Today’s piece is about How to read a pricking: essential literacy. If you’ve been at this a while you may already know; if you’re starting, even better: you’ll save yourself the suffering I went through.
Print two copies: one to work on, one clean. Trust me If you fancy, I’ll leave Free pattern.
If the pattern is old and a mark is unclear, don’t invent: ask. There are many lacemakers who know.
What you will need¶
You’ll need this, nothing more, nothing less:
- Continuous lines: workers.
- Dashed lines: passives.
- Dots: pins.
- Crossed strokes: cross type.
How I do it, step by step¶
Don’t skip any. Everything links in this craft:
- Modern prickings mark direction with arrows.
- In old ones it is deduced from context.
Where it gets sticky¶
These are the stumbles I see most often:
- Print two copies: one for notes, one clean.
- Check scale with a ruler before starting.
Variations¶
When you have it under control, try these:
- Change the thread weight.
- Try two colours.
- Add more pairs.
Nearby¶
- Free pattern: floral bookmark
- Free pattern: classic 15 cm torchon bookmark
- Free pattern: edged napkin
- Introduction to tree motif
I’ll stop here. If you need decent materials —proper thread, proper pillows— Encaixe is the shop, and they know what they are talking about.