16th century Repostero

Part 1 - This is another table cloth, but this time I hope to make the lacis from "scratch"... OK, not quite, I am not growing linen and doing all the work it takes to make linen thread. Nope, not that stupidly authentic. Nor do I have that time. I have a child and a job (actually, finishing my Master's degree). Here is the plan (reality may not allow for total accuracy):

1. I can only do what I can do, so I am starting with making the 10 square mesh.

2. Then I will make the 16 lacis panels

3. There are 13 reticella squares.

4. There are strips and bands of cutwork that are attached with some insertion lace.

I am hoping I can finish this, but I will need to teach myself the patterns for the reticella (not something that I have a firm grip on). This is a lifetime project, but I have started.

(10/16/2022) Update: After some careful consideration (ie, I did the math and measurements for this piece) I will NOT be making linen mesh for this project. Making net is not my favorite thing to do and the original squares are done in a 12 to 13 mesh. My smallest mesh is a 9 mesh and did I mention I found netmaking tedious? My friend, Lady Sybil the Disobedient, is working on a 9 mesh in linen for me to work on, but even that is as small as she is willing to go and I couldn't ask her to do 16, 7" X 7" squares. That would be too much. So, I will use a 7 mesh cotton worked in a cotton pearl. I have a lovely white 7 mesh waiting to be cut into and have started the patterning.

Below are the current patterns that I have put through my pattern making program.