Pattern:
Bobbins: 15 pairs (10 green, 5 blue)
Style: Torchon
Size: 3.5 inches long
Stitches:
half stitch
cloth stitch
cloth stitch and twist
Details:
Torchon ground (grey)
spiders with 12 legs (green)
combining spiders
twisted footside (grey)
Description:
Follow the links above for explanation of how to work the different parts of the lace.
You need to start the coloured threads in the right place, as marked. The three legs of the spider that are close together are blue (to make the river)The edge legs are also blue (one each side) to make the banks of the river. That requires a double ground stitch to keep these blue pairs next to the river.
The spiders look odd. This is because on one side they sit next to each other, which makes the legs very close together, like spider ground. But on the other side, they are next to ground, so the legs splay out like a normal spider. The actual spider is worked the same on both sides. It's merely what it is next to which causes the effect. It is important, however, to tighten the threads well, both at the central pin, and afterwards.
This lace is rather floppy, with the big holes next to the spiders, so I have started and finished the lace with two rows of cloth stitch, to strengthen it.
Here is a larger scale photo, to see the working:
© Jo Edkins 2025 - return to lace index