Last  month I had the pleasure of travelling to the East Kingdom to participate in Master Jose's  (http://themodernmaker.net/) Needlelace class.  It ran in Brooklyn from May 15th-19th.   We worked some freehand lace points on a linen square, as well as a geometric repeating pattern worked on a pattern support card.     So many buttonhole stitches!
I've got a lot of growing to do, but I'm looking forward to learning more.

Sequence of attack seems to be the main challenge when you are comfortable with your stitches (mostly combinations of buttonhole and detached buttonhole stich).   Tension is important as well.
I'm currently working on some sequencing diagrams for a beginners class I'll be giving at Trillies.
I hope to share those with you in the coming weeks.

This isn't a formal post.  I'm collecting ideas and sources for a possible Kingdom A&S project.
I'd very much like to make a supportase/rebato, but am not sure where to start.  If you can suggest sources, ping me.

http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O137834/supportasse-unknown/

Supportasse

• Place of origin:England, Great Britain (made)
  
  
• Date:1595-1615 (made)
  
  
• Artist/Maker:unknown (production)
  
  
• Materials and Techniques:Linen, silk, whalebone, card, wire, and linen thread, hand-sewn
• Museum number:T.62-1910
• Gallery location:In Storage
  
  

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Rebato w bobbin lace at the Met

http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/222480?rpp=20&pg=16&rndkey=20121122&ft=*&img=2&imgNo=0&tabName=object-information
Rebato (collar)
Date:
early 17th century
Culture:
Possibly French
Medium:
Metal-thread bobbin lace, wire, cotton
Dimensions:
L. 15 3/4 x W. 18 inches (40.0 x 45.7 cm)
Classification:
Textiles-Laces
Credit Line:
Gift of Mrs. Edward S. Harkness, 1930
Accession Number:
30.135.156

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http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/negri/facsimile/0127.pdf