Hello All! I'm going to take a stab at answering Jeri's question & my answer is geared toward beginners. First--consider borrowing bobbins from a lacemaking friend. Easier said than done, but you won't know unless you ask. Second--it won't matter what style bobbin you buy if you only buy a few! Resist the impulse to acquire gobs of bobbins because they are less expensive in bulk. When I started, the bobbin seller said to pick the ones that felt "right" in my hands. When you are not experienced, they all feel the same! It's hard to know until you've made several patterns, by which time you have "used" bobbins. It's easier to sell/give a few bobbins to your friends if you find they aren't right for you after the fact. Third--beware the creative bias of fellow lacemakers or bobbin sellers. Their favorite bobbin won't necessarily be yours. Been there, done that. Fourth--to roll or not to roll, that is the question. My bobbin vendor emphasized rolling bobbins, proba! bly because they work best for the type of lace she makes. When you find a favorite lace style, that may well determine one or more appropriate bobbin styles. Fifth--your lace taste/sensibilities will change over time. Your arthritis may flare up when you least expect. Or you end up out of sync & out of style where your favorite lace/favorite bobbins go the way of your favorite pair of bellbottoms! Sixth--with all due respect to Continentals, Midlands or other "fancy" bobbins create the biggest stir at a lace demo event. They are like magnets in a crowd! Consider owning a few as an investment in advertising your art on your demo pillow. May I also add that I am grateful to Clay for hosting a Garage Sale table at Lace At Sweet Briar. It has given me a chance to divest myself of bobbins & other lacemaking equipment that I will never use again at a fair price. Hope this helps anyone with bobbin procurement issues! Sincerely, Susan Hottle, Erie, PA USA
- 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/
