Hello and welcome to my new blog!

I recently took part in the Second Annual Italian Renaissance Costuming Challenge on the Realm of Venus site, and it inspired me to start a diary of my crafty pursuits.

Though I had my gown completed for the competition deadline, there are many items still left to be completed; sleeve embroidery, stockings, lace making.. the list could be endless if I let it!

 

But one thing I wasn't completely happy with was my first 

attempt at Reticella lace. I chose the pattern from Renaissance Patterns for Lace and Embroidery by Federico Vinciolo, and though I try not to let a pattern intimidate me with its complexity, I think I took the wrong approach with this piece. So it's back to basics. 

The first step was to take a small piece of pure linen from my stash and create a drawn thread grid. The grid to the right is quite small, maybe 3 inches across at most. Each of the gaps are 10 thread wide and the bars between are just 3 threads wide. I've already started binding the edges of this piece in buttonhold stitch in silk thread, which should give me plenty of time to think about the design I'm going to create.