The other day, I mentioned an interest in Italian cutwork, needle lace, and reticella, and thought that others interested in the same topic might like this book.
This particular needle lace book is hosted, in PDF format, by the Online Digital Archive of Weaving and Related Topics. The book is in Italian, but if you don’t read Italian, it doesn’t matter, because there’s only a brief introduction and the rest of the book is made up of patterns:
This is the thing, though – even if you aren’t interested specifically in needle lace, the patterns are striking, and in looking at them, you might glean some inspiration for whatever type of embroidery or craft you do. I could see these patterns somehow adapted to other types of needlework: blackwork, couching designs, assisi embroidery, whitework even.
When I start looking at patterns like this, I can’t help thinking of “all the ways” the same pattern could be adapted to other things!
Unfortunately, I share the common woe of many stitchers: so many ideas, so little time!
And I’m not sure why calligraphy and illumination come to mind when I see this one, but… they do!
Anyway, if you want to browse through a neat book, you’ll find Giardinetto novo di punti tagliati et gropposi per exercito e ornamento delle donne, by Matthio Pagano (1550) at University of Arizona’s Digital Archives.
Mary, thank you so much for posting the link to that wonderful book. The delicious patterns in it have set this counted-needlework-lover’s heart a-pounding! Like you, I can see needlepoint and blackwork in those patterns.
I have always had an interest in needlelace, reticella etc and have dabbled in them – I think I am going to have to look more seriously at them too.
Hi Mary:
Just in recent days was reading about: Italian cutwork, needle lace, and reticella. So dear friend, thank you very much by your article that helps very much to me, in the search.
Maria del Valle
http://alarttex.wordpress.com/
need more time!
It looks as though the link no longer works. What a shame.
Hi, Isabel – I just updated the link on this to a different site that hosts the book, too. Unfortunately, it looks like the Digital Archives on Weaving and Related Topics at University of Arizona no longer exists. What a shame! It was a great resource!