Tricia’s writing tonight, but first a very small update on the lace. Tricia and Mark had a profitable research trip yesterday, looking at how spangles were made and how to make some now. Tricia got a good look at some 17^th century lace, and judged that the threads used, even for lace up to 1 ½” wide, was extremely similar to a 9 dram tambour thread that is already on the market. This thread performed well when worked up into samples by Carolyn, is made of real metal, and closely approximates the original, so it looks like we have our thread. Once Mark and Tricia decide how to proceed on spangles, we’ll be in business.

 

Tricia:

We have heard from many of you who are keeping binders of the blog, or even made searchable databases of it. It is amazing, and really gratifying, to us that some of you are so into the project that you are keeping such good track of the information. Helpful to us too, I would add! We now know there are back-ups in case of some server crash. We are purposely using the blog to keep track of the research process for future publications we have planned. (I can never keep from jumping in…knowing how much you’re enjoying the blog keeps us inspired and energized; this is a long project and sometimes seems just overwhelming. The support and encouragement we get from the comments and emails is priceless.)

For those who are interested in more pictures and articles on the project, here are two magazines: Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly (Summer 2007) helped us launch the project with a three page spread. A full page photo of the Laton jacket is included in the article. The latest issue of Plimoth Life (Volume 6, Number 1, 2007) includes a four page article by Jill with lovely photos of the staff working on the pattern recreation and tracing. If you are interested in adding these magazines to your collection, the gift store at Plimoth Plantation has them available. You can contact them at 508-746-1622. Ask for the Crafts Center Gift Shop. (Jill again – If you’re interested in specific types of products related to the jacket, send me an email. jhall@plimoth.org  I’ll forward all the suggestions to the Director of Retail who is already working on product development. Your requests will help her gauge demand for various types of items.)

For those who have become obsessed with the costume history and embroidery of this period, Queen Elizabeth’s Wardrobe Unlock’d is one of the seminal books.  Written by the late Janet Arnold, if you don’t have it in your collection, you may consider adding it to your Christmas list now! It is pricey, but it is so full of information and pictures that iit takes you years to glean everything. There were a few copies of it left at the gift store last time I checked.

Tricia