I wished I owned a string store

Even though the latest Piecework arrived a few days ago, I left it in the protective plastic covering until the 3-day weekend officially started. I know I am sometimes so eager to see what is inside that I rush through it when I do not have enough time available to really read, examine, and savor.

It is another wonderful issue. Of course, I am rather biased. Piecework is my all-time, #1 favorite magazine ever. I can hardly stress that enough. To me it is the perfect combination of history, background, information, patterns, and helpful advertisements. The current issue is no exception. I haven't fully read a single article yet, but the projects have definitely caught my interest.

The first one that had me just itching to try was the article by Carolyn Wetzel, "Oya: A Traditional Needle-Lace Embellishment". The first time I ever saw or read about Oya was a fantastic article by Kax Wilson in the Jul/Aug 1996 Piecework. This article was accompanied by instructions with line drawings for making the motifs and edgings (designed by Gretchen Allgeier) but I didn't give it a try then.

Instead of doing, I fell back on reading; something I often tend to do. I repeatedly checked out the library book "Mediterranean Knotted Lace" by Elena Dickson. This book had wonderful instructions, but still I didn't give it a try.

The Jan/Feb 2006 Piecework came along and again Gretchen Allgeier had instructions, this time with close-up photos of lace in progress. I oohed and aahed, but I was distracted because that issue also had a good bit of knitting including a Nancy Bush sock pattern.

Perhaps the third time IS the charm. This current issue has again instructions accompanied by even more step-by-step close-up photos. I have to say I am really glad that Piecework has stuck with me and prodded me along to finally, finally give this a try.

Which brings me to my post title. I wish I owned a string store. Here I am finally ready to give it go and I don't have the Perfect String. Now I have, as you might imagine, a goodly bit of string, in various sizes and a number of colors. In the instructions Carolyn said she used size 16 pearl cotton (Presencia) but that you may use any thread smooth enough to slide against itself without catching when making the knots.

So I pulled a ball of size 12 pearl (DMC) which is thicker but worked nicely. I didn't have any bright, bold colors in size 12. I was thrilled when I finished my first (and so far only) pyramid. Working with the thicker size 12 made me appreciate even more Carolyn's beautiful and delicate work.

See some beauties here including some by Carolyn Wetzel. Be sure to click to enlarge those photos over there so you can really appreciate the beauty of their work. Some YouTube videos are also available.