Now You See It: Invisible Lace with a Floating Spider
Following the creation of “Now You Don’t”, I wanted to explore a different side of invisibility and visibility with its sister piece, “Now You See It”. Just like the first piece, this lace is made almost entirely from fishing line, but with one major difference—a black bobbin lace spider at the center, appearing to float within the otherwise invisible lace.
The Magic of the Bobbin Lace Spider
I’ve always had a fascination with bobbin lace spiders. There’s something magical about how so many threads converge into one spot, often creating an optical illusion. For this piece, I decided to take that idea further by layering two spiders—one made from fishing line and one from black thread.
The layered effect creates subtle complexity. The fishing line spider is hidden beneath the black thread spider, and depending on how the light hits it, you can catch glimpses of both. The black spider, however, is the real focal point. It’s often the only thing you can see, making it feel as though the spider is suspended in mid-air.
The Challenges of Mixing Materials
Combining fishing line with black thread came with its own set of challenges. Initially, I tried to work the two materials together, but the difference made it difficult to tension the rather large spider. I ultimately decided to layer the two spiders instead, which allowed me to tension each spider separately and keep the effect I wanted.
Hanging the black threads in the middle of the fishing line lace and finishing them, posed another creative challenge. Thankfully, I figured out how to make the beginning and ending of the threads look the same. The contrast between the invisible fishing line lace and the bold black spider makes the piece intriguing.
Playing with Visibility and Background
The background plays a huge role in how you experience Now You See It. Against a dark background, you can see the fishing line spider and parts of the overall lace design, while the black spider almost disappears. On a light background, the black thread stands out, and the fishing line fades into near invisibility. It’s a delicate dance between what’s seen and what’s hidden—perfect for a piece that plays with the theme of “now you see it, now you don’t.”
A Sister Piece to “Now You Don’t”
“Now You Don’t” features an overall half-stitch trail design. “Now You See It” incorporates both small hidden spiders and a large spider as the main focal point. Together, these pieces challenge the way we think about visibility in art and how different materials can alter our perception.
Want to See More?
If you’re intrigued by the idea of invisible lace or want to follow the progress of my lace making projects, make sure to check out my Instagram (@BobbinLaceNet) or TikTok (@CajahYupMe) for more updates and behind-the-scenes looks!