Hi Karisse Lace workers never bothered to count bobbins, even the ones that could. Instead they would wind a handful and start working. When they ran out they would wind another handful and carry on, the same with gimps. Also, the number of bobbins needed varied when making floral Bucks according to the density you are looking for in the work and what you feel like at the time. Today we use comparatively finer thread and add and throw out bobbins to obtain the density of clothwork that we individually want. I once made a fan and, as I reached the widest point, ran out of bobbins. I phoned a bobbin maker and explained my dilemma and he made some and sent them to me. I had to explain why I needed 2 dozen. Making bobbins was Jim Newman,s hobby when he retired and, if you ordered a large number they never arrived. When he sent them he apologised that the wood was flawed and I could return them if I was not happy. The wood was spelt beech, i.e. they had black flecks caused by fungus in them. The flaws only make these bobbins special to me. I always remember Jim and my fan when I use them.
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