There is a ground which I call star ground. Trying to work out a design, I tried star ground, but twisting the legs several times before and after and putting a pin in the middle. It gave a different effect, so I've decided to call it a star spider.
This spider is worked on a Torchon grid. I do not know whether it is used in Torchon lace, or indeed what its name is. I call it a star spider, because I think the centre looks like a star. It needs four pairs on bobbins, two on each side. However, the spider must be surrounded by lines of Torchon ground, which frame it, and keep the shape of the star. It could also be surrounded by solid areas. See pattern 589.
Pattern representation of a star
Again I am not sure what the traditional pattern is. I prefer to mark out exactly where the individual lines go. This makes it a little cluttered, but at least I do not get lost! I have left out the twists before and after as there isn't room. The dark grey shows the framing lines.
The diagram below shows a star spider. It shows each thread as a line, with the different pairs different colours. There are several types of stitches in star ground - see description, which gives links to the stitches if you are not familiar with them.
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Working:
1. You start with four pairs coming from the framing stitches, two each side.
2. Twist all pairs at least twice, maybe more.
3. Cross (C) the middle two bobbins of the left two pairs. Cross the the middle two bobbins of the right two pairs as well.
4. There are two pairs on the left. Take the pair nearest the middle (the top pair) and work it across the two pairs on the right in cloth stitch.
5. Put a pin in the middle, so there are two pairs to the left and two pairs to the right.
6. Take the left pair and work it across the two pairs on its right in cloth stitch. Be careful not to work it across the right-most pair!
7. Cross (C) the middle two bobbins of the left two pairs. Cross the the middle two bobbins of the right two pairs as well.
8. Twist all pairs at least twice, maybe more.
9. Continue on to the framing stitches.
If you find this hard, try doing star ground first, as they are very similar, and star ground is described in more detail.
If you want to know what start ground looks like, here you are. Click here to see how to work it.
© Jo Edkins 2016 - return to lace index
