At the last session (which just ended Sunday evening) Carolyn, Robbin, Tricia, Wendy and I talked lace. Carolyn has made a spectacular sample of lace using the real-metal threads Tricia recommended, with sequins standing in for spangles. I was deep in conversation about logistics with Robbin and Carolyn when Tricia spirited the sample off to hold it up to the jacket, so I have no picture for you. What I DO have, thanks to Jen (thanks, Jen), is a link to HER photo of the lace sample held to the end of a sleeve. If you look carefully you can see one of the sequins. I actually got to hold this sample, and when I moved it even ever so gently, the sequins quivered. Quivered. They caught the light, they twinkled. I was mesmerized. Too wonderful.

Anyway, we’ve decided we can invite lacers to participate in a similar way as embroiderers. We’re creating a kit with a pattern (not the Laton pattern, more on that later), small amounts of the real metal threads we’ll be using for the jacket lace, sequins, and instructions. The cost of the kit will include a tax-deductible donation to Plimoth Plantation which will directly support the jacket project. We’ll be asking lacers to make a few repeats to send back to us. The kit will include sufficient materials to make more lace than that, though, so the lacer gets to keep some. We can add two or possibly three lacers to each embroidery session starting (hopefully) in January.

There are a couple of things we still have to do before the lace kits will be ready to send out. Tricia is ordering threads. Carolyn is developing a lace pattern based on two originals (the Laton lace and one from 17^th century Antwerp) which will incorporate the skills/techniques needed for the real lace. We can’t use the pricking she is developing of the real Laton lace because that pattern belongs to the V&A. We need to write directions and some other bits of text to include. We have to figure out how much it will cost (no more than the $40 that the embroidery kit does, though). We don’t know yet exactly when it will be ready, but we have a plan in place to let everyone know. If you want to get your name down, you can call or email Kathy (508-746-1622 X8114 or kroncarati@plimoth.org) now; she’s making a list. But don’t worry – there’s time. We can’t start making the lace until Mark, Tricia and Wendy have made spangles. They’re getting closer and closer. They’ve figured out how to do it and are looking for stock to cut them from.

For pictures tonight I have one of Kimberly from PA, and one of Kimberly’s hands working on the wings. The wings are the little shoulder flap things that get trimmed with lavish lace and sewn to the armhole.

Thanks, Rich, for setting me up with more categories to make everything easier to find.