Bobbin lace Flemish ground

Long spider ground

I worked this out from a ground that I saw on the internet (see pattern 587). The unit is a half stitch spider with 8 legs but it has an additional half stitch (and pin) above and below. This has the effect of pushing the legs apart, unlike most spider grounds. I'm calling it long spider ground, as the body is longer (vertically) than normal.

This ground is odd as it needs three holes per unit, one in the centre, and one above and below that.

Long spider ground

The diagram below shows one unit of long spider ground.

Bobbin lace Long spider ground

Repeat Step Back

Working:

All the stitches are half stitch. Please note that as half stitch is used, the pairs of bobbins get split up. The colour of the pairs above shows their position within the four pairs. It does not refer to specific bobbins.

1. Twist all pairs several times.
2. Work middle two pairs.
3. Put a pin between them.
4. Work second pair (from left) across next two pairs to right..
5. Work left pair across next two pairs to right.
6. Tidy up all pairs so they sit symmetrically.
7. Put a pin between the second and third pair - that is, in the middle.
8. Work second pair (from right) across next two pairs to left..
9. Work rightt pair across next two pairs to left.
10. Tidy up all pairs so they sit symmetrically.
11. Put a pin between the second and third pair - that is, in the middle.
12. Work middle two pairs.
13. Twist all pairs several times.