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Crochet is a thread that connects daughter to
mother, crafters across continents, and the past to the present. The annual PieceWork Lace issue
explores those connections as well as connection forged through lace creation
in other crafts such as Carrickmacross Irish lace, Orenburg lace knitting, and
Alençon lace.
Within the pages of this issue, you'll meet
Englishwoman Flora Klickmann. Flora was a prolific author and an editor for
women's magazines and books in the early 1900s. She advocated the use of
quality materials in needlework and taking pride in one's work-a sentiment I
think we can all appreciate. As Flora once said, "If you really want to be
happy, do something original for the human race."
You'll also find the pattern for a delicate
crocheted lace butterfly (above) originally printed in Flora's book The Modern Crochet Book
(n.d., circa 1913). Karen C.K. Ballard translated this pattern from its
antiquated British notation to modern instructions. This intricate thread
butterfly represents not only the beauty of crochet but a connection between a
needleworker a hundred years ago and the modern crocheter.
Doris Chan shares how crochet has connected
her with her mother and provides a pattern for the Yokohama Mama Shawl (at
right), which was inspired by the only surviving doily her mother lovingly
crafted for her own trousseau. Even more inspiring is the story of how crochet
helped Doris' mother through the war.
I am currently working on the Moth Wings
Shrug (Interweave Crochet
Summer 2010) as part of a Crochet Me crochet-along. This elegant garment is
constructed of beautifully lacy motifs, but what makes the crochet experience
more enjoyable are the connections I'm building with each crocheter.
Lace creates connections, threads of experiences and
passion passed from one crafter to the next. Subscribe to PieceWork today and find your own connections.
Best wishes,
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