The shapes of bobbins and of pillows was established generations ago, when lace making was an industry and speed was essential, no matter which type of lace was being made. Generations of experience are behind the various styles of bobbins and pillows. In the case of Honiton, the very pointed ends of slender bobbins, in combination with pillow shape, serve several purposes. The pointed slender bobbins are unique to Honiton. The points are used for the lace technique called sewing - when a design curves back on itself and the new part must be attached to the old during the making of the lace. (This technique is also used in the coarser tape laces of Eastern Europe and Russia, where the bobbins have points but are much sturdier for the heavier thread.) The Honiton bobbin weight is suitable for very fine thread. Honiton lace is worked on a special high domed round pillow shape that will allow idle bobbins to hang down the pillow sides and gently borrow "weight" from gravity for natural help in tensioning the threads. For final tensioning, the bobbins are stroked with flattened fingers. A traditional round Honiton pillow is balanced on the kne es and rests against a table edge. There are photos on the book jacket and inside "The Technique of Honiton Lace" by Elsie Luxton, along with suggested dimensions for a Honiton pillow. G**gle this book title and author to see a book cover picture. Honiton pillows are made by hand with careful placement of seams: round top, round bottom, and a connecting band around the middle, filled with finely chopped straw (barley being preferred by many) to make the top domed. Placing several staggered sizes of felted wool circles under the working surface will ease it into a smoother sloped dome and a cushion that is kind to easily-bent pins. These circles can be attached to the outside of the firm case the straw is in, before you put a pretty cover over all. Pre-wash and machine dry the felted wool thoroughly. Old World War II blankets are good for making the felted circles. Never use synthetic felt for this purpose. It is possible to make 2 surfaces for making lace, top and bottom. A plump pillow can be stored in a shallow handle-less flat-bottomed round basket that has been covered by fabric. Some may prefer working with a such a basket under the lace pillow. Depends on table and chair that you use. There are 149 memos in Arachne archives under Honiton Pillows: http://www.mail-archive.com/lace@arachne.com/ See options at the Honiton Museum site (and look around at other interesting things): http://www.honitonlace.com/honitonlace/catalogue/pillows.htm As for Lyn's problem with hitches. I think that a professional working many hours a day, every day, sitting in front of the same pillow in the same chair, and having few rest breaks, would not have the problems cited. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center
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