I’m making up a little reticello sampler.
Reticello is a style of Italian cutwork + needle lace, or cutwork lace. I’ve been exploring it, by following the directions in some new Italian needlework books that I plan to show you soon.
I figure if I really want to test the book’s instructions thoroughly, I need to pick up my needle and do as the book says. So far, so good.
I’m having a wonderful time exploring, and I’m learning a lot. This is a style of needle lace that I have loved for a long time, and although I’ve dabbled in it, I’ve never really explored it thoroughly.
Traditional reticello isn’t necessarily multicolored in this way, but whenever I’m working a sampler of sorts to learn something, I like the visuals to be super clear. And while I may some day take up some white thread and white linen, or ecru thread and white linen, or yellow linen and yellow thread… for now, in my explorations, I’m using a yellow linen and any colors of coton a broder #25 I have on hand, that looks decent on the yellow linen (aside from yellow).
This way, I can see clearly the structure, stitches, and so forth against the linen.
I’m starting simply by making a series of windows, into which I’ll try out a variety of needle lace motifs.
Some windows are 4 paned, some are 9 paned (like the window above), and perhaps I will also work 8 pane windows and some strips of 2×8, 3×6 or 9 or 12, or what-have1you! There are many options!
This is truly a sampler. I’m sampling different stitches, techniques, and motifs, and I haven’t really laid it out in any particular plan. The end result could end up a bit discombobulated and messy. Or it might end up looking like it was surprisingly well thought-out. I just need a piece of linen that’s set up and ready to go when I want to test something – and enough room on the linen to test it. So that was the only plan I really made when I started.
As I work through this, I’ll share it with you, and I’ll talk about the different techniques involved. If reticello is something that piques your interest, watch this space! We’ll visit the topic again in the weeks ahead!
Other Happenings
We did manage a small restock on the Bee-Jeweled Pincushion materials kit, if you’d like one. They’re available here now, where you will also find a good selection of spring ready-to-stitch towel kits in stock.
We’re working towards starting the next Stitch Snippet project tutorial shortly after Easter. Keep an eye out for that! Can’t wait!
Hope your week’s off to a swell start!
