At 11:31 AM 8/9/2003 +0100, you wrote: >Can anyone who has experience of using Continental bobbins tell me whether >they are easier to pick up and handle than Midlands bobbins? >
I think we need to go to the basics here, and think carefully. Over the centuries, there have been many shapes/styles of bobbins and pillows developed. It is interesting to look at pictures from different places showing the lacemakers at work. Pillows are bolsters--both large and small, large donut shaped --worked around the edge, flat with squares that move around, slightly domed and broad, greatly domed almost like a ball, rollers (small bolster within a support area), and variations in each style. Bobbins range from 3" to 6" with every type of shape and carving. We tend to class them as Midlands (narrow dowels with spangles) or Continentals (dowel center with bulb on the end). On bolster pillows, and greatly curved domes, the bobbins hang down loosely. There is no support for them. The bobbins developed with a bulb on the end to provide weight and probably better control. The lace is worked by putting the hands UNDER the bobbins and moving them. For tensioning, the threads or dowels go between the fingers while the bulbs do not. Threads can be tensioned without stress to the fingers. When the slightly domed 'cookie' pillow was developed, the spangled bobbin was developed to lay better on the pillow. It's easier to work with this bobbin style from the top which means the bobbins must be picked up and put down. If a person has a sore thumb or can't squeeze anything, this process is difficult to do with comfort or speed. Yes, I have been ignoring Honiton bobbins. Honiton is worked on a ball type pillow with the bobbins hanging like on bolster pillows. However, all the sewings are easier with a bobbin that will slide through a loop smoothly. The bulb on the continental was changed to a point. With very fine thread, there is still enough weight in the bobbin to hold the thread correctly. Malmsbury bobbins were similar only didn't need the points since Malmsbury lace is a straight lace--but done on a mounded pillow with very fine thread. Modern lacemakers are often attracted to the modern Midlands bobbins because they are so colorful and decorative. The modern beads can be a treat to the eyes, and the variety of ways the bobbins are decorated can be mindboggling. They are a collector's dream. BUT --- you knew there would be a 'but'---Midlands are not always the best bobbins for a type of lace or a particular lacemaker. While I have lots of Midlands, and enjoy seeing all the types and styles and colors, there are days my arthritic fingers cannot handle them very well. I keep finding myself using more of the continentals -- especially those with a bit of width to them, such a Bayeaux bobbins. Also, I use alot of odd bobbins that are not really either Midlands or Continental, such as the large square bobbins (sold by Van Sciver and others). If someone is having problems with the flattish cookie pillow and Midlands, using a bolster with continentals (and working hands-up) might be a viable solution. To save the cost of investing in alot of bobbins/pillows just to try them, contact your local area group to see if someone can loan a variety of bobbins to try. Someone might even have a bolster pillow to try. We need someone with experience on a bolster pillow to speak up now. Anyone with hand problems using continentals successfully? Happy lacing, Alice in Oregon - 9400 lightning strikes in 24 hrs. 65 fires. Oregon Country Lacemakers Arachne Secret Pal Administrator Mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
