Monday, December 6, 2010

Current Project - Crocheted Lace Edging


From thread lace to afghans, pillows and potholders, learning to crochet gives a girl the means of producing many wonderful items for the hope chest. I think crochet is an immensely satisfying craft. It is old-fashioned, and yet still useful and versatile.

I always have several projects going at one time. Right now I'm running a hot-pad/dishcloth factory because they make such useful gifts. But I also usually have an ongoing thread project of some kind. This yellow lace edging is the project I'm currently working on. I have one length finished and am working on the second length. I'll sew them on a pair of pillowcases and add them to Abigail's hope chest.



The pattern comes from a vintage Lily thread crochet booklet and is called "Shell Parade." The directions call for a teensy hook and the thinnest thread, but I'm using a size 9 steel hook with size 10 thread. This makes the lace about three-fourths of an inch wide, which is just what I want to go on the pillowcases. It is lacy, but still sturdy enough to withstand everyday use.


4 comments:

  1. Hi

    Can the thread be used on any material and which materiel is it best suited for?

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    1. Yes, thread crochet works on about any material, you just have to match the thickness of the thread to the weight of the material. If the material is thin, you would use a thinner size thread and a thicker thread for thicker material. Remember the higher the number on the size of thread, the thinner the thread will be.

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  2. This is beautiful. I'd like to try my hand at crocheting a lace edging for a table runner, but am not sure how to attach the completed edging to the runner. Any advice? Thank you!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Marie. When I crochet a lace edging that is made separately I usually sew it on by hand. That is the typical way crochet lace edging is attached. Try to match the thread as well as you can and take tiny whip stitches so that the lace will be secure and wash it gently. If the lace has a straight open edge on one side, you could also try a narrow zig-zag stitch with a sewing machine. Use a longer stitch length, but narrow width for the zig-zag.

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