RE: [lace] What is the best way to start bobbin lace?
Many years ago Elizabeth Kurella designed some dinosaur patterns, very simple, but just the thing to entice a boy. I don't know if the patterns were ever published or where one could find them. I would love to see them readily available. Lorelei -Original Message-Subject: Re: [lace] What is the best way to start bobbin lace? I think the biggest problem is what they are to make, as that usually is slanted toward female lace makers.Flowers are not going to work for a boy of that age. Thus I think the most difficult bit of this admirable plan is to find things in lace that boys would want to make. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
RE: [lace] Re: What is the best way to start bobbin lace?
Devon I belong to that group on facebook, and Bev is right. Lots of beginners asking advice. It is useful. The other alternative is laceioli, which also has a beginners group. http://laceioli.ning.comBoth are free to join. I like the ning software better. Both allow posting photos, so students can ask for help and why the threads go the wrong way. Lorelei Subject: [lace] Re: What is the best way to start bobbin lace? Bev Walker sent the following suggestion, which I am posting in order to continue the conversation: "Tell her and others to join the Facebook group Bobbin Lace Makers. Devon - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] What is the best way to start bobbin lace?
Does the mother want to learn herself or teach her sons? As an educator, I feel 2 years is too young to start lace, they need to have developed a working memory that allows them to hold quite a bit of information and they need good fine motor skills. The four year old may be just ready. Is the mother basically saying I want a hobby how do I start. If it is the latter question I would say suggest U tube BUT also put her in touch with a local group she may just need time out from the munchkins or talk to real adults. She may be socially isolated and may simply need to get out with people. Also invite her to arachne as well Anna in a wet Sydney - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] Re: What is the best way to start bobbin lace?
It's a long time ago now, but when I first started learning properly (I had had a taster day five years before, tried to teach myself from a book and gave up, by which time I was heavily pregnant) I was in a similar position, my two daughters were 2 and almost 5. My eldest, Jenny, had been going to playschool since she was 3 and had just started school. My younger daughter, Hannah, wanted to know why she couldn't go to playschool at 18 months! So when a beginner's class at the local college was advertised, with a creche that could take 2 year olds, during school hours, it was the perfect answer for both of us. Hannah went to "sand and water" as she called it, and I started learning to make lace. Admittedly we were more likely to find a class locally here in the UK in the 1980s than it is possible in large, spread out countries like the US now. I didn't only make lace at college on Tuesday mornings. I did my homework, both after they were in bed and during the day when they were up and about. Being curious, Hannah wanted to try, so I let her. She didn't do a lot until she was about 5, but what she did was enough to satisfy a 2 year old's curiosity and then she left my lace alone. Jenny also had a go, and a while later my Mom bought both girls their own pillows, etc. I don't remember packing my pillow away all the time as I can remember the days of doing a quick ten minutes or so whilst the potatoes were boiling (such was the youthful enthusiasm of a 33 year old!). Time went on, and the girls were 10 and 7 when I started doing City & Guilds - Jenny would make her own sandwich for lunch and make me one too, when I was busy working towards assessments. If I sat working after fetching them from school, they would get their pillows out and sit with me - but were more likely to do so if they were off sick from school, I ! found. Unfortunately other interests and increased school work took their toll, then jobs and both now (at 34 and 31 respectively) have their own children, so neither makes lace now. But, at least they tried. During the years I was teaching adults, I had two lads come to class from time to time - one the brother of a young lady I had taught since she was 14, the other the son of one of my adult students. I can't remember having problems with what patterns to get them working on - Myles decided he was not going to listen to the way the stitches should be worked, and tried his own combinations of cross and twist, before asking me to show him how to do it properly - better to let them experiment and decide for themselves that tradition is right, sometimes. Most of the basic beginner bookmarks, learning stitches, working tape initials, ground samplers, etc are unisex. So are animals. I have a couple of space rockets amongst my designs (these were used for a Lace Guild calendar and the Penguin Pattern book, and I sent at least one of the rocket patterns to the Knoxville Lacers when we Arachnids were supporting them with patterns, equipment, etc - I had some lovely thank yous written ! on rocket shaped pieces of paper in return, which I still have). When demonstrating, I have had no qualms about letting two and three year olds have a go at whatever is on my pillow - if they can pick up and put down, they can make a stitch. Packing away, if you use Midlands (spangled) bobbins, is relatively easy - as a beginner you don't have too many pairs on your pillow, and a knitting stitch holder (shaped like a large safety pin) will hold 10-12 pairs - thus the bobbins can be trapped in position with a ribbon or piece of elastic. Cover the pillow with a cloth, pinned down at the corners. At home my pillow stayed on its stand whilst I had work in progress, but with the bobbins secured it can go in a bag between sessions. Make sure any pin cushions are hidden away under the cloth, and sharp scissors are put out of reach. Of course, I had daughters, and I understand that boys are a totally different kettle of fish when it comes to toddler behaviour, but learning what they can and can't touch, and the word "no", is a necessity. I think there is more likely to be trouble if you tell them they can't touch, without letting them have a go under supervision, so they can find out what you are doing, and satisfy their curiosity - they might then decide it's boring, go back to their own toys and leave you alone. Or they might decide they want to keep trying - in which case remember that to teach them you only need to be one step ahead, and if they progress to leave you behind so much the better - by that stage they will be able to read the books and watch the videos. The most important thing I want to pass on though is that not everyone can learn from books and/or videos, some have to have someone standing next to them, which is where even being able to take one class in a blue moon can be helpful. Also, lacemaking isn't for everyone. I know we think it
Re: [lace] What is the best way to start bobbin lace?
