On Saturday at lunch time, during my class at Coffs Harbour, some of the ladies were talking about a 3 dimensional needlelace ship that one of them had made. It sounded quite intriguing.
At lunch the next day, Robyne brought out her ship. It was simply amazing!
Robyne Bunter's incredible needlelace ship
There is a story behind this incredible creation. Robyne saw a picture of a 2 dimensional needlelace ship in Ann Collier’s book “The Art of Lacemaking”. She liked the idea of doing a ship, but wanted to make the sails come out from it. She couldn’t get that to work, and eventually her creation became completely 3 dimensional!
Front of the needlelace ship designed and created by Robyne Bunter
Robyne whittled the base of the ship from balsa wood. The masts are wooden skewers, and her husband created the crow’s nest parts and finials on the masts for her.
The back of the ship created by Robyne Bunter
Because Robyne was making it up as she went, the two sides are different. She learned from the first side of the ship and made improvements to the second side. That’s not to say that the first side was a failure though – it certainly isn’t! It’s just that the second side is better.
Robyne used a number of different threads for the lace; using what she already had in her stash. All the threads are DMC Ecru threads. For the needlelace and ladders, she used Cordonnet Special No 80, for “other bits and bobs”, she used Cordonnet Special No 100 & 40. Robyne also used Perle No 8 and 12, and stranded cotton. The ship took Robyne about 2 years to make.
I’m sure that you’ll agree that this is an amazing creation. Thank you to Robyne for giving me permission to share it with my blog readers, and congratulations on your achievement!
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White Threads is the blog of Yvette Stanton, the author, designer, publisher behind Vetty Creations quality needlework books and embroidery products.
Wow, that is an amazing creation! I love the variety of lace stitches she’s incorporated into it.
Incredible. How talented
Thanks for showing us. It really is a magnificent piece of needle lace. Congratulations. One of my students tried her version of this picture so specially meaningful. Tricia from Cape Town
What a truly gorgeous piece of work! Robyne has demonstrated skill, ingenuity,and imagination. Thank you for sharing it with us.
What a beautiful piece of embroidery! Thank you for sharing it Robyne. I love the way you have used different needlelace stitches to highlight different parts of the boat and show off the shape of the full sails. Makes me want to go sailing again.
Trabalho maravilhoso! Adorei!
Abraços, Algecira Castro
Wow….. that is beautiful. Would love to see it exhibited at the Canberra Show next year
Wow incredible just doesn’t cover it it is both gorgeous and stunning I really wish I could actually see it but as I am in the UK I doubt it will be exhibited here in the flesh, or should I say in the lace ?
Wow! Wowie wow. That about the greatest feat I’ve seen yet. Great work, more than I’d take on.
Thinking about getting the tension right for all the fitted pieces makes my head hurt. Great piece!