Working the top band on the Christmas Stocking using Gimp threads and spiders.
The thick, red thread on the sample is used as a single thread, not worked as a pair. These threads are called 'gimp' threads. Sometimes in laces like Honiton, one thick thread can be paired with a normal thread and worked as a pair, these are called a 'coarse' pair.
Christmas Stocking 1 - Starting and adding the Red Thread.
Start by working the first row of pins only. This can be with any edge stitch you like. I used a simple half stitch, pin, half stitch, hanging the pairs on temporary pins above the top pins. The stitches need to have two twists ready for running the red gimp thread along.
Hang the red thread around a loop above the top pins and laying the two bobbins down on the work. The red threads are not worked as a pair, but as single threads.
Working to the left or right, the same method is followed, always lift the left, pass the gimp thread over the right ground bobbin place the left bobbin back in it's place.
Working to the left...Lift the left of the first ground pair. Take the left red bobbin pass the Red bobbin underneath the left ground bobbin, leaving the right ground bobbin on the pillow. Place the left ground thread back in the same place. Twist the ground pair twice. The red bobbin is now on the other side of the ground pair, held in place with the two twists. Repeat with all the bobbins.
The red gimp thread should lay in a single thread line with two twists on either side, holding it nicely in the space between the pins. If you wish, you can alter the twists so that a gimp thread actually sits close up to the pin and next to the ground pairs. This makes a tighter outline, or even a wider 'halo' effect.
Christmas Stocking 2 - Turning and Ending the Green Threads.
The red and green gimp pairs are used as single threads, not worked as pairs. Each single bobbin follows it's own path. The green gimp threads are being thrown out (ended) and they need to lie alongside each other for several pins until they are more securely held together, being secured by the double twist on the workers and maybe a few more ground stitches before cutting them off. If they are not in the way, you can leave them until the piece is finished. Missing out the two twists between the red and green threads makes it look more like one thread, rather than two.
Christmas Stocking 3 - Crossing the Red Thread.
