In a message dated 10/05/2004 15:43:06 GMT Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> I believe you could very well try Honiton with the equipment you describe > and get a good feel for it. Un-spangled Midlands bobbins (especially if one > > of the smaller types) are not that different than Honiton bobbins. And a > domed 16" pillow would work also, especially if you choose to enlarge the > pricking at all. > I really believe it is how one exquisites the the stitches and not the > equipment that makes the lace. > > Lorri F > Graham, in the foot hills of MT. Rainier My first foray into honiton was with a free lace piece which really was honiton in disguise. I really wanted to start it with all the right equipment (sorry that's just the obsessive in me!) but as I got the pattern about 3 days before Xmas there was no way that I was going to get a pillow and bobbins in time for the holiday period. I started it off with my favourite east midlands bobbins (spangled) on a high domed 18" polystrene pillow from SMP but as soon as I had to start sewings I realised that these are not that easy with spangles when you have to do them all the time so I swapped them onto my bruges bobbins which worked fine. The celtic dragon that I made is not the greatest thing I've ever done, but then I'd only been making lace for about 6 months and the other pieces of lace, such my torchon were about the same level. Anyway, I was hooked and started buying every book I could find on honiton and reading it to get a feel for the lace. Then being totally obsessive I had to go and buy the equipment, but then that's just me. What I did discover is that I am allergic to straw pillows - I found this out when teaching. Everytime one of my students came along I would get a runny nose and sore eyes - I realised that I was allergic to her pillow! So it's polystrene or nothing for me. Also I found that the weight of the pillow, when I wanted to sit with the pillow on my lap was better with this type of pillow - I don't often make lace at a table, except when at lace days - I make lace in bed (but watch out for those dropped pins). I was given one piece of advice - get a cushion cover - just an ordinary one about 16" or 18" square and fill it with polystrene beads like you get in a bean bag. Not too full. Then put that on your lap and wedge the honiton pillow into the cushion cover - it then sits beautifully in the nest!! As to bobbins, the one thing that I found is that I prefer bobbins of a similar size for honiton as they move easy for me but that is just personal preference. Anyway, just my thoughts Regards Liz Beecher I'm blogging now - see what it's all about - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
