New bobbin lace magazine: Vuelta y Cruz/Twist and Cross

I have the pleasure to announce you the release of the

new bobbin lace magazine  
Vuelta y Cruz/Twist and Cross

I hope you find it interesting and that you enjoy making the laces and reading the articles included, all of them original and from lacers from all over the world.  
The texts are both in Spanish and English.

I will be present at the following lace meetings: 

8th May, at Berga (Barcelona)

I will update the information in the magazine's own web:

                                                        http://www.vueltaycruz.es/

New bobbin lace magazine

Spanish bobbins from 1950

And lets continue with a piece of news.

I have a good reason for having been away from the blog for some time. Aproximately one year ago I bet on a project I considered to be very interesting and I hope all lacers will like: I have created a bobbin lace magazine, which will be very soon on sale.

The magazine, whose name and logo I will comment on my next post,  once they have been registered, is a magazine which includes original patterns from international bobbin lacers and a variety of techniques.  It will also include articles related to bobbin lace, which will give the magazine a didactic and educative approach. It is written in Spanish and in English.

More information soon.

Christmas ornament

Thanking you all for following my blog, this time I am not writing an article but I am giving you a Christmas pattern to decorate your Christmas tree baubles as a present.


It is a very easy design, made of spiders, appropriate also for beginners.


Before starting to work, you have to take some measurements.

First we have to measure the top circle of the bauble. Then we have to draw this circle on a cardboard (it measures normally around 8 mm diameter). To this circel we have to attach three patterns (as can be seen on picture 3).

Next, we have to measure the bauble itself: our design has to measure the length of the contour divided into 2. So, you have to adjust the pattern to this measurement enlarging or reducing it.

Materiales necesarios

Depending on this measurement, you can use a more or less coarse thread. I have used a silver thread mixed with a yellow thread to make it look golden.

To start, place a few pins all around the edge of the circle, and make a ring putting one thread several times around the circle of pins.  Knot the bobbins of this pair and let it hanging. This pair will be one of the pairs used for the tape of spiders. Hang the remaining 7 pairs to the central ring one next to the other with a hook.

Almohadilla con trabajo en progreso

Work the tape of spiders following the design.

When reaching the end point, leave all pairs pending, as you will need them to finish up the bauble. We can cut the threads at 10 cm, to have the bobbins free to use again.

Once the 3 tapes are finished and all pending pairs are cut to 10 cm, take all the pins off the pillow and remove the lace in order to "dress" your bauble.

We must introduce the top of the bauble through the ring of our lace, cover the bauble with the 3 tapes and tie the ends of the tapes at the bottom of the bauble. With one pair we can make a festoon as long as we like it.

Pattern

Finally, we have to cut all threads to the same length with a pair of scissors.

Now we can hang our bauble from our Christmas Tree or place it where we prefer.

I hope you have enjoyed making this bauble and that you have a good result. I would like you to send me the pictures of your finished laces in order to be able to show them here. I am sure each of you will give a personal touch to the lace.

I wish you all a

Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2011!