Hi Viv, I did my first piece of Honiton lace a year ago on a flat square pillow, then graduated to a SMP Honiton before I obtained a straw one. Having a curved pillow definately makes making the lace easier - as does a small pillow that you can lean over to get a good view of, tie off threads etc. The corners in the square pillow were definately an hinderance. The close pinning can lead to heavy wear on non-straw pillows though - something to be aware of - though packing the holes with felt to keep them useable. If you want to have a try without investing in another pillow, it is definately possible.
Having the right sized bobbins is important. As I did not have sufficient bobbins when I first started, I made some using paper from the instructions on Brenda's site http://users.argonet.co.uk/users/paternoster/lace/paperbobbin/paperbobbin.ht ml Without a spangle they are about the right weight - though I cannot remember now whether I made them slightly thinner. Unspangling light Midlands bobbins may be a possibility - but smoothness is an issue, as the fine threads will catch easily. It is therefore possible to try Honiton with alternative equipment. Even a needlepin can be substituted if necessary. I started using Susanne Thompson's Introduction to Honiton Lace, which is excellent, as is her Further Steps in Honiton Lace. I often see the first book on Ebay, and it is still I believe in print. Further Steps, which covers raised work is unfortunately out of print. I did however find that some of the sewings in the first pattern in Introduction were tricky, and resorted to using a beading needle (in the same way as a lazy susan) using the needle pin to catch the thread etc. It got me over the hump, and I now use the needlepin most of the time. The beading needle being finer and more flexible was definately preferable to a lazy susan. I'd suggest 120/2 Egyptian cotton for starting, especially if working on an alternative pillow etc. It is more forgiving, and does break so easily during sewings. You can then work on the same size pricking as for 170/2 thread, though with fewer pairs eg 13 instead of 15 pairs, or 8 instead of 9. Hope these suggestions help, Karen In Coventry - who has not managed to do as much work on her Honiton lace today as planned! - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
