>> I wonder if it is simply that bobbin lace appeals particularly to scientists and especially mathematicians. Moving on from this, is it the more 'regular' laces which appeal, I.e. Torchon, Bucks and Flanders, rather than Bedfordshire for instance? <<
As others have said, the links with STEM education have often been discussed, does anyone remember Penny Boston (?) from Nasa? Needle lacer both traditional and modern. Perhaps the preponderance of STEM and teachers on Arachne is more to do with our tech interest and early adopters? I was wanting to learn lace in the early 90s, just as evening classes were going out of fashion. First thing I did after finding my way onto the WWW was type in bobbin lace and found Arachne, and a source of lace advice, books, suppliers, and of course friends. I more or less taught myself the basics from books, but exposure to other lace makers, especially going to Barbara Underwood's Knuston courses really helped me progress to the advanced florals. Barbara certainly had a preference for traditional lace, at the same time being a superb designer. Speaking as a Phd chemist whose ended up working in an engineering company, I'm not sure it is the maths, but the puzzle challenge. I've always been drawn towards the more floral laces such as Thomas Lester's Bedfordshire. I love these traditional laces. I'd like Binche and Flanders if they weren't so dominated by the thread diagrams, I want to use my brain to learn and apply the rules or break them as necessary, otherwise its all a bit 'painting by numbers'. I'm not musical, three years of failing to get as far as grade one piano convinced me of that, but I've found there are a high proportion of musicians and artists amongst female geophysicists. Louise In glorious Cambridge, wishing she had more time today for lace. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
