>>>From: Steph Peters [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] It is much easier to leave hanging bobbins uncrossed, so there is a practical reason for this choice.... Now why change for a flat pillow is another interesting question, I'd like to know the answer.<<<
I don't claim to know "The Answer", but my personal feeling would be that it's easier to tell who's paired with whom if they're twisted together. On a flat/cookie pillow, where I push pairs to the side, it's easier to keep my pairs paired when I bring them back again. I could easily get myself off by 1 bobbin if they weren't twisted into pairs, especially on a pattern that had closely-spaced pins and a lot of pairs. On the other hand, the lace made on bolsters is often coarser, with heavier thread, fewer pairs, and farther pin-spacing. Since everybody's hanging when not pinned aside, the twist won't stay in and you might as well accept that and leave things untwisted. This doesn't explain why Skansk knippling is "open", since it's done on a roller pillow and the bobbins lay on an apron, not dangling. Perhaps it started as a bolster lace. Robin P. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA http://www.pittsburghlace.8m.com - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
