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October: Irish Crochet Lace notes (Fig 57 - 72 Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No.1)

Crochet Ciúin

Hello & welcome back! I hope you had a lovely month filled with cosy moments. For me this month was filled with background stitches, borders, beadings, insertions (see below for explanations of each) and a little bit of patience.


General note: I work & write with UK Terminology. All of the patterns are from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912) which I downloaded for free from the Antique Pattern Library.


Jump straight to:

Fig 57 (page 16)

Fig 58(page 17)

Fig 59(page 17)

Fig 60(page 17)

Fig 61 (page 17)

Fig 62 (page 17)

Fig 63(page 17)

Fig 64(page 18)

Fig 65(page 18)

Fig 66(page 18)

Fig 67(page 18)

Fig 68(page 19)

Fig 69(page 19)

Fig 70(page 19)

Fig 71 (page 19)

Fig 72 (page 19)


Working background stitches takes time - especially when you're learning. One of the main principles of Irish Crochet fillings is to have the little gap between chains even in size - and this requires some practice & patience, but you will start to see the results of your practice quite quickly. There are no instructions with how a filling should be made with each figure, so it's a case of getting used to knowing where to join stitches and whether to use a slip stitch, DC, or chain & picot..


I'm still working through the insertions figures (4 to go) but this month I moved from page 16 to 22 in the book, which means I'm now half way through. My husband says it's literally always with me, always by my side and it's true! This week I planned out the rest of the book and have come to realise that at my current rate of work it may take me until September 2025 to complete - which was a surprise! I had hoped to finish it sooner, but the more I progress the more complex the projects become and will take a little longer to make. So it has motivated me to also start creating my own Irish Crochet work separate to this project.


But let's get back to the Priscilla Irish Crochet Book!


In November, towards the middle of the month, I will be starting my biggest project to date - Figure 85. The Corset Cover Yoke in Passion Flower Design - a wearable piece of Irish Crochet Lace! This will be a massive step, so I'm super excited to get started on it.


Image from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)
Image from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)

Please see below for descriptions & notes on figures 57 - 72. Thank you for reading and I really hope some of this information is helpful if you decide to make any of these samples! Just let me know if you have any questions. :)


Read my September roundup here


If you are interested in reading about how I started Irish Crochet Lace I have written a small blog post about it here  and also if you would like to discover the basic Irish Crochet stitches I used in these motifs you can find these here too!


Go raibh míle maith agaibh,

Crochet Ciuin



OCTOBER : IRISH CROCHET LACE MOTIFS (page 17 - 22)

Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (from The Antique Pattern Library)


Fig 57 A, B, C, D, E

To begin we have a sample made up of 5 different Irish Crochet Lace background stitches, also called fillings. For this sample I made separate borders for each section, then tacked them all down and sewed them together at the very end (after all of the background filling stitches were done). I think though you could just make one very, very long border ( I did a chain and then DC's around a padding cord) and then try to shape it into sections as below. But I think making them separately breaks the process down a bit and makes it a little easier!


Image from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)
Fig 57. Image from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)
Fig 57, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)

BACKGROUND STITCHES


Fig 57A

Fig 57A, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)
Fig 57A, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)

This background stitch is one of the most used in Irish Crochet and is composed of chain stitch bars and picots.

For 1 full picot bar I worked:

Ch5, 1dc in 4th chain from hook, ch7, 1 dc in 5th chain from hook, ch 2

(or in other words, ch 1, 4 chain picot, chain 2, 4/5 chain picot, ch2)


For half picot bar (for end of rows):

ch5, 1 dc in 4th st from hook, ch1 and 1 dc in the left hand edge

 (another way of saying it is; ch1, 4 ch picot, ch1, 1dc in edge)


For the spaces between each bar - I laid down my bar and then joined the bar where the halfway mark of the bar fell (basically miss a space half the length of the loop or bar) The easiest place to begin filling a piece of lace is near the end of an angle or narrow space.


Fig 57B

Fig 57B, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)
Fig 57B, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)

Good for narrow spaces

Ch5, make a dc in 2nd stitch of chain, ch1, 1dc in other side of space about 1/4 inch higher up than the 1st dc. When space widens make treble crochet instead of double crochet.


(aka: Ch 1, 4 chain Picot, Ch1, 1DC* on other side further along) *TC where space is wider







Fig 57C

Fig 57C, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)
Fig 57C, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)

This filling is just like Fig57A (or normal filling) except it has one picot to a loop instead of two.


Ch5, 1dc in 2nd ch, ch4, miss a space half the length of the loop and catch with a dc.


(in other words, ch 1, 4 ch Picot, ch 4)








Fig 57D

Fig 57D, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)
Fig 57D, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)

I absolutely love this filling, I think it's just so beautiful and delicate. However as it is made up of Clones Knots it is not used as much as the chain & picot for backgrounds as it is harder to make.


Ch5, Clones Knot, Ch4


**I had a spare floral picot motif I had made previously so I tacked this down and working my filling stitch around it - I love how it looks surrounded by the Clones Knots and chains.


Fig 57E

Fig 57E, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)
Fig 57E, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)

This filling is a variation of Fig 57C ( which has one picot loop instead of two). The bars are made the same way but are worked irregularly using sl st, dc, tc, dtc where needed. According to the book alot of workers preferred this stitch as it was easier to work.


