Shapes often touch vertically (one above the other) at a point, in Torchon lace. Here is how to work this.
Touching diamonds in cloth stitch and half stitch. See pattern 19.
Pattern representation of a vertical join - this only shows part of the shapes
The photo shows a half stitch diamond touching a cloth stitch diamond. However, any type of solid shape can join in the same way. I hope you can see how to adapt the following explanation for those.
The following diagram avoids the complexities of the individual stitches by showing each pair of threads as a single line. Where one line crosses another, you should work it in cloth stitch or half stitch.
The number below shows the number of pairs actually part of the shape at each row.
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Working: Work the first shape as usual down to the bottom point (see the shape descriptions). However, do not work the last stitch after the pin. This means that you still have 2 pairs in the shape. Work the rest of the lace on both sides, until you get back to the next shape. The first stitch of the second shape has already been done - it was the last stitch of the previous shape! So the first row of the second shape picks up a new pair, making three pairs in all. Then continue working the shape as usual.
At the top of a shape, there are two pairs, and you choose one to be the worker pair. In these descriptions, I have sometimes said "It doesn't matter which you choose". When the shapes touch, then you might notice something. If, for example, you always choose the left-hand pair to be the worker pair, which means that you always work the next row to the right, then the second shape will use a different worker pair to the first shape - you will have swapped worker pairs. That doesn't usually matter. However, if the shapes are cloth stitch, and you want to colour them, by having the worker pair a different colour, then you do not want to swap the worker pairs! You want to keep the same worker pair throughout all the shapes. You can do this by always choosing the coloured pair as workers, but sometimes it will be the pair on the left, and sometimes the pair on the right. So the next row will go in a different direction each time. By the way, if you do use the same pair as workers for all the shapes, then make sure that you wind on more thread to the bobbins than the other bobbins. Worker pairs use more thread, and if you are not careful, you will run out!
© Jo Edkins 2016 - return to lace index
