kitty: needle lace buttons and crochet buttons

Some textile historians link the popularity of needle lace buttons with the masses to Queen Victoria's Silver Jubilee and the decline of the Hair Mourning Jewelry Industry. Women who had been working in the Hair industry suddenly had more time on their hands and used the similar techniques to start weaving buttons on small linen frames. The linen frames were used both for the hair and string art that were popular during the Victorian era so the supplies were readily available. Crochet buttons actually date much earlier in popularity as well as tatted buttons.

I was trolling the ebay vintage button section and ran across these really amazing examples of both crochet and needle lace buttons. Though probably the most amazing thing was the linen forms that were also in the bag with the buttons.

Needle Lace buttons hold a special place in my heart since over the years. When I am asked to talk to embroidery groups and craft groups I have often taught classes on these techniques. I would show examples of the knots and wraps in both mourning jewelry and buttons. Over the years I have spent many hours reverse engineering the techniques used in Victorian Mourning Jewlery. In a lot of the Victorian crafting literature you see lots of references on how to create crochet buttons or tatted buttons for your lingerie, but seldom do you see references on the needle lace buttons. Though in historical collections there are a lot of examples. The two buttons above are less than a 3/4 of a centimeters big and are absolutely amazing examples of needle lace.

This type of spoke button is one of the most common. Though I had not seen the knots that run over the edge before on this button.

This button is an example of one of the first 3D hair ornaments that you were taught to make when weaving with hair. So this was a very popular motif.

The last three buttons here are crocheted. The first two show an example of embroidery techniques used in conjunction with crochet to embellish the top of these two sand dollar inspired buttons.

And finally this is the type of crochet button I think we are all familiar with, but this one was done over a hollow bead that has not been stuffed to give them shape.

kitty: one week latter...

It is hard to believe a week ago today I was caught up in the Royal Wedding frenzy. I was cooking up a storm, throwing a tea party, swooning over all the hats and fascinators and sitting on pins and needles waiting for the 2 kisses. Yes, if you didn't know it before now I am totally royal obsessed. One of my little collections is even Royal memorabilia plates and glasses.

Check out some of the other examples of Royal Memorabilia available on the collectable market: Princess Diana and Prince Charles Wedding Plates - Worthpoint Queen Elizabeth Plates - Worthpoint Queen Victoria Plates - Worthpoint HRH Prince William - Worthpoint

So the 28th I spent most of the day cooking up a storm for a tea party to start around 4:00 am. 7 Savories and 8 Sweets.

And I am still working on left overs a week latter.

kitty: Metamorphosis II & III

One of the big problems that I think we all run into, we post FO on Ravelry and then forget to come and update our blogs with finished photos of what we have been working on. Well remember all the Design your own shawl class post I was doing a few months back. Well I finished 2 versions of the shawl and posted them a few months back. I just realized today that I didn't update knitbuddies. So here are the two versions of Metamorphosis.

Name: Metamorphosis - Version 2 - Ravelry Designer: Priscilla Meredith  Fibers: Wollmeise 100% Merino Superwash Needles: 3mm

Name: Metamorphosis - Version 3 Ravelry Designer: Priscilla Meredith  Fibers: Marion Foale 3ply wool yarn - 2 hanks Olive(092) 1 hank Teal(017) Needles: 3mm

For the second version I tried a new yarn that Knit and Purl was carrying, Marion Foale 3ply wool yarn. I was really impressed by the colours that were available so I just wanted a simple project to try out the yarn. I was really impressed with the stitch definition.

kitty: Will you remember me in maytime??

Maytime always makes me think of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy and my grandparents... Some of my happiest childhood memories are watching Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy movies with my grandparents and mom.

.... Will you remember me in maytime? Happy May Day!