Mediteranian Knotted Lace

[Patricia]

Hi, lace people! I'm a tatter from Southwestern Virginia who would like to learn Mediterranean Knotted Lace. Does any one out there know about it and how to get started? Thanks.

[Lorelei Halley]

Patricia
I've heard two names applied to a form of knotted needlelace: bebilla and oya. They are rather rare, even among lacemakers. Give me a few days, and perhaps I can remember where I saw any discussion of them. I do know that occasionally somebody writes a piece in the IOLI newsletter about bebilla. (International Old Lacers Inc.; the American national lace organization). They have a website. Have you tried a web search on bebilla or oya?
Lorelei

[Patricia]

Lorelei,
Thanks. I've tried Googling about every version of it, but I'll try again. Most of the sites I've found have general information, but no basic directions on how this is actually made. I just wondered about the difficulty involved before I jump out and buy an expensive book on it. I found a book at "Nordic Needle".
Thanks for the reply..
Patricia

[Lorelei Halley]

Patricia
I just did a google advanced search using the words bebilla lace, oya and found a page full, and also references to Armenian lace (I now remember that this is another name for the same thing). Wikkipedia evidently has an entry. Take a look and see if any of it helps.
Lorelei

[Guzzisue]

I have a book on Armenian needlelace and embroidery by alica odian kasparian, maybe your local library can locate a copy? give me a week and I should be able to get to it to see what the instructions look like (workroom full of extra furniture due to new carpets at the moment)

[Patricia]

Thanks, I appreciate it!! I've checked with the library and there doesn't seem to be anything there, but this was in an online database so maybe I'll check them out in person.

[Patricia]

Thanks for the help, I appreciate it!!!!

[John O'Leary]

Elena Dickson has published two books on Mediterranean knotted lace. As far as I know, they're both still available. Try www.alibris.com or www.abebooks.com. Or do a search under the author's name. Good luck, John PS Try www.amazon.com as well.

[Patricia]

Thanks, John! I'll learn to spell "mediteranean" too......I've ordered from Alibris before and they are really great..
Thanks......

[John O'Leary]

Hi Patricia. I'm in the middle of shifting, but I've checked my books (God help me!) and the titles are "Knotted Lace in the Eastern Mediterranean Tradition" and "Mediterranean Knotted Lace". Amazon.com has both of them. In the intro to the more recently published one, there's mention of a video too, but I've never come across it. Both books have instructions to the stitches, though they're not very clear. That's why it would be interesting to get that video. Best wishes. John

[Patricia]

I did a search recently on "oya" and found lots more information and a site that gives all the stitches iin great detail although the pictures are a bit fuzzy....

[Lorelei Halley]

Patricia
Please post the url of the website you found. Who knows? Somebody else may develop an interest. I've never really known much about it, except that it existed.
Lorelei

[Patricia]

Thanks, Lorelei, Here is the Oya site I found or this is called Point Lace.
http://www.vintagecraftpatterns.info/pointlace/index.shtml