Antique Victorian Macramé Pattern Instruction Book 1885

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Weldon's Practical Shilling Guide To Fancy Work

Macramé Work

Spiral Bound Book Republication™

Originally published c1885!

Up for bid is another marvelous Dakota Prairie Treasures Spiral Bound Book Republication™ of the original "Weldon's Practical Guide to Fancy Work: Macramé!" This book was originally published in London, England c1885!

This HISTORIC item contains 33 steel plate etchings or engravings of delicate and dainty macramé lace with clear instructions, designs and fundamentals for creating delicately beautiful, dainty lace! It even addresses, in very fine detail, this art's historic background! (Original is NOT for sale)

Our new line of Spiral Bound Book Republications™ oh-so-conveniently lie flat while in use!

This is a unbelievably nice touch if you have every tried to read a pattern's instructions while your hands are full of your in progress project. As an avid needleworker myself my personal experience prompted my choice of spiral binding for it's ease-of-use alone. I bet you'll love it too!

*** Producing the best CD & Spiral Bound Book Republications for you since 1999! ***

An excerpt:

"Macramé Work, or knotting, is of very ancient origin, and dates as far back as the sixteenth century, when it was much used in Italy and Spain for beautifying ecclesiastical linen and priest; vestments. The work "Macramé" is of Eastern derivation, and signifies "a cloth with an ornamental fringe;" it, therefore, was applied by the Italians in the neighborhood of Genoa to a kind of huckaback material, the ends of which were fringed and knotted in various fanciful devices. Macramé work has lately revived in favour and is certainly both a pleasant and useful occupation; it is easily and quickly executed, and is so strong that once done it lasts almost for ever."

"Uses of Macramé. Many useful articles can be made in Macramé work, such as table and mantel borders, brackets, fringes for household linen and towels, nightdress cases, handkerchief sachets, wall pockets, tidies, work-bags, shopping-baskets, cosies, insertions for antimacassars, and fringes for dress-trimmings."

Now I am certain the creative fiber and thread artists out there can visualize and conceive many, many creative uses for this art in our modern-day world way beyond the cultural confines of those when this item was created. I could see this art being useful with curtain and clothing embellishments, wall hangings, bed and bath linens, table covers and runners, baby items and gifts galore for the quickly upcoming holiday season!

I guess I am a product of the times as I never thought of macramé beyond the plant and wall hangings of the 70's which were made with stout cords, heavy twines and wooden beads. Now this antique information has changed my perspective in that the items made are constructed of our equivalent of fine to coarse crochet weight types of threads but of linen, not cotton. I imagine when I begin to play with this I will use some of my size G and up vintage and antique silk threads. I might even get to the point where I will experiment with antique glass seed beads in the project just because I could… :^) There is a great deal more latitude with this fiber art then I ever imagined!

Contents:

Uses of Macramé

Materials Required

(including what type of linen thread and twine is best!)

Requisites for Macramé

(Extensive details what tools and items are needed to do this wonderfully delightful work. This includes how to make your own lace cushion and frame that is useful to anchor your work in progress on. It is very detailed; down to finished dimensions and exact materials to use. It even refers to a readymade "Anyone Macramé Lace Loom with the Patent Tension Frame and Barbour's Patient Macramé Desk!")

Details of Macramé

Foundation Cord or Line with Treads Knotted On

Second Foundation Cord Worked with Macramé Knots

Single Knotted Bar

Double Knotted Bar

Button-hole Bar

Tatted Bar

Single Genoese Bar

Double Genoese Bar

Braided Bar

Coral Bar

Single Solomon's Bar

Double Solomon's Bar

Waved Bar

Corkscrew Bar

Banister Bar or Spiral Cord

Cable Bar

Beaded Bar

Wide Beaded Bar

Diamond Bar

Diamond Bar with Solomon's Knot in Centre

Double Diamond, with Genoese knot in Centre, and Third Foundation Cord Worked with Macramé Knots

Star and Diamond Bar, with Knotted Centre, Third Foundation Cord, and Continuation of Knotted Bars

Picots

Treble-Pointed Star

Treble-Pointed Star, with Genoese Knot in the Centre, and Third Foundation Cord Worked in Macramé Knots

Open Knotting or Network, with Fringed Tassel

Kensington Point

Handkerchief Case

Spider-net Insertion

Watch Pocket

Tidy for Toilet Table

Open Knotting Insertion

A lovely advertisement for

Yarns and Wools at Wholesale Prices

It sure gives a wonderful and substantial peek into the culture at the time this was in its heyday! LOL I just love this stuff and will have to give it a try soon this fall and winter!!!

This item goes into great depth in order to "explain the working of knots and stitches one by one, and illustrate each in relative order of difficulty."

Whew! A lot of stuff here... 33 macramé knots, bars, instructions, patterns and projects from beginner to advanced skill levels. I am sure it will keep you busy a long, long time! Lots of fun, easy to follow instructions with remarkably attractive results! I just love this information and am sure you will, too!

What a historically educational and delightful art instructional piece this is!

Pretty much everything you need to make the dainty silk Victorian household embroideries but the antique or vintage threads, fabric, hoops or frames, etc. Those can be readily found on eBay! You just have to hunt a little bit! :) Or, you can obtain the contemporary materials at your nearest fabric or craft store...