Vickie Whenever I have to throw out bobbins, I lay them to the back of the pillow but don't knot them until I absolutely have to: the point where all the pins are gone from that section. The Reason: you never know when you'll discover you really didn't want to throw those out. Once they're knotted they are almost impossible to set free. When I do decide that I've passed the point of no return I knot them but leave them long. Reason: continuing to work on the lace or even knotting other threads may put strain on knots. They rarely come undone, but on rare occasions may do so. If you have already cut them short you now have a total disaster to retrieve.
Ground pins: I never take pairs out of ground if there is any way to avoid it. But if a ground pin ran out of thread and you had to hang a new bobbin in, you have the old one to dispose of. Work the two threads together -- old one and new one -- for at least 1 inch. Most of the time the friction will keep a hole from developing. If I were making point ground I wouldn't let this happen in the first place. I'd fudge somewhere to get that depleted bobbin into a cloth stitch section or into the foot. And then replace it there. Point ground doesn't have enough friction. As for knots: I don't use fray check. When replenishing a bobbin I nearly always work the double thread. Then any knot I make is just added insurance and isn't really necessary. So I don't worry about ends. I cut the thread close to the knot, but not in or on the knot. And that is enough. If the knot happens because a thread broke, then the knot is a weaver's knot which is the only way (just about) of salvaging the lace. I unwork a section until I can get that knotted thread into a place where it has more friction: again into a cloth section or the foot. I never remove threads or let knots happen in half stitch areas or in open grounds. But I also don't make lace for clothing (too much work to take care of it). So my pieces are secure for posterity, but probably not for the washing machine. Lorelei - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]
