On Fri, 19 Nov 2004 19:16:54 -0500, Sherri wrote: >I have been lurking on this list for awhile now - seeing all the posts >about a "quiet list" - maybe you won't mind my asking a few questions. I >am a wannabe lacemaker, not even a beginner - I have bobbins, some >thread and pins, even a few prickings - I have balked at the purchase of >a pillow and would like to know: <snip> >2. And how would you recommend that a beginner learn on her/his own? I >live in an area where there are no lacemakers and no lacemaking classes. >Is there a book that's especially good for beginners? A particular type >of lace that is best for beginners to start with?
This list likes questions, there's always something new to learn. For some, like me, answering newbie questions now is a sort of 'repayment' for the help I received here as an absolute beginner. You've had some answers to your first question, so I'll tackle the second one. I learned on my own from books. My recommendation is to try to get hold of 2 beginner books, using library facilities if possible. Two books are very much better than one because each author has their own way of explaining, so what I didn't understand in one book could usually be sorted out by reading a different explanation in the other book. Also for the first few pieces I did it was handy to have one book open at the pattern I was working, and the other one open at the explanations of the basic stitches. Most beginner lacemakers start with Torchon as this is good foundation. It is a geometric lace based on a regular grid which is a little easier to follow at first than a lace based on curves. Having said that, if a beginner knows exactly what lace they aim to make long term, then it is quite possible to start with something else. When lace was made commercially children started by learning the easiest patterns of the laces made where they lived. My website has a list of comments by members of Arachne, compiled by Winifred Keefer from discussions of beginner books in 1996 and 1999. Some of the books are out of print, but they may be available second hand. The list is at: http://www.sandbenders.demon.co.uk/bobbinlace/begbook.htm -- The desire of knowledge, like the thirst of riches, increases ever with the acquisition of it. Laurence Stern Steph Peters [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tatting, lace & stitching page <http://www.sandbenders.demon.co.uk/index.htm> Scanned by WinProxy http://www.Ositis.com/ - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
