Oya edging, which appears all over Turkey in various forms and motifs, has
different names depending on the means employed: needle, crochet hook, shuttle,
hairpin, bead, tassel to name just a few. Sewing needle oya is a variety that
was produced by affluent, aristocratic, urban women. The most beautiful examples
of such oya, which was usually made with a sewing needle using silk thread, were
produced in the Ottoman Palace.
Dickson, Elena - "Knotted Lace - In the Eastern
Mediterranean Tradition" from the Milner Craft Series,
Sally Milner Publishing, Australia - Reprinted 1999,
ISBN 1-86351-121-0. Can be ordered at a full-service
book store, and some embroidery shops. Cost was $16 in
2000. Soft cover. Instructional book, 133 pages.
Kasparian, Alice Odian - "Armenian Needlelace and
Embroidery" EPM Publications of McLean, Virginia -
1983, ISBN 0-914440-65-9. Out-of-print, 1983. Original
cost was $30. Hard cover. History and instructional
book, 127 pages. Extensive bibliography. Considered by
many to be the best book on the subject.
Onuk, Taciser - "Igne Oyalari (Needleworks)"
Turkiye is Bankasi Cultural Publications General
Publications No. 228, Art Series 36. Inside, the title
is given as "Igne Oyalari Cesitleri ve Isleme
Yontemleri" translated to "Kinds of Oyas and
Embroidery Techniques". Published in Ankara, Turkey -
1980. Recent cost from U.S. dealer was $21. Soft
cover. Instructions in Turkish and English, 136 pages.
Onuk, Taciser - "Osmanli' dan Gunumuze Oyalar (Oya
Culture Since the Ottomans)", T.C. Kultur Bankanligi,
Ankara, 2000. ISBN: 975-17-2451-1,
www.kultur.gov.tr
or e-mail kultur@kultur.gov.tr. Hard
cover.
Instructions in Turkish and English, 283 pages.
"Turk Oyalari Katalogu (Turkish Lace Works - Oya -
Catalogue)" Volume I -- Crochet Lace Works (Oya) with
Beads, Ankara, 2001. ISBN: 975-17-2020-6 (Tk. No)
975-17-2021-4 (I.Cilt). From General Directorate of
Research & Development of Folk Cultures No. 272/Series
of Cultural Materials No. 21. Hard Cover. Presented
like a catalog, in color, with no instructions;
Introduction and captions in Turkish and English, 253
pages. (Interestingly - a cleaned-up version of
history of the region, with no mention of Armenia.)
"Turk Oyalari Katalogu (Turkish Lace Works - Oya -
Catalogue)" Volume 2 -- Needle Works, Lace Works with
Different Techniques and Materials, Ankara 2001. ISBN:
975-17-2020-6 (Tk. No.) 975-17-2022-2 (II.Cilt). From
General
Directorate of Research & Development f Folk
Cultures No. 272/Series of Cultural Materials No. 21.
Hard Cover. Presented like a catalog, in color, with
no instructions; Introduction and captions in Turkish
and English, 256 pages.
