Catherine asks< Is there anyone out there who makes/teaches fine white traditional needlelace?> Carolyn Wetzel and Laurie Waters are both traditionalists. Although I do not teach, I have spent an inordinate amount of time looking at old laces and admiring them. I love Catherineâs books and have recommended them widely. But, it is an interesting question. From the need to qualify Needlelace with the term âfine white traditionalâ would I be correct in assuming that the use of color is no longer controversial and that colored pieces worked in buttonhole stitch are now considered lace? I think that in the 1960s and 1970s the use of color was revolutionary and shocking, often calling for condemnation from the âlace policeâ. I sense it is no longer the case. Color is really mainstream. But, this is part of the problem that I am encountering when I try to explain what lace is to the public. I present all these works such as Ros Hills and Wako Ono, and there is nothing in them to signal âlaceâ to the public. One is a form of weaving, and one is marginally an embroidery technique. I have tried to concentrate the show on bobbin and needle lace because I think that these techniques are not well-known, and need to be introduced to the public. Crochet, tatting, macramé, lace knitting, etc. are better known and need no introduction.
Now I have the intellectual problem that the only thing that bobbin and needle lace had in common were that they were once made in white and looked very similar at that time, converging in appearance due to the demand for white luxury neckwear that existed in the 17th and 18th century. Now that they are not made in white, what do they have in common? Devon - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
