Lace
Notes		 U n b r o k e n   T r a i l s
Introduction Half-Stitch Instructions Cloth-Stitch Instructions

Half-stitch Instructions

For this method to work the trail must be drafted with two pin-holes close together where it changes direction as in Figure A, rather than as in Figure B.

To work the continuous half-stitch trail it is necessary to change the direction of the workers (Figure C). This is done before the corner line by adding extra pairs which are then used for the rose ground.

The workers are left at a without a pin. The last pair that the workers went through will be the new workers when all the other pairs have changed direction. The pairs are worked to the outer edge one by one and it is helpful to use a pin to keep track. The first workers are the outermost pair of the trail and the ‘next worker pair’ is always the next towards the footside.

The exact method used depends on the number of passives in the trail — Method 1 makes the trail a little too open but for Method 2, which looks best, the trail needs to be six passive pairs wide when inserting two pairs. If the trail is four ‘lines’ wide (as shown above) Method 1 is used twice, if it is five Method 1 and 2 are both used once, if it is six Method 2 is used twice, and if the trail is wider more pairs must be added.

  1. Leave the workers at a without a pin.
  2. Add an extra pair at b without a twist. Make a stitch with the workers and the pair at b, put a pin in c and close. Remove the pin in b and pull the bobbins down into position.
  3. Then work either:
    • Method 1: Put the outermost pair aside to go out into the fan at b.

      or

    • Method 2: Take the next worker pair to the outer edge, where they leave the trail without a pin to go out into the fan at b.
  4. Take the next worker pair to the outer edge and repeat from 2, above, using the next pair of pinholes.

I suggest that to check all is well you take the trail a little further by adding extra pairs instead of the pairs coming back from the fan. In this way you will always have to go back a little, but if you have made the whole fan before you notice a fault it will be much more work!