Noelene wrote: "When I first started trying to encourage locals to try bobbin lace, I invested in 200 black plastic bobbins from Hornsbys in the UK. ..."
This is another hurrah for plastic bobbins...it is exactly the way I started classes here in the States (middle Georgia) when we moved back from England!! I also used plastic bobbins for the supplies in the Beginning Lace Class I taught at the IOLI Convention in Atlanta in 1986.
These bobbins were made from the same design Mr. Hornsby used for bobbins he turned himself until his supply business took off and the sheer demand for a good supplier at the time meant that his bobbin making had to be put aside. The black bobbins do look like ebony, the white ones look like bone and the brown ones are similar to wood! I do believe that his son is continuing the business today, and his bobbins are available still from suppliers in the states. (no connection...just a satisfied plastic bobbin user)
I didn't always feel this way about plastic bobbins. I used them at first because I needed a lot of bobbins, and these were the least expensive alternative at that time for me. Many lacemakers shuddered at the thought of using "plastic" bobbins. Then, one lace day I saw the most beautiful piece of Bedfordshire lace...a Springett's large handkerchief edging, and the lacemaker was using nothing but plastic bobbins. My lace teacher was with me and pointed out that the plastic bobbins took nothing away from the lacemakers skill. I have also used the high density polystyrene insulation board for class pillows. Supply shops will usually cut this to the size you need. I didn't use ply then, but that is a good idea! I doubled the boards for thickness. I found a trifold card of stainless steel pins in sewing shops that worked well for pins, and ordered thread from a supplier...I couldn't skimp on the thread!!
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