How to Make Battenberg and Point Lace - Preparing a Sampler

Preparing a Sampler

Every lace maker should prepare a sampler upon which to reproduce the various lace stitches, which may be worked, cut out, and repeated until proficiency is acquired, and this without danger of soiling or in any way spoiling the piece of work in which the stitch is to be introduced. If every stitch is practised in this way the worker will in the end, besides having become very familiar with the various stitches, have them illustrated in a compact, practical form.

Only those workers who have prepared them for use know the comfort and satisfation to be had in the possession of a sampler.

To prepare this sampler an oblong piece of cambric or holland is required. The size of this depends upon the size of the collection of stitches the worker hopes to obtain, and a sampler is a great incentive to new stitches. A new stitch becomes a great prize and is eagerly added to the collection. In view of this, and that there are over a hundred stitches in common use, it is well to make the sampler sufficiently large.

When holland – the smooth, shiny holland – is used, no additional background is needed. When cambric is used, it is necessary to line it with a sheet of strong but not too stiff paper, or a light weight canvas. With narrow tape or battenberg braid a part of this sampler is checked off in one-inch squares and the remainder in oblongs one inch by one-half inch in size. The squares are for the networks and wheels, while the oblongs are for insertions and bars. The braid presents a very neat appearance, and is delightfully firm if it is first basted in place and then stitches through the center on the machine.

The last piece of braid to be attached should be the one that passes around the others like a frame and covers up the cut ends of the braid. Or a sampler may be made on an all-over lace pattern; this would show the best application of the different stitches to the various shaped spaces.

Tutorial 1 === Battenberg and Point Lace Selection of Materials

Tutorial 2 === Basting and Overcasting

Tutorial 3 === Turning Corners

Tutorial 4 === Scallops and Loops

Tutorial 5 === Overcasting

Tutorial 6 === Cutting the Braid

Tutorial 7 === Basting the Rings

Tutorial 8 === Fastening the Thread

Tutorial 9 === Preparing a Sampler

Archery bows Archery Camping & Hunting Canning fruit Classic Car Crochet Drawing Embroidery Fencing Guitar making Hats	Knots, splices & rope work Lace Macrame Mechanical Drawing Tatting Taxidermy Tin Can Toys Watches Wood Carving Wood Joints Wood Turning