I have seen class descriptions that refer to "confident beginners" and I like that description. Even with the basic skill levels Devon mentions, there is a difference between the student who needs to have the teacher coach them every step of the way, and the student who can make the same pattern with only occasional questions. The change into intermediate, I think, would come when the student could take a pattern they've never been coached through and choose their threads, wind their bobbins, start it and make it without help.
Terms like sewing edge, footside, and the different grounds do give me pause, though. Many lacemakers are self-taught, and they may do some very ambitious work and yet not know something other people consider quite simple. It would be annoying to be branded a beginner because you didn't know what "make a sewing edge" meant when you've just finished turning out your second bridal veil. That sort of thing can easily happen when you're self-taught. As to intermediate versus advanced - that, I think, is a little more difficult. You may look at something like Binche, for example, and think it is very advanced because the thread diagram looks demented, but if you know your basics there isn't anything in Binche you haven't done already, and if you've got a thread diagram it's just a matter of plugging away at it. When I think of advanced lacemakers (and I know very few of them) I think of somebody who could make an intermediate lace from a pricking alone - without having a thread diagram. One more thing - we started this discussion with a view to helping people sign up for classes that are appropriate for them. I'd just like to say that for many years my policy has been that when I go to a convention I sign up for a class that is a little bit easier than my maximum capabilities. That way I don't find it incredibly difficult, I'm not missing anything because I have to stay in my room and work on my lace just to catch up, and I don't go home with a big headache and 1/8" of lace on my pillow. I have seen a lot of people over the years (I attended my first convention in 1981) who said to themselves something like "well, I've finished the introductory Bucks Point pattern, now to take Bucks Point again, and I'll tackle that pretty one at the back of the book with 110 pairs". I think it's much nicer when you cut yourself some slack, and do the pattern that's just a little bit up from where you were. Adele West Vancouver, BC (west coast of Canada) On 2014-08-25, at 10:12 AM, [email protected] wrote: > Karen brings up a good topic regarding whether one is a beginner, > intermediate or advanced. A unified understanding of those terms might be a > good > idea in order to avoid people signing up for the wrong class. - 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/
