country Living". Oh, how I love this Magazine.  This issue was special because it was the "Garden Issue.  I instantely bought it and when I got home I went to the sunroom cuddle up in my easy chair and immerised myself in all the truly beautiful photos of gardens around the world.  .  Looking at all these gardens photos made me smile and made my heart feel very happy.   

Take care My Friends and I will chat again soon. 

Hugs                                                                                                                
 

14 comments:

Jane said...

What a lovely needlelace pillow, and a great pin cushion. Enjoy your lesson

Elspeth said...

Judy, what an amazing lady you are. The lace pillow/dowel are fantastic. You've gone to so much trouble to have everything perfect. I love the embroidered padded cushion end. Interesting books too. We must be sisters in another life, ie our love of books. I do hope your class on lacemaking will be pleasant for you. Thanks for sharing so much of your 'how-to' here and the wonderful blogs. Cheers.

Heather said...

Judy... this is just wonderful... quite a process! But the colours you have chosen are fantastic... I love them... I know what you mean about "not your comfort zone", but isn't it lovely to break out of our molds and try something new, VBG! I know you are going to be great at needle lace and I can't to see what you create. Hugs.

Acornmoon said...

I love our Country Living magazine also, I have a huge collection which I cannot bear to part with.

I enjoyed looking at your new project. Your granddaughter is so sweet!

Umintsuru said...

Hi Judy,
Thank you for visiting and leaving comments. I would be happy to tat you a heart. Just let me know the colour you would like it in. Your new hobby is exciting and I am eager to see what you will be making. I hope you will blog about it. Your CQ cd pincuhsion adds a nice touch to your pillow. I love English gardens too. I wish I could have tea in one.

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

Hello Everyone, You all make me smile when I read all your lovely and kind comments.. They are greatly appreciated. Wendy I would love to set in a English Garden and drink tea with you and tat. But for now I will be happy creating Lace. Hugs Judy

Art4Sol said...

I've been toying with the idea of trying some needle lacing too. I picked up a couple books on ebay awhile ago, then last night I was rereading a Fiber Arts magazine article about these wonderful pieces an artist made. Oh there's just sooo much I want to do.
Hope you are doing well....been missing all of my blogging buddies.

Karen said...

I love your pillow, such beautiful colours and as for Pearsall silk, it is truly divine.

Heather said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Stitchety Grub said...

WOW! fabulous pillow and pin cushion - I have the Nordfords-Clark book - I treated myself at an Australian Lace Guild conference week in Tasmania in 2001 :-) it's a beauty as they say here in Aus hehe- Well done :-)

Maureen said...

Love your new pillow , looking forward to seeing the needlelace pieces you will make, did I tell you I used to be a bobbin lacemaker but gave it up a few years ago, still have all the bobbins tho'.

Gayle said...

Thank you so much for the tutorial. I'm tempted to try lace-making again. I've only tried making bobbin lace myself.
:-)

AnatolianCollections said...

nice work! love it!
take a look at my blog i do oya lace:

www.couchcrochetcrumbs.blogspot.com

Barb said...

Beautiful pillow, now how do I use it for stitching my needle lace? What is the purpose of the wood piece? Can you please explain as I am new to the art of needle lace

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