David, I've also been thinking, "there must be a better way!". I use various systems, each of which has something to recommend it, none of which is perfect. I use continental-style bobbins--I don't offhand remember what you use.
1. I've used the system of stacking the bobbins between pairs of very long brass pins. It has the virtue of being relatively quick to put away (scooping up the pairs along one pin and pinning against a second) and take down remove the front pin and let the bobbins slide down to the pillow). The disadvantages for me are that I'm not deft enough to always keep the pins in order as I scoop, pin, and slide, so there's usually a certain amount of reordering; if I stack more than, say, 4 pairs, the threads of the top bobbins are raised so far off the pillow that they occasionally tangle in pinheads; and it requires more "real-estate" than I'd like, especially with patterns using more than, say, 75 pairs. 2. I've used the elastic band/tongue-depressor holders. These have the virtue that they hold more bobbins than the pins comfortably do, and I can stack several on top of each other, so saving some real estate. The disadvantages are that it's more fiddly than I'd like scooping the bobbins along the wood and securing the elastic. Also, sometimes I'm less than coordinated about it, and the elastic snaps back, scattering bobbins and taking even more time to sort out. 3. I've used the knitting-needle "twin" holders in a similar way. These hold even more bobbins, but are still fiddlier than I'd like to secure. 4. Something I recently have experimented with: using a recycled section of plastic spiral binding pushed down over the bobbins to separate them, then using one of the aforementioned long pins slipped along the spiral and under the bobbins, then pinned into the pillow vertically. This has the virtue of keeping the bobbins quite reliably in order, and being perhaps a little easier to put up and take down. You have to select an appropriate size of spiral for the diameter of your bobbins. It saves somewhat on real estate over system one. It's still fiddlier than I'd prefer. 5. I also sometimes use a small thick piece of cloth in much the same way that Liz did, creating a layered work surface. I don't like the lumpiness. I briefly tried and gave up on large French hairclips, with the spring removed. The largest I have won't hold more than about 4 pairs, and the curve makes it harder than it should be to scoop. I couldn't think of anything quite like that but bigger and flatter. Maybe somebody else can. I keep thinking there might be a cable-management system that could be adapted, but so far, I've not found one that's appropriate. I imagine creating something like the hairclips, but bigger and flatter, and with scallops in the part that comes down over the bobbins to keep them in order. But I think this would have to be specially-created. I'll be curious to see if anyone has other ideas. --Julie E. in Seattle [email protected] weft.wlonk.com - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]
