Dear Weronkia, I don't know how anyone else does it but I generally use bobbins that will hold a lot of thread (ie. longer neck area) for heavier threads like 40/2 or 50/2. Most times this means the bobbins are bigger but not always. I usually use the Midlands bobbins anyway. I do have a few English Thumper bobbins (these are heavier bobbins that don't have a spangle) that I use for gimps in any size lace. Danish bobbins work well for the heavier laces and that's what I started out using. They do tend to roll around the pillow a lot if you don't put the ones not in use to one side with a pin! For finer laces 60/2 and up I use any of my Midlands bobbins that aren't too clunky. Some of the books tell you that the bobbins all have to weigh exactly the same to make nice even lace but I haven't found out that its true (maybe I'm just not that fussy!). I suppose it does make a difference when you are making leaves or tallies. (I love making leaves but hate tallies, especially those dratted cucumber feet!).
To keep the thread from unwinding constantly (a big problem when you are learning!) I usually wind my bobbins and then hang the wound pairs on a bobbin tree (or in my case a bobbin fence!) overnights so that the thread has a chance to "set" on the bobbins. It's much like putting your hair up in rollers (if anyone still does that!). At least you don't have to sleep on your bobbins overnight! A bobbin tree kind of looks like real tree does in winter, one stick going straight up with branches going off to the side. Mine looks like a fence with a post on either end and two rails in between and the whole business sitting on a flat board. The bobbins straddle the fence with one bobbin of each pair on either side. Kind of looks like this: I===I Hope this has helped a little. Good luck on your lacemaking! Trish Fisher, in Scott Depot, WV where it has stopped raining for a while ----- Original Message ----- From: "Weronika Patena" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Lace" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2004 5:41 PM Subject: [lace] yet more questions - size of bobbins and thread > Hello, everyone! > > More questions... > > In general, heavier bobbins should be used with thicker thread, right? > But given some size of thread, how do I know what size of bobbins I > should use? Any advice/examples? I know this is a hard question to > answer reasonably, since there are different types of bobbins and they > don't have standard sizes, but maybe someone can come up with an > answer... > More specifically, I'm using Bockens 35/2 linen, which is pretty thick, > and I'm wondering if my bobbins are too small - the stiff thread makes > them unwind a lot... What bobbins would you suggest for this thread > size? > Also, what bad things happen when your bobbins are too small or too > large for the thread size? > > Weronika > > - > To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: > unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
