What stories are captured in the stitches of a knitted shawl? Every time I see a piece of historical knitting, I find myself wondering about the person who made it and the person who wore it.
Lace trim is a lovely way to personalize a garment or an accessory. Knitting various Victorian lace patterns in a swatch size is a quick and fun way to try something new and then be able to let your imagination run a creative path to a new use.
In Russia, you will not find anyone who has not heard of an Orenburg “downy” shawl—the warm, heavy shawl with the light, delicate lace-patterning called “cobweb.” Downy shawls are distinguished by a center design.
This lace stole is of the Orenburg tradition with gossamer construction using Diagonal, Strawberry, and Mouse Print patterns.
You make your entrance—gown flowing around your feet as you float down the grand staircase leading to the ballroom. You’re wearing a pair of elegant tatted fingerless gloves as your hands glide delicately along the banister.
Chester was an engineer. You might be wondering, how did an engineer become interested in tatting?
Here’s a tatted edging originally published in Needlecraft Magazine’s October 1928 issue.
Making an elegant pair of accessories for a bride’s special day only requires a few materials—a spool of cord, some thread, delicate beads, and a tatting needle.
Enjoy a free tatted square medallion pattern from PieceWork’s “Trimmings.”
Weldon’s Practical Needlework houses a wealth of information on Victorian tatting. The following “uses” and “requisites” for Victorian tatting are reproduced here as they appeared in Weldon’s Practical Needlework, Volume 4.