I started learning about hairpin-lace recently. The first part, creating the lace strip, was easy. I was delighted to find an old and beautiful craft to add to my repertoire. Then came the realization that I’d just learned the foundation of hairpin-lace making. Now I needed to know what to do with it.
There are several books that I’ve seen for sale. But I work on a budget so those books will stay on my wish list for a while. Meanwhile, I want to pursue my new interest now. So I searched online for instructions on hairpin lace. Here are some great places where I’ve found directions that will further my new hobby skills.
At the Stitch Diva web site, http://www.stitchdiva.com/custom.aspx?id=73 there are some great basics hairpin-lace tips and tricks. For example, one page tells how to determine gauge by counting the number of loops in a 4 inch strip. So you have to do test swatches in hairpin-lace just like any other yarn craft. There’s also a great section about how to join strips without distorting the fabric. By the time I read that I had already had a few pieces bunch up as I connected them. Now I know why.
I turned to youtube and found a couple of great videos on hairpin lace. There are probably more videos available but at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqV0arafa4E I found 3 methods of joining hairpin lace strips. They’re basic methods and good to practice on.
Then I found the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOTkk2xKu7Q&feature=related in Spanish. There are other videos by the same artist, who makes beautiful shapes out of hairpin lace and crochet. My Spanish is limited to numbers and about 50 basic words like cat and family titles. But this video makes learning this craft easy. Then I noticed her website http://www.tejiendoperu.com/ . On the site there are several doily projects with written instructions in Spanish and diagrams.
Next, I found http://stitchdi.nexcess.net/tutorials/hairpin-lace/guide-lines which describes how to do guide-lines in hairpin-lace. This is a piece of information which I had not picked up on which I think will make connecting my strips much easier.
Finally, I found a website which demystifies how to shape hairpin-lace in three ways, including a pretty wavy design which makes me think of a ripple or shell effect. It will be great for designing shawls and afghans. At http://www.wrights.com/wrights/class/needlework/haripintechniques/hairpinvariations.htm you can also find the fringe look in hairpin-lace.
Now that I have the basics of hairpin-lace I’m ready to try more advanced techniques. I hope these websites will help me, and you, with proceeding in this fun and interesting hobby. Good luck.
Sources: Stitch Diva Studios, http://www.stitchdiva.com/custom.aspx?id=73 and http://stitchdi.nexcess.net/tutorials/hairpin-lace/guide-lines
smr61754 created http://www.youtube.com/user/smr61754 .
Esperanza Rosas made the website http://www.tejiendoperu.com/ and the youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOTkk2xKu7Q&feature=related .
Wrights made the website http://www.wrights.com/wrights/class/needlework/haripintechniques/hairpinvariations.htm .