Romanian Point Lace Ornament (4")Romanian Point Lace consists of a crotchet braid that is tacked to a pattern and then embellished with needle embroidery. All the work is done on the back of the piece.
Click on the pictures to enlarge and see detail.
Not many supplies are required, you probably have them at home already.
I use #10 crotchet cotton.
Size 1 crotchet hook (small hook - whatever size you have will probably do).
A scrap of plain cotton (I use an old plain sheet) for the pattern.
Small piece of clear "Mac Tac" (some sort of sticky backed plastic) to cover the pattern so you don't stitch to the pattern. Not every one uses this, but it makes it easier and also makes the pattern stiffer.
Contrasting sewing thread to tack the braid to the pattern.
Fine sharp needle (and thimble) for tacking the braid to the pattern.
Blunt (tapestry) needle for doing the needle embroidery.
Romanian Point Lace starts with a crotchet braid. They key to this simple braid is to turn the braid after every stitch (really 2 stitches - sorry I am self taught and don't know the technical terms!).
Braid -
Some close up pictures of the braid-
After turning the braid, go under the 2 stitches
Make one stitch
and then make another stitch
The braid is ready to be turned (always turn the braid the same way, clock wise if looking from the top).
This results in a braid that is the same on both sides, with little loops on the side and bars across the braid (from turning the braid).
When making a long braid it is helpful to tie the braid up with an elastic. A pin in the loop at the working end is useful so the braid doesn't unravel when you put it down.You will need about 81cm/32" of braid for this ornament.
Trace the pattern on a piece of plain fabric (I use a ball point pen).
Cover with clear "Mac Tac".
Cut out.
Starting at an overlapping join on the pattern (this will hide the join), tack the braid (starting with the beginning end of the braid) to the pattern with the contrasting sewing thread and a fine sharp needle.
Secure the start of the sewing thread by taking a few stitches at the back of the pattern. I tack the braid by coming up in between the bars on the braid, then going down beside the braid on one side and then the other. Take care not to stitch through the bars and also don't tack on the side where there will be an adjoining braid.Also pay attention to the way the overlap/under laps are on the pattern when tacking it down.
On the pattern there are also spiderweb designs. Add a little stitch at the center of these designs (4) with the sewing thread (I switched to red thread so that it would show up).
The back of the work, the braid is all tacked down.
When you reach the end of the work (this is what I meant by starting at an overlapping join on the pattern), unravel (or add more stitches)the braid so the two ends will meet. Cut the crotchet cotton so that there is a long tail, thread on a blunt needle and make a stitch through the loop(s) at the end of the braid.
Stitch the ends together and to the underlying braid.
All the overlaps and joins need to be stitched together.
Travel from one section to another by going under the bars. Remember that this is the back of the piece.
Join the braid using the loops on the side.
Stitch every where the braids touch,
and overlap.
Now the piece is ready to have the decorative needle embroidery added.
There are many options. This is how I choose to do the stitching. Like anything you make you can change it to suit your taste.
Anchor the starts and stops of thread in the bars of the braid (also why I leave long tails on the braid so it is ready to be used). Make sure not to make any stitches through the pattern (it is only temporary and will be removed).
Use the blunt/tapestry needle for all this work.
Use the loops at the side of the braid when stitching.
Petal design -
Stitch 12 pairs of threads around the arch. All coming from the center and evenly spaced around the top (I use every second loop). There should be 6 on each side of the center.
Once the thread has been anchored at the bottom, start needle weaving under and over 2 sets of bars.
The first section is almost finished.
Keep pushing the weaving down to make it even.
Evenly weave 12, then 10 (8,6,4 then 2) pairs of bars to fill in the leaf shape. Always weaving under and over two pairs of bars.
There are many options. This is how I choose to do the stitching. Like anything you make you can change it to suit your taste.
Anchor the starts and stops of thread in the bars of the braid (also why I leave long tails on the braid so it is ready to be used). Make sure not to make any stitches through the pattern (it is only temporary and will be removed).
Use the blunt/tapestry needle for all this work.
Use the loops at the side of the braid when stitching.
Petal design -
Make sure you have an extra long piece of cotton threaded when you start this design.
Stitch 12 pairs of threads around the arch. All coming from the center and evenly spaced around the top (I use every second loop). There should be 6 on each side of the center.
Once the thread has been anchored at the bottom, start needle weaving under and over 2 sets of bars.
The first section is almost finished.Keep pushing the weaving down to make it even.
Evenly weave 12, then 10 (8,6,4 then 2) pairs of bars to fill in the leaf shape. Always weaving under and over two pairs of bars.
