This time last year, I enrolled in an EGA correspondence course to learn reticello. I grossly overestimated the amount of free time I would have as a grad student, and the course got put on the back burner while I finished school.

I finally got around to starting the project this week and it was a lot of fun.

Fabric preparation is first step in any reticello project. Threads are withdrawn to create windows, and the edges are bound with satin stitch to keep the cut threads in place. This project starts with a row of four-sided stitch to outline the lace area. Satin stitch is then worked over padding threads.

Next, the threads are cut and withdrawn and the bars are needle woven.

I’ve seen differing advice about completing all of the needle weaving before starting the filling stitches. I followed the stitching order suggested in the course instructions which said to work the circle motif in the center before finishing the remaining bars.

The next part was to work my initial in buttonhole stitch. This was tricky at first, but I improved a lot on each leg of the letter. I finished off the design with another filling stitch in the center of the top row.

Next up is some finishing work to turn this into a needle book. I’m leaning towards a dark purple for the lining fabric.