I started to learn lace when my son was 10 months old - so it is possible to combine with a young child. However I hope she has a less absent-minded partner than my husband. He was supposed to be looking after my son while I cooked. Instead I heard an interesting pinging sound coming from the dining room, where it turned out that my son had discovered that if you pulled each bobbin carefully the thread would snap. He managed to break about 17 threads before I found out - on the corner of a piece of Bucks lace. I ordered them both out of the house before I did something I'd regret to the older one of them!! Sue suebabbs...@gmail.com - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] What is the best way to start bobbin lace?
Lyn, I guess I didn't make myself clear. It is the mother who wants to learn. I mentioned the children because it occurred to me that it wouldn't be that easy for her to leave the house. Also, I left out another part of the message. The entire message said, "I have two young boys. Two and 4 years old. They keep me busy most of the time. But I’m wanting to start a hobby so bad for the little free time that I have. Is this hobby something easy to pack away (so my kids can’t get their hands in it) and something I can pick up and leave as my free time permits? I have some experience in crocheting but beginners level. What’s the best way for me to start this hobby? I’d love to make beautiful lace." I am not sure what to say about the matter of whether it is easy to pack away and pick up. Devon - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] What is the best way to start bobbin lace?
I taught myself from the Doris Southard book until I found a group about 40 miles away. From there, I found suppliers. This was before I used the Internet much. Found Arachne which helped.  Nowadays I am on Bobbin Lace Makers on Facebook and try to help with suggestions for people new to lace.  If they are in the US, I look in the IOLI handbook to see if I can spot a lacemaker in their city and if so, suggest they go to the IOLI website to contact the area rep. I also encourage them too join so they can borrow books and videos just for postage costs. It is wonderful to see so many new lacemakers online and is a useful reply to the "Dying Art" response when demonstrating.  That drives me nuts, especially if we are working with children. Janice Blair Murrieta, CA, jblace.com - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] What is the best way to start bobbin lace?
"My email sends out an automatic message. Arachne members, please ignore it. I read your emails."Dear Devon, et al, I am assuming this mother lives in the US, so we have this situation. A mother, experienced in bobbin lacemaking, with two young sons and she wants them to learn bobbin lace. So, we have a teacher, two young boys, no likelihood of nearby schools, and how to teach them. First of all, she has plenty of time to actually teach them, especially the younger, and figure out how that is done. Teaching the basic steps doesn't have many significant variations. The 'bandage' is the usual beginning. I think the biggest problem is what they are to make, as that usually is slanted toward female lace makers. From my courses preparing me for a teaching certificate in another life, I learned that this could be quite important, as around the age of six, children are learning about what it is that makes them a boy or a girl. It's the only age when all little girls, virtually, want pink, for example. Flowers are not going to work for a boy of that age. I am away from my books, so I can'! t refer to them except by memory. I think the best book, off the top of my head, is the one made by the Lace Museum in California. Also the rather expensive German looseleaf book designed for teachers of young lacemakers. Tapelace can make all sorts of trucks and bulldozers, items usually cherished by boys. I have two sons, I remember. The other possibility is 3d modern lace. Le Puy en Velay has a school for youngsters, as does Kant Centrum in Bruges, and the lace place in Brioude, France. Writing to them and finding out how they teach this could be useful. I know that one motif used in Bruges for teaching youngsters is a half stitch fish in multicolored crochet cotton. Thus I think the most difficult bit of this admirable plan is to find things in lace that boys would want to make. Lyn from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA, presently in the Arizona desert, enjoying sunshine and warmth. About to break out the shorts. "My email sends out an automatic message. Arachne members, please ignore it. I read your emails." I have received a >question to the page from a woman who has two young sons, 2 and 4. She >asks "What is the best way to start this hobby?" ... >I am now contemplating whether it might be easier in this day and age >for someone to teach themselves lacemaking than to locate and attend a >class. As we know, classes are few, meet rarely, and tend to be so >spread out that distance becomes a problem. I think this might be >especially the case for a young mother. >What answer should I give this questioner about the best way to start the >hobby? >Devon > - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Re: What is the best way to start bobbin lace?
