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McCord
Works doily jewelry and decor

I have been crocheting since I was a little girl. I like to work in a very small scale, producing tiny lace doilies, encircled in sterling silver, that you can wear. I also make larger doilies from vintage patterns and frame them under glass, or use them to embellish silk scarves.

Online shop: 1000 Markets

NEW! Austin TX boutique: Haven Gallery

Houston TX boutique: The Artful Corner

Blog: Loop the loop

Facebook: McCord Works

Events

June-July 2010	Actually, it is your grandmother’s crochet. But much smaller. McCord Works exhibit Moody Library, The University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston TX
Saturday 8/7	White Linen Night in the Heights (First Saturday Arts Market) 548 W 19th St in the Heights, Houston TX 77008
Saturday 9/4	First Saturday Arts Market 548 W 19th St in the Heights, Houston TX 77008

Gallery

Here are samples
of my work, from my Flickr account.
Refresh your screen to see new ones, and click on through to
see them magnified to ridiculous proportions. (Click "All Sizes"
above the image.)

About me

I learned to crochet at age 8. My grandmother taught me, starting me with a wooden hook she whittled herself. Over time, as I scaled up my interest, I scaled down my dimensions. Because I am interested in preserving the disappearing needlecraft of thread crochet – the patterns and the technique – my goal is to promote its appreciation by displaying it in new ways.

For inspiration, I use my growing collection of patterns from several thread manufacturers from the 30s, 40s and 50s. These vintage patterns are a starting point, and though the thread and hooks called for are quite fine to begin with, I have in most cases scaled them down even further to make them small enough to be wearable as jewelry. Some styles use my own original patterns.

I use silk beading cord or white cotton crochet thread, and a vintage steel crochet hook. All color thread is dyed by hand, and in some cases painted in a variegated colorway. All the jewelry components are high quality sterling silver, quite suitable for sensitive ears and skin.

I also love making full-scale doilies, and I have hundreds of vintage patterns. Framing these under glass accentuates their perfect geometry. The latest additions to my inventory are hand-dyed silk scarves embellished with silk doilies. I am honored to be able to pay tribute to the fine needlecraft practiced by our mothers and grandmothers.

I knit and weave, too! Come on over to the other page and see more.

Jewelry care

Like all good silver, this jewelry can tarnish. You can use a plain soft cloth to clean the jewelry. Microfiber cloths work very well. Please do not use a cloth designed to polish silver. The compound will rub off on the thread. The exception is Connoisseurs® UltraSoft® Silver Jewelry Polishing Cloths if you can find them. I stand behind my work. If you ever have any problems or dissatisfaction, please contact me and I’ll make it right.

Press and posts

the
heights life April 12, 2010
Home
in the Heights November 5, 2009
An
Eclectic Almanac March 12, 2009
Kayla
Coo January 11, 2009
WireLily September 1, 2008 (link removed; blog
seems to have disappeared)
Houston’s
Weekly Chic June 26, 2008
The
Butterfly Collector April 18, 2008