[Above: Photography © Rod Howe from Fashion Crochet by Claire Montgomerie]
Hairpin Lace: Joining strips and making edges
Following on from last weeks guide to getting started with Hairpin Lace, this week we look at removing the strip from the loom, joining strips, open loops and edgings.Â
TIPS OF THE TRADE
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Indicate the first loop of the strip with a marker or contrast yarn to
ensure that you always know which end is the bottom and make joining
simpler.
âž» Always insert a guideline for neatness when linking, especially in extra long strips.
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Insert a marker in loops at intervals of 10 or 20 down one side of your
strip to make counting the correct length of loops easier.
âž» Keep
pushing the loops gathering on your loom down to fit more on. If you
don’t have enough room, let out some of the loops from the bottom of the
strip, rolling the extra length up neatly at the bottom as you go and
securing with pegs, contrast yarn or an elastic band to reduce tangling.
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To check tension, work a short strip of just over 10cm/4in, try not to
pull out of shape and then count the number of loops in a 10cm length.
Read the pattern carefully to see whether strips are measured by total
loops on both sides or down one side only – therefore in pairs of loops.
âž»
Try using other fibres rather than regular yarn – hairpin worked in
wire makes fabulous 3D strips for jewellery, and adding beads to the
wire is even better!
GUIDELINES
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When the strip is complete, you will need to remove it from the loom.
Unfortunately, the nature of the strips means that they will spiral and
possibly tangle before you can tame them by joining or edging, which can
make it hard to identify which side of the strip is which.
To
control the loops, insert a guideline before removing, which is a length
of contrast yarn in the space where the prongs hold the yarn loops,
working up through one side of loops, over the top and down through
opposite side. Tie loosely at the bottom to secure (left).
JOINING THE STRIPS
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To make a garment or larger piece of fabric, you’ll need to join your
hairpin strips. Always try to ensure that the loops are straight while
joining, or twist purposely in different ways to create fancier lace
patterns. Here are the basics as a guide.
LINKING/CABLE JOIN
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This join does not require extra yarn to link and creates a quick and
simple, solid join. This example uses groups of 2 loops to join, but you
can use larger groups of loops if desired.
Lay out two strips next
to each other. Insert the hook, front to back, into 1 loop at the bottom
of the right strip, then insert the hook into a group of 2 loops (front
to back through bottom then next loop up consecutively) on the
adjoining strip. Draw the group of loops through the original loop.
Insert
the hook in a group of 2 loops on the right strip and pull through,
then insert through 2 loops of the left side and pull through.
Repeat
this zig-zag join along the length, ending with 1 loop on the last
join. Secure the final loop temporarily with a safety pin or stitch
marker, or sew it neatly in place straight away.
SLIPPED STITCH JOIN
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This join requires extra yarn to connect the strips, similar to a
regular slipped stitch seam. Lay the first two strips to be joined next
to each other, making sure that each strip is the same way up. Insert
hook from front to back into bottom loop of right strip, then front to
back into the bottom loop of adjacent strip, without twisting loops.
Place slipknot loop on end of hook and pull through hairpin loops,
working 1ch to secure. *Insert hook through next loop of right strip,
then adjacent strip, without twisting loops and keeping yarn behind the
strips, yrh, pull through all loops. Rep from * to top of join and
fasten off yarn.
CHAIN JOIN
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Link strips with the traditional joining zig-zags of chains anchored
into adjacent strips (right). Attach the yarn into one loop on right
strip. Work 1dc, 3ch, *1dc in group of 2 loops on opposite strip, 3ch.
Rep from * across, ending with 1dc in one loop on last join. To fasten
off, insert your hook through the back of the right loop on the loop
opposite the one just worked, yarn round hook and draw through
everything on your hook, then fasten off yarn normally.
EDGINGS
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You can leave the outside edges of your hairpin fabrics loose to create
a looped fringe, or you can crochet into the loops along the side to
create edgings. You can keep the loops straight or twist them when doing
so for different effects – which you can also do when joining strips.
Both
methods give lovely results but because they are different, you need to
be consistent in the method you use, unless any variation is an
important element of the design. Be careful to read the pattern and
associated notes before beginning, and examine any photographs.
OPEN LOOPS
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Insert hook into two or more consecutive loops, without twisting, from
left to right along the strip, working a multiple of dc or other stitch
into each loop group.
TWISTED LOOPS
âž» Insert the hook into two
or more consecutive loops from right to left, along the line of the
hairpin upright. You can add more twists into these loops by rotating
your hook as many times as desired once the loops are on the hook.
Now that you know the basics, try out the Navajo wrap in issue 44 , and experiment with beading your yarn or using different fibres and gauges to create stunning techniques.Â
[Above right: Photography © Rod Howe from Fashion Crochet by Claire Montgomerie]
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