Gina writes: I taught myself, starting with The Torchon Lace Workbook by Bridget Cook. I'm attempting to teach myself Beds from books and from Christine Springett's Beds video series. I have to say, Beds has been more challenging than the Torchon was. I'm still taking baby steps :) I'd love to have the help of a teacher, but the IOLI only lists 2 lace instructors in the entire state of Florida, and both of them are 5+ hours away from me. It comes down to necessity sometimes, having no other options than books and videos. Actually, I found the Springett videos to be a very satisfying experience. I did have a young child at the time, but I made my husband take her to the pool while I worked on them. Of course they were VHS, so I doubt I could even manage to play them now. I haven't used a tape player in years. I wonder if there is a single video/DVD already made that is the best introduction? Of course, these technologies go out of use so quickly, does suggesting a DVD make sense? Carolyn is suggesting we make youtubes. Should the IOLI consider making a series of youtubes in order to encourage bobbin lace making? If they did this, at least they could introduce people who might later go to the convention to the way things are typically done in the US. By the way, Gina, if you were to go to the IOLI convention you could take a very concentrated Beds course taught by Elizabeth Peterson and you could take it 6 hours a day for 4 days, meaning 24 hours of instruction. You could really make a huge stride in Beds in a single week. Devon >> >> - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Re: What is the best way to start bobbin lace?
I am no expert but I would be happy to be part of a group, come down from New York and work in Pennsylvania to do a series of YouTube videos? I used to teach Bobbin lace making at the spirit of Crosstitch festival... Sent from my iPhone and if I'm driving please excuse Siri derived typos. > On Jan 20, 2019, at 10:15 AM, Devon Thein wrote: > > Bev Walker sent the following suggestion, which I am posting in order > to continue the conversation: > > "Tell her and others to join the Facebook group Bobbin Lace Makers. > There are a lot of new learners taking part, most seem to be teaching > themselves from books and YouTube videos. They are giving each other > advice and are receiving help from experienced lacers." > > I have to say this did not occur to me. > Other thoughts? > > Devon > > - > To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: > unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to > arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: > http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/ - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] Re: What is the best way to start bobbin lace?
Bev Walker sent the following suggestion, which I am posting in order to continue the conversation: "Tell her and others to join the Facebook group Bobbin Lace Makers. There are a lot of new learners taking part, most seem to be teaching themselves from books and YouTube videos. They are giving each other advice and are receiving help from experienced lacers." I have to say this did not occur to me. Other thoughts? Devon - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] What is the best way to start bobbin lace?
As you may know, I am the IOLI facebook editor. I have received a question to the page from a woman who has two young sons, 2 and 4. She asks "What is the best way to start this hobby?" Ordinarily I would say that she should get in touch with a local lace group that would tell her where lessons are available. My experience, learning in the 1970s was that I could never have learned from the books available then. Also, sourcing the materials was very challenging in pre-internet days. I have not had the experience of trying to learn bobbin lace recently. I was quite struck when I put together Lace, not Lace, to see that many of the younger contributors had taught themselves. One had been a student at the Maryland Art Institute and taught herself from a library book. Another, Brooklyn based, had taught herself from youtubes and books. Penny Nickels, the needle lacer who made the Jersey Devil had taught herself from books on the University of Arizona site. It was actually overwhelming to realize that all the efforts of local groups to give books to libraries, and of Tess and the Professor to post them on the site had actually borne fruit in the form of artists learning from these resources. I am now contemplating whether it might be easier