How does Lace from Lier work?

Lace from Lier is embroidered with a hook on tulle. This tulle is first strung to a frame so that the lattice is open.Yarns of differen thickness are used. Both tulle and yarn are made of cotton. Lace from Lier is made only with a chain stitch. By using this chain stitch in different ways you get a very nice effect. 

 

       

   

You work as follows. The frame with tulle strung to it should be laid down in such a way that the left hand can easily reach the underside. This is because the hook (held by the right hand) is used on top of the tulle and the left hand is used to hold the yarn. By working thus you can make chain stitches. 

     

When we want to embroider Lace from Lier we first have a good look at the tulle. The holes of the tulle are called lattice and the threads crosses. You can see horizontal lines and a cross. It is important to work in these lines first to get to know the tulle.

You embroider thus: with the hook you pull the thread through the tulle. The hook is used to turn the thread so that you make chain stitches. This can seem difficult at first, but when you get the knack of it it is absolutely not difficult.

 

By using different thicknesses of the yarn you get shading and thus you get playful nuances of light and dark. Beautiful designs are drawn on the tulle by holding the drawing underneath it.

The drawing on the tulle used to be made with a pencil. This wasn’t very clear. Nowadays we have a special pen which can be washed out with water. Always try to embroider the bows, twirls and lines on the tulle as gracefully as possible. When you have embroidered the drawing you fill it in with all kinds of ground, as they are called.

 

You can make beautiful pieces of work, but I am sure of one thing. If it is not  perfect, unpick and start again. You get the most beautiful pieces by working neatly. Unpicking is easy, just pull your thread and out it comes. That is why it is best not to leave your work as it is when,as so often happens to us, the telephone rings or somebody calls at the door, but to take the time to fasten  a stich otherwise it may disappear.

In Lace from Lier you find many flowers and grounds. There are flowers the stitches of which have to be counted along the lattice of the tulle all the time, they are called flowers on stitch. There are also drawn flowers, embroidered on the lines you have drawn.

A ground is filling in a piece of tulle. There are many different grounds. I have designed about 200 myself. Here you can see a groundsampler on which you can see several grounds.

Almost everybody likes Lace.Especially when you have made it yourself it’s good for our selfrespect. Lace is valuable. Children know that, they like to dress up in tulle or old netcurtains with flowers on them.

When we are doing it, we get interested in and curious about the origin of Lace. Lace from Lier was unknown to many people. By having exhibitions, giving classes and workshops and regularly attending meetings Lace from Lier gets more and more attention. This makes me very happy. I hope that this site can be an encouragement and stimulation to those who pass on the hobby of this rich Lace from Lier.