---- Carolyn Hastings <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I don't think the spangles have anything at all to do with weight for tensioning. Across the continent, you see many very fine laces made with relatively heavy bobbins (relative to, say, Honiton or even a Midlands with no spangles). -----
Well, this is kinda my point. Midlands without spangles are rather light, compared to continentals with significant bulges at their bottoms. Hence the need for spangles on the Midlands. ----More to the point, is there any situation that you can think of where it is possible for the bobbin itself to tension the threads? In my experience it is always necessary to use my hands. Further, I can't think of a lace that I've made where the weight of the bobbin has caused the threads to break, or where the lightness of the bobbins has caused the threads to become untensioned.---- I have had fine threads break with spangled Midlands (not often, because I don't do much fine-thread lace). And I have had cases where the thread was "too big" or "too strong" for Midlands that I hadn't yet spangled. Yes, my hands are necessary for the details, but gravity *keeps* tension on the thread that does affect the lacemaking. Not enough tension and the hitches keep popping off and the thread (even when the hitch is still on) comes loose around the shaft. Too much tension and the threads start getting stressed. I'm not arguing against Carolyn's theory for why Midlands bobbins are spangled--her theory is reasonable (although I'm allowed to prefer my own)--but arguing against some of her explanation. Robin P. Los Angeles, California, USA - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
