Over the years, this has come up on a regular basis. One camp of lace makers will say, but Jose people who learnt honiton in the 1700s never learnt torchon. And they are right. But they didn't attend classes for a few hours at a time, they were taught lacemaking from an early age and time spent was almost the same as a modern day apprentice would recognise - hours spent studying the making and practicing.
There is a lot to be said for starting with laces that work in geometrical patterns as these are easy to see the next steps and understand where you have made a mistake before it goes too far. But as one who made yards of what I can only describe as bandages for worms (0.5cm wide pieces of lace) to demonstrate that I understood what I was doing, I became disenchanted with the whole thing because after 4 months I had nothing recognisable to show for my efforts. We now have some outstanding patterns and books available that can inspire new Lacemakers to make things that build up quickly and yet teach you the basics. I adore using Christine Springett's snake pattern because it uses really robust thread (gold dust and coton perle) so no broken threads and teaches good tension, whole / cloth stitch and also how to twist and make a sewing. Using colour threads allow the newbie to check that they haven't muddled their bobbins too. But any pattern that uses robust threads would be perfect for me as a teaching aid because there is nothing more frightening to a new lacemaker than a broken thread. The other advantage is that this pattern can be made and mastered for a complete novice in just two evening or half day sessions. For me, the heartbreaking thing was when I brought a book and came bouncing in to my lesson saying I really anted to make a small piece of lace as a present for my mother; for her dolls house. My teacher sneered at me that it would take months if not year before I could even start to think about it. I left the lessons and joined a local group. I showed the same pattern to a member there and she suggested two or three pieces from the same book to make that would teach me the skills to make the piece I wanted. Three months later I had made it. It's about finding the right way to get your pupil to the point they can do what they want. Kind Regards Liz Baker > On 24 Apr 2014, at 17:49, Clay Blackwell <[email protected]> wrote: > > I can identify with your friend who is just starting, and is drawn to Bruges > Flower Lace! I think we are all drawn to beautiful laces and would like to > just jump right in and do it! - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
