Stitches of Life II

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

OIDFA Virtual Congress - 2nd session

(DD tells me it looks like a bird) Olympus No. 40

second session of the

Bulgarian Needlelace Improvisation course

Bistra Pisancheva, Instructor

Bulgaria

Olympus Tatting lace yarn (Medium) T210 + T205

Saturday, August 22, 2026

Nanduti on "Hana-Ami" flower loom

I think this is a nice loom. Plus, artists can purchase them -- I'm trying a Nanduti pattern from Clover Japan. I need to add knots on the 2nd petal. I am so used to a pillow or loom with pins or loom with notches. The pegs can get in the way!

Their web site has patterns:

Teneriffe Lace

Nanduti Square

"Hana-Ami" Flower Loom - Product Info.

The fibers were gifted to me from

my friend Beth. Thx!!!

lots of colors to choose from. And yes, these looms from Clover are still available to purchase. https://clover-usa.com/products/hana-ami-flower-loom

Clover website link.

Friday, August 21, 2026

OIDFA

First session of the

Bulgarian Needlelace Improvisation course

Bistra Pisancheva, Instructor

Bulgaria

I used Olympus Crochet Coton No. 40

Colors 541 - yellow

254 - green

132 - rose and

126 - pink

Plus: Olympus Tatting lace yarn (thin) T503 pink

Second session - wow!

An inspiration. A gallery of Bulgarian creative lace.

Learned a couple new ways to start.

Once the video is available I'll go thru it slower and figure out the 'round' flower shape. Plus, creating shapes ie oak leaves. Blue fiber is Olympus Crochet Cotton No. 40, 383. Also, Olympus Tatting lace yarn (Medium), T207.

Nice that the videos are available.

Pieces back from the last congress in Bulgaria. OIDFA National Stand: USA "My Lace Connections - Around the World" art project / display. Stunning displays from participating countries -- wanna peek:

https://www.oidfa.com/2025-national-stands/

Creating the knotted lace basic techniques is important. Once confident, can improvise.

I was on the waiting list for The Discovery of Needlelace in Alencon, instructor Charlene Poret, France. Those sessions will be in September and October (via zoom)

Thursday, August 20, 2026

"Hana-Ami" flower loom

I own a flower loom (Clover Art No. 3146), saw their pattern on web site (https://clover.co.jp/) for Nanduti with the square. They also have teneriffe patterns for the round piece. Noticed the patterns use a huck needle (not the plastic one that comes with the loom).

So far, the loom is ok to use. It is nice to see both sides of the needle weaving -- tho, the pegs can get in the way

(I'm used to foam looms, wooden looms, lace pillow where the pins are pushed in--or sewn spokes on fabric).

I'm using DMC coton perle 5, col. 602 - start.

changing to col. 742 next for the rest of the petals.

Edge knotting w/ DMC No. 8, Col. 959.

Tradition: the work you see is the BACK of the project. Once off the loom, turn it over to the front.