Is there a beginner's book for Binche & is this lace relatively easy to learn?
Binche, along with Flanders and other members of the same family, uses working methods that don't usually arise in the other laces you mention. Pairs can be workers one minute, passives the next. The method of working is irregular, and sometimes your pairs may even travel back up the lace. You often tension by pulling one pair against others that you have held down, but there may not be pins for you to tension against. Someone from this list once described the thread diagram as "psychotic railroad tracks" - a description I've always enjoyed.
Interestingly, there aren't any difficult new techniques - these laces are made with the skills you already have, but - when you enter this world you may find some 'rules' you've learned about making lace don't apply any more, and that can be a very difficult and frustrating experience.
The first time I tried a lace in this family (after nearly 20 years of lacemaking experience) I was on my own with a book, and after several hours of concentrated effort I broke down in tears. Eventually I found a teacher. My first beginner piece was a half inch wide and required only 25 pairs. The first repeat of that lace (about an inch and a half) took me 8 hours (!) (the second 5 hours, and third 2 hours).
Now I've made these types of laces for a few years, and I still couldn't make one without following a diagram.
So, that's why people will tell you Binche is difficult. For most people it really is. But I find it totally absorbing and rewarding to make.
Beginner books are few. There is a "Syllabus Binche" series from the Kantcentrum in Belgium. They start you off by working various grounds of snowflakes. Way back in 1989 Michael Giusiana & Linda Dunn put out a book "Binche lace" that, after a brief review of other laces in the family (Flanders, Point de Paris, Valenciennes), again leads you into Binche via snowflakes. Personally I found making snowflake ground quite tedious, and not exceptionally good at preparing you for Binche, and I stopped after the first two samples. (by the way, it was "Binche with Valenciennes Ground" from that book that took me 8 hours for the first repeat)
Many people recommend starting out with Flanders, so you get used to the ring pairs and the method of working cloth stitch fillings while working what many consider to be an easier lace. There are more beginner Flanders books (I think Mary Niven's book is still available) than beginner Binche books.
Other people say doing Flanders to prepare you for Binche is a little like learning to ski to prepare you for snowboarding. Why not just learn to snowboard in the first place.
Reading this over, I can't help thinking it isn't very helpful. The truth is, these are hard laces to make, and due to their structure there aren't that many beginner patterns.
Hope this helps somehow. Adele North Vancouver, BC (west coast of Canada) - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