The key with this filling is to ensure all the holes between the chains are as uniform in size as possible - this is achieved with practice as you'll soon get used to which stitch you should use.


NOTE: When I started doing the insertions (below), I found myself using Fig 57A, C, and E the most, depending on what part of the sample I was working on. I've found that trying to find the tension of the filling stitches takes a little time also - as in when you're at the last row of filling stitch (could be the top of the pattern attaching to a border) and you've to figure out whether to use a DC, TC or chain- but my intuition for this is improving the more that I do).


BORDERS


Fig 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63


These were all relatively easy to follow in the book. I have written some short notes under the original border pictures below that I'd like to remember when making again - so hopefully they will be helpful to you too! Which border is your favourite?

Border Samples, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)
Border Samples, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)

For my sample I had a chain of 43 to begin
I worked on a chain of 48. When pattern says " insert it in 4th dc from end " = sl st back to 4th st from left

I did a ch 45. Where the pattern says "fasten back in 4th DC from last" = from bottom of chain just made
I started with a ch 70. "6th DC from hook" = from where the last chain begins
For the rings I used 2 matches and wrapped thread around 12 times.


BEADINGS


What are beadings?

Beadings were said to be very effective if they were laid between groups of tucks on the front of sleeves and blouses (Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1, 1912). They can be worked in the hand (so no need to tack to fabric) and are great for beginners due to their simple details.


Fig 64, 65, 66, 67


These were all quite straight forward in the book and I don't have any notes to add! For figure 64, I had a note to try beginning with a chain of 50 next time I try it..

Beading Samples, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)
Beading Samples, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)






INSERTIONS (part I) *part II to be continued in November


What are insertions?

According to the Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1, insertions were used as trimming on lingerie waists and dresses. You make the motifs & borders (for most of the insertions) separately first, then you tack these in place on your cambric / fabric and then work the filling stitches. I know that some people simply pin the motifs onto a lace board - however at the moment I find it more difficult to do the filling stitches on the board as I like to move / bend the fabric when I'm making the filling - especially in the more intricate parts!


Fig 68, 69


You'll see from my samples that my background stitches aren't all even - this is because I'm very much still practicing this skill, but it gives me some comfort to look at the original images and see they aren't perfect either :)


For figure 68, they give a little more instruction than usual for the filling stitch - so in one way it's easier but in another way it's a little harder as it can be a little confusing. One tip I would give is to keep looking at their original image and work by eye along with the instructions. I drew out and labelled some of the filling stitch instructions just so I could follow along visually!


For figure 69, at the start when the patten asks you to work 1DC in the back loop of each 10DC - I did this with the Padding Cord. Then in the next section (after the first * ) when it says "do IDC in each DC of last row" - I worked these BLO (back loops only).


Fig 68. Image from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)
Fig 68. Image from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)
Fig 69. Image from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)
Fig 69. Image from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)

Fig 68, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)
Fig 68, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)

Fig 69, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)
Fig 69, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)























Fig 70, 71, 72


You will need some patience with these due to the types of motifs & amount of background fillings but it is so worth it for the beautiful outcome!


Fig 70, 71, 72, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)
Fig 70, 71, 72, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)

Fig. 70.

Fig 70 detail

For figure 70, where the pattern says to drop the cord and begin doing picots (ch 4, idc in top

loop of 1st dc, 1dc in top loop of next dc etc.) I did the picot in the front stitch only. Each picot square (pictured here) took me 1 hour 20 to make - so 4 hours in total to make these three little squares! I just put on some cosy tv and got lost in it! I think the key with this type of work is to just accept it takes time and enjoy the process! See

 Fig 70, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)
Fig 70, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)

Fig 70 detail
 Fig 70, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)
Fig 70, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)















Fig 70. Image from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)
Fig 70. Image from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)









Fig. 71.


For the half flower: When the pattern says (ch4, 1DC in top of DC in 1st row at back of petals) 5 times - I did the DC in the 1st DC (nearest me) of the next section. This will eventually give you the layered petal effect.



Fig 71, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)
Fig 71, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)
Fig 71. Image from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)
Fig 71. Image from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)

Fig. 72.


I adore this insertion, it's so pretty and delicate, I'll definitely be making it again! For this sample, I used size 60 thread for the leaves and size 80 thread for flowers, background and border. The book suggested size 50 and 70 thread but I adjusted to the thread I had available..


When you are making the leaves and working your DC's down the sides of the chain - I worked in the back loop only of the previous row - as this gives a lovely line design down the different part of the leaves and gives them more definition. Also at the very end, I slip stitched up the centre of the leaf to give it a more realistic look.

Fig 72, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)
Fig 72, Made by Crochet Ciúin - Pattern from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)













Fig 72. Image from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)
Fig 72. Image from Priscilla Irish Crochet Book No1 (1912)

And that's it! Next month I have 4 more insertions, 6 medallions, 1 garniture and then I'm beginning the beautiful wearable piece! I'm also heading home to Ireland early for Christmas so it's hopefully going to be a magical month, I hope have a wonderful one.


Go raibh míle maith agaibh,

Crochet Ciuin












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