Stroke Exercises
First Exercise – Strokes
In the stroke exercise, all strokes are taught separately – the full stitch, the linen stitch, the half stitch – as well as ending the lace with plaits. Do this exercise with Bockens 60/2 linen thread. You will need 10 bobbin pairs, i.e. 20 bobbins. Wind the threads onto the bobbins, you will need about two metres of thread for one pair of bobbins. Prepare the mynsteri according to the instructions in the course material.
Full Stitch Section
The full stitch rows can be made from left to right or from right to left.
Full stitch, abbreviation in Finnish KL (cross, twist, cross, twist)
In the picture below, the red lines illustrate how the pairs for the stroke are taken from the needles in the previous row. The line represents one pair in this model. The lines are a working guide to the lace-making process, and by following them you can see which pairs are laced together.
Full Stitch Exercise Instructions
These instructions are translated from the video below, so follow along to the visual guide to get the best results.
Put in a pin onto each hole at the start of the mynsteri. When th epins are in, put two pairs onto each pin. Put the pairs into the starting position, meaning put a twist on the pairs. Start from the first pin on the right. Make a full stitch with the pairs on the pin. Tighten. Do this with all pins. Now you have the start of the full stitch excercise. You have arrived at the lefthand side of the work. Leave the leftmost pair to the side. Make a full stitch with the next two pairs. Tighten. Place a pin inbetween the pairs. Secure the pin with a full stitch. Tighten. Continue the same way with the next pairs, until one pair on the right remains, just as it did on the left side. The next row begins by making a full stitch with the two corner pairs. Pin, full stitch, tighten. Continue following the instructions until the end of the full stitch exercise.
Linen Stitch Section
In a linen stitch, one pair goes from edge to edge.
Linen stitch, abbreviation in Finnish LL (cross, twist, cross).
The pins are only at the edge of the pattern.
Linen Stitch Exercise Instructions
These instructions are translated from the video below, so follow along to the visual guide to get the best results.
This exercise is made with linen stitches, so cross, twist, cross. In this linen stitch exercise one pair goes from side to side, and that pair is called the working pair. There are lines on the mynsteri, that go from sided to side. The working pair follows this line. The beginning of this exercise is on the left hand side of the mynsteri. In this exercise, the working pair is the second one from the left. Make linen stitches with all eight pairs. Put in a pin. The working pair is now the rightmost pair. Hold the working pair as you tighten the other pairs. secure the pin with a linen stitch. Make your way back to the left side with linen stitches. In the linen stitch pattern the pins are only at the ends. Put in a pin, tighten, make a linen stitch. Continue following the instructions until the end of the linen stitch exercise. Extend the threads of the working pair by releasing it from the bobbins. Tighten the vertical threads, so that they are spaced out evenly.
Half Stitch Section
In the half stitch pattern, the threads do not need to be tightened separately, since the threads are tightened as the lace making progresses and the needles are inserted.
Half stitch, abbreviation in Finnish PL (cross, twist).
The needles are only at the edge of the pattern.
In a half stitch pattern, the pattern is irregular. Releasing the thread from the bobbins will make the process smoother.
Half Stitch Exercise Instructions
These instructions are translated from the video below, so follow along to the visual guide to get the best results.
In the half stitch pattern the pins are only at the ends. Secure the unsecured pin from the linen stitch section with a half stitch. Leave out the pair on the right, and make a half stitch with the next two pairs. Leave the pair on the right out again. Take a new pair form the left, and make a half stitch. Make your way to the left side. Put in a pin. Make sure that both threads of the pair are on the correct side. Secure the pin with a half stitch. Make your way back to the right with half stitches. Place a pin. Secure the pin with a half stitch. Continue to the left, and follow the lines until the end of the mynsteri.
Plaits
Finish the stroke practice by making the plaits at the bottom with half stitches.
After making the plaits, remove all the needles one by one and finish the lace by ironing it.
Plait Instructions
These instructions are translated from the video below, so follow along to the visual guide to get the best results.
Start from the righthand side with two pairs. Put a pin in between the pairs. Seal the pin in with a full stitch and tighten. Make a half stitch and tighten. Continue with the half stitches until you reach the next pin placement. The plait should be tight. Place the pin. Make a linen stitch. At the end tie the two threads on the left together. The plait is done, and you can remove the lower pin. When the exercise is complete, cut the excess threads. Remove the pins from the work one by one.
