I think beginners need a good basic instruction book as a reference to have on hand. It would have a planned series of basis lessons, and probably some other patterns that build on the basic skills. The Torchon Lace Workbook is one of the best but is no longer in print or available at a reasonable price. If you find a copy, use it. However, you will most likely need to explore what newer books are available in your area. There are quite a few in print. Get one that is compatible of the area the students live in. (i.e. Check if half stitch is TC or CT in the book and in a language the student can read.)
Torchon teaches the three main stitch formations: CT, CTC, CTCT. It also teaches handling bobbins, preparation, reading patterns, spiders, gimp, basic picot, tally, the two main edges, etc. Moving from Torchon to a basic tape lace is a good second style. Schneeberger, Russian, Idrian, Hungarian...to name some. There are lots of books on the market with cute patterns using basic tape skills. Tape lace would add skills of sewing, turning curves, braids and more picots, Beds would be a good followup because it used some tape skills but adds more techniques such as crossings. Bucks Point would introduce the point ground skills, and the double twisted picot. Some students may choose this type of lace over the tape laces as a second choice. And the lace world expands from there...whichever type attracts attention. Check out the Kortelahti books. These patterns are torchon with some added quirks that could challenge and interest an intermediate or advanced beginner. Small projects are better starting patterns than an edging, these days. (My opinion.) They give more practice in setting up projects (bobbins, etc), and then give a sense of satisfaction when completed. I like bookmarks because of the size, and they are usable. Also make good gifts. Christmas ornaments are also usable projects. There are many kinds of these .... flat, 3-D, or strips that wrap around balls. The Lace Guild has a child's section on the webpage, with instructions and pattern. Check it out. These are the main things I can think of right now. It's our anniversary and DH is waiting for me for a day trip to the coast or somewhere, in celebration. Must go. Alice in Oregon....on a day with a bit less rain than the rest of the week. Apr 6, 2010 07:18:37 AM, [email protected] wrote: >Hi all, > >I have two colleagues who have now started bobbin lace and want to >continue. I started each of them with cloth stitch (CTC), just making a >narrow strip to get the movements and the "rules" of bobbin lace down. >My planning for these ladies is, more or less in this order: > >- cloth stitch ground (already introduced) >- whole stitch (CTCT) >- trading working and footside pairs >- half-stitch ground (CT) >- braids / plaits (CTCT ad infinitum) >- various other grounds as needed for their chosen laces; one colleague has >chosen Bucks/Bayeux, one has yet to choose as she just started today >- gimps >- working through a series of patterns in their chosen lace(s), introducing >new techniques > - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]
