Interesting thoughts, Lyn, and hello everyone Thinking in terms of lacemaking as a job, not a hobby, repetitive work but requiring the attention of the operator, I liken it to touch-typing in a later era.
Typing was something 'women could do' for income as was lacemaking. Both require small-motor skills (now, that term looks funny in this context! but I do mean finger movement-brain skills). Speaking from past experience <g> we learned to fine-tune our typing skills for greater speed and accuracy. There were books and exercises... Lacemakers 'back then' probably coached each other. Interesting that speed and tips on going faster aren't in the early how-to books (that I know of), but the lace schools wouldn't have had lace manuals, would they? The hobbyist isn't as concerned with speed, as Malvary mentioned, for us now it isn't a race. We *can* go at our own pace. However if your desired pace actually is fast, then one thing to try is to switch from CT to TC in half stitch or the double-half (TCTC rather than CTCT). I've tried it and *yes* speed is increased, palms up or down. You can get into a better passing motion with the bobbins. I especially noticed this when using the hooded bobbins on a bolster and the plain cylinder handled Spanish bobbins also (for them I use a cookie pillow). I much prefer a slower pace now though :D You can save time by placing less pins in an area of uncomplicated ground - one at the beginning and one at the end to anchor each diagonal row. That one is an anecdotal tip from the days of the cottage industry ;) Laces for sale had to be clean and look good - to flatter the wearer. A lacemaker would go faster without having to stress over making each repeat absolutely perfect, motifs could vary minimally as long as the overall appearance was good. Whether or not you want to be speedy, make sure your working position is comfortable. If something hurts, find a way to sit/stand at the pillow so that it doesn't. Sometimes back pain is caused by tension, avoid stressing over making the perfect e.g. leaf ;) On 6/21/11, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote: > So experience has a good bit to do with it. Makes absolute sense, and > that's what I saw. But those lacemakers who made a living out of making > lace, the faster they went, the more money they made, the better they ate. > Was it just experience for them? Or are there tricks to it, besides > figuring out the most efficient way to proceed, so you're not moving bobbins > needlessly to get where you need to be. -- Bev in Shirley BC, near Sooke on beautiful Vancouver Island, west coast of Canada - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]. Photo site: http://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003
