I do research on and recreate garments and objects from the past. My sources range from original items to photographs in books, periodicals, art works, literary references and period patterns. My research also involves the history of knitting needles and related implements.
The portrait in the corner is by Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun (1755-1842) of Elisabeth Alexeyevna (?), location and ownership unknown.
This bookmark, knit in Pattern Number 36 (c. 1830's) from Susanna E. Lewis's Knitting Lace, was a perfect project for experimenting with DMC's linen embroidery floss. I used three skeins on 3mm needles.
As for the pattern, it is one of the sampler patterns in Knitting Lace - A Workshop with Patterns and Projects by Susanna E. Lewis, Taunton Press, 1992.
I have used patterns from the sampler in this book over and over again, for period pieces as well as contemporary knitting. It is a fascinating book with charts and written directions for the 91 patterns, most of them lace. The book is out of print, hard to find and very expensive right now. I cherish my worn copy. I think, however, that it could be obtained through inter-library loan.
For the bookmark, I just repeated the stitch cycle of Number 36 several times with a garter stitch beginning, end and edges, and tied on the tassels. The linen is a bit stiff to knit with but the lace knitting is springy so that made it easier.
4 comments:
That's absolutely gorgeous!
Beautiful! Can you share the directions? Or direct me to where I can find the directions? Thanks!
Thank'ee, ladies, for the compliments!
As for the pattern, it is one of the sampler patterns in Knitting Lace - A Workshop with Patterns and Projects by Susanna E. Lewis, Taunton Press, 1992.
Here is my blog entry about the sampler:
http://historyknits.blogspot.com/2008/01/lace-samplers.html
I have used patterns from the sampler in this book over and over again, for period pieces as well as contemporary knitting. It is a fascinating book with charts and written directions for the 91 patterns, most of them lace. The book is out of print, hard to find and very expensive right now. I cherish my worn copy. I think, however, that it could be obtained through inter-library loan.
For the bookmark, I just repeated the stitch cycle of Number 36 several times with a garter stitch beginning, end and edges, and tied on the tassels. The linen is a bit stiff to knit with but the lace knitting is springy so that made it easier.
You're right about the price - the cheapest one on Amazon is $78! I'll check interlibrary loan.
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