Hi Kathy ! For once, I have read all of the previous responses before launching into what I had intended to say!! And it shortened my response considerably, because I agree with all that has been said.
AND... I have a few additional things to suggest. If you're really wanting to get used to continental bobbins for whatever reason, there are three things that will make your work less frustrating: First: don't try to work on a "dome" cookie pillow. The shape of the pillow "insists" that the continentals roll about. A FLAT cookie is much more suitable for continental bobbins. Second: don't put your pillow on anything that sets it at an angle facing toward you. Ideally, with continental bobbins on a cookie pillow, the pillow will be flat. (In fact, Holly VanSciver tells her students that all pillows should be as flat as you can stand!) And finally, instead of using a plain cotton work cloth, I suggest that you get a piece of "ultrasuede" for your work cloth. This isn't a good idea with spangled bobbins (they drag too much), but the lovely soft texture of the ultrasuede keeps those continentals happily in place where you put them - unless you've set your pillow to an angle where the laws of gravity take over!! I love my spangled bobbins for English laces!! The "bonus" of the aesthetic appearance of my tools always pleases me when I'm working with them. I also love my (tiny) Binche bobbins! I usually have LOTS more bobbins on my pillow when I'm working Binche, and so I appreciate the economy of space which they provide, AND they're delightful in their own way. Plus, as someone else said, a heavier bobbin would just tear the tiny thread all to pieces! When I first started making lace, everything was done with the spangled bobbins. It was only after I had tried a lace and determined that I liked it enough to pursue it that I bothered to buy more bobbins. It worked for me! And, BTW, when I worked Milanese (which I love!) I decided that the "hands-down" best bobbin for that lace is something relatively new with vendors: it's called an "International Square" bobbin, and both Holly VanSciver and Lacy Susan carry it. There are two advantages to this bobbin: it has a squared off "bottom" which cuts down on the rolling about, and it has a double head. I love working Milanese lace in those yummy silk colors, and silks absolutely MUST have double hitches or you'll go bananas just keeping the bobbins from flying completely off the pillow!! AND they're not expensive. So that would be my recommendation for your Milanese Continental bobbins. Clay Clay Blackwell [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [Original Message] > From: Kathy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > I have been making lace for many years using spangled bobbins (Torchon, > Beds, Brugge Bloomwerk, various tape laces). I decided to treat myself > to a few new books at Christmas time (Honiton and Milanese). It was > suggested when I bought the books that I might want to try Continental > bobbins and I got some Swiss ones. I have been trying out the Milanese > patterns, and these bobbins are driving me nuts. They are so light and > bouncy and they don't stay put very well so the threads are constantly > getting tangled up. I have been using a 16" cookie pillow to practice > with. I am wondering if it is worth it to try and get used to these > bobbins, or will my spangled ones cause even more trouble as I get more > involved in doing these types of lace? Is this style of bobbin used > mostly because of tradition? I have not had trouble in the past using > the spangled bobbins with sewings if that is the reason for using them. > If it's just a matter of practicing with these bobbins in order to make > the lace easier, I'm willing to do that, but if there is really no good > reason to, I might as well learn to do the lace and not worry about the > bobbins jumping all over. Will the Honiton be harder to learn with the > spangled bobbins? Any help will be appreciated. > > Thanks, > > Kathy > > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 266.4.0 - Release Date: 2/22/2005 > > - > 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]