Spider Web variation #1 (uneven number of bars) -
Coming from the side, stitch under the tacking thread.
Repeat for the all the spider web bars.
All the bars are in place.
Ready to start wrapping the bars (I am right handed and work this direction).
Wrap 4 bars only.
Come up at the 5th bar,
don't wrap it, but start weaving under and over the bars (there are 3 threads for the 5th bar now)
until you have the size center you want. End at the unwrapped bar and
wrap the last bar.
Coming from the side, stitch under the tacking thread.
Repeat for the all the spider web bars.
All the bars are in place.
Ready to start wrapping the bars (I am right handed and work this direction).
Wrap 4 bars only.
Come up at the 5th bar,
don't wrap it, but start weaving under and over the bars (there are 3 threads for the 5th bar now)
until you have the size center you want. End at the unwrapped bar and
wrap the last bar.
Fern Design -
Coming up at the side near the bottom of the shape
stitch in the loop across and slightly higher, coming under the thread (like a herringbone stitch)
continue up the space in the herring bone stitch.
When you reach the top, stitch in the center loop.
Make loops of thread on either side of center over the herringbone stitches (feather stitch)
work a feather stitch down the shape.
Coming up at the side near the bottom of the shape
stitch in the loop across and slightly higher, coming under the thread (like a herringbone stitch)
continue up the space in the herring bone stitch.
When you reach the top, stitch in the center loop.
Make loops of thread on either side of center over the herringbone stitches (feather stitch)
work a feather stitch down the shape.
Spider Web variation #2 (even number of bars) -
Like the other spider web, lay the bars under the tacking thread.
Wrap 4 of the bars.
Wrap the 5th bar to the center
and start wrapping around each of the bars in turn, counter clockwise,
this is different from the other spider web variation.
Wrap around the center, until the size you want, stopping at the unwrapped bar,
wrap the last bar.
All the stitching is finished! Clip the tacking threads and remove from the pattern, flip the piece over to see the final results!
Wash in hot water and block (you can iron from the back on a towel) the ornament (it will shrink slightly and become firmer).
Like the other spider web, lay the bars under the tacking thread.
Wrap 4 of the bars.
Wrap the 5th bar to the center
and start wrapping around each of the bars in turn, counter clockwise,
this is different from the other spider web variation.
Wrap around the center, until the size you want, stopping at the unwrapped bar,
wrap the last bar.
All the stitching is finished! Clip the tacking threads and remove from the pattern, flip the piece over to see the final results!
Wash in hot water and block (you can iron from the back on a towel) the ornament (it will shrink slightly and become firmer).
I hope you give Romanian Point Lace a try. It is really very simple (maybe not from my instructions!).
There are other ways to make the braid.
There are other ways to make the braid.
These are the two types of braid that I need for the table center that I am working on (the top one is the regular braid, the bottom one will be the decorative outer edge).
Here are some links you might be interested in -
You Tube has some videos for Romanian Point Lace (not in English, but it will give you some ideas).
There is a Flickr group for Romanian Point Lace too.
Elena seems to be a real expert on RPL.
There are also some books out there, I can't comment on them as I haven't actually seen them.
It is easy to draw out patterns and you can also try using Batten-burg Lace patterns.
*Sept. 22nd, 2010 Update* -here is the pattern for the decorative outer edge braid.
*Dec 3rd, 2011 Update* - Ravelry has become a great resource for RPL.
* Dec. 20th, 2011 Update* - Here is a link for the PDF for the pattern
Good luck and let me know if you give it a try (or if you need any help).
Remember copyright laws - don't sell or claim this pattern as your own, do not use it or items made with it for commercial purposes, or post the pattern or my pictures elsewhere. Thanks!
You Tube has some videos for Romanian Point Lace (not in English, but it will give you some ideas).
There is a Flickr group for Romanian Point Lace too.
Elena seems to be a real expert on RPL.
There are also some books out there, I can't comment on them as I haven't actually seen them.
It is easy to draw out patterns and you can also try using Batten-burg Lace patterns.
*Sept. 22nd, 2010 Update* -here is the pattern for the decorative outer edge braid.
*Dec 3rd, 2011 Update* - Ravelry has become a great resource for RPL.
* Dec. 20th, 2011 Update* - Here is a link for the PDF for the pattern
Good luck and let me know if you give it a try (or if you need any help).
Remember copyright laws - don't sell or claim this pattern as your own, do not use it or items made with it for commercial purposes, or post the pattern or my pictures elsewhere. Thanks!
Lucy's Ornament. Great job!!