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.
Like all other aspects of lacemaking, a different style of bobbin takes some practice. However, as suggested by other people, the type of pillow being used is just as important. The pillow and the bobbins need to be compatible, with each other, and with the lace style.
I enjoy my midlands when doing a straight lace but have found myself using more and more continental bobbins in recent years. Finer threads need a lighter bobbin than spangled midlands. Also, the smaller continentals take less room when I'm doing a project with a large number of threads.
The Swiss bobbins I have seen have been on the medium to large size as continentals go. I don't now just what kind you have. Your reference to 'light and bouncy' doesn' fit with my vision of Swiss bobbins. As long as they aren't too heavy for your thread, they should work fine. For Honiton, however, you need light bobbins. Unspangled thin midlands should work if you don't want to invest in Honiton bobbins before trying that style of lace.
Your problem may be your pillow, as much as your bobbins. I personally believe that the 16" pillow is too small to use comfortably. If you are used to working with the bobbins spread out flat on a pillow, bobbins hanging over are a great frustration. If the bobbins hang off the edge of the pillow to any degree, the handling is more difficult. 16" does not give much surface for supporting the bobbins and having sufficient thread leash to work efficiently.
Spangled bobbins were designed for flat or almost flat pillows. Though people sometimes use them otherwise, the spangle does not function properly unless it is flat.
Continental bobbins, used traditionally, often hang loose on the sides of a large dome pillow or a bolster pillow. The whole manner of handling them is different from the way you use midlands. However, continentals can be used on a flat pillow, with some adapting of handling techniques. A work cloth under the bobbins with some texture (terry cloth toweling worked for me) to help keep the bobbins from rolling is useful. Using lots of divider pins to 'herd' bobbins not in use, also helps. On large projects, bobbins not in use are held in bobbin holders and stacked to the sides of the projects. The loose bobbins are limited to those needed immediately and that can fit neatly on the working part of the pillow.
Please note that the first time, or two, or three, that I tried using continentals, I had the same frustrations you are having. I had to become used to the different feel of the bobbins, and adapt my habits of handling them. Now I find myself using them more than my midlands.
The square bobbin is a good intermediate bobbin. It doesn't roll as much, yet has no spangle to catch in a sewing. There are at least four styles available.
Check out several webpages of suppliers and see what's available.
So, don't give up yet. You can do this.
Happy lacing,
Alice in Oregon -- sunny and dry, short 10" of rain already this month. It will be a drought year, and more forest fires. Not a fun prospect for summer.
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