The article on the Armenian Edging Stitch in the 1925 Star Needlework Journal Magazine is titled One Makes This Lace With a Sewing Needle. There are instructions for three different designs. All of them start with a loop stitch across the material. Then by adding additional stitches you can build a pretty lace edge.
The instructions use a very fine crochet cotton to sew the edgings. A size 50 or 60 in white. Crochet cotton thread is sized by weight with each weight identified by a number. The lower the size number the thicker it is. The higher the crochet cotton’s weight number the finer the thread. So a Size 3 is heavier than a Size 10.
Let’s Learn the Armenian Edging Stitch
Now you could try your hand at making an Armenian Edge Stitch following the directions above or I’ve found a blog tutorial and a YouTube video series that will help you master this stitch.
A well done tutorial on the embroidery blog Kimberly Ouimet. She calls the Armenian Edge Stitch a Knot Stitch Edging and states that it is also known as Antwerp Stitch Edging.
Either way, it’s a good tutorial on this edging stitch. Her stitch looks very similar to a Blanket Stitch since she goes a little higher on the edge of the material. But again a very good tutorial with many pictures to break down each step in the stitch.
The Lost Art of Armenian Needle Work
This YouTube series has 8 parts on How to do Needle Lace, The Lost Art of Armenian Needle Work. It’s really beautiful and it helps to see someone actually doing it.
In the comments the instructor, Ashley says there are very few if any books or patterns for this type of lace. She hopes that by doing these videos she encourages people to learn so there will be a renewed interest in this craft. If the comments on the videos are any indication, I’d say she is succeeding.
Scanned One Page PDF File
Armenian Edging Stitch – Making Lace Edging with a Sewing Needle
The pattern is in PDF format so to read it you’ll need the Adobe Reader software on your computer. Most computers come with it, but it is free and can be found here.
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Enjoy!
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