In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> , bevw <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
> It is easy for the newcomer to be >confused. > But it is also very easy for us to assume they have little or no intelligence! In fact, if you have a knitter, explaining that each pair of threads/bobbins is virtually the equivalent of one of their stitches, and how many stitches do they have on the back of a jumper without batting an eyelid.... they soon lose their fear of the numerous bobbins (anything more than a dozen appears numerous at first) and recognise that it is one stitch at a time. >The other day, at a lace club meeting a reporter was present. We gave >her the quickest lesson possible. We had bobbins, thread and pillows >handy but none set up as a 'have-a-go' pillow. One lacemaker cut >thread off a spool of linen and wound bobbins, another truffled around >to find an empty pillow, and large-headed pins. Likewise we have got a reporter hooked, but why sort out "special" equipment - I gave up having a separate pillow long ago, and now when demonstrating those (of any age) who want to have a go do so on the piece I am working at the time - in the case of the reporter, a trail in my "petticoat lace" (the edging I am making, adapted from one of the first set of patterns from Retournac - about 20 inches to go!) - a few years ago, Paul, one of the local newspaper photographers, succeeded in making a square of Roseground. Explaining that all of the stitches are made up of combinations of just two moves, and showing them first, most can cope with any stitch sequence under close supervision, and feel that they have actually made lace, rather than the "nothing like lace" strip of bandage. A few weeks ago whilst demonstrating, two girls (aged 9 and 10) worked about an inch or so of the half stitch section of teddy bear I was working on - taking it in turns to do a couple of rows each. In class, yes, my beginners do work a bandage - starting with half stitch with a cloth & twist edge, simply two moves, now do those two moves twice and pin. Then we go on to cloth stitch, and finally cloth and twist - explaining that they are going from two to three to four, and using coloured, often sparkly, threads. Making sure that one pair stays straight at the edge (hence the cloth & twist at first) gives you a gathering thread, this can then, once the piece is removed from the pillow, be used to gather the lace into a rosette which can be mounted in a coaster. Starting with half stitch and moving on to cloth and cloth & twist also has the advantage of preventing the horror of "I'm doing it wrong" which occurs when those who have learnt cloth first realise they only have one worker in half stitch. You have the chance to explain the difference before it happens, when they move from half to cloth. Once you explain that there is nothing in lace that cannot be undone if it is not right, they lose some of the fear - there are no knots to tie, so if they make a mistake it isn't a disaster. -- Jane Partridge - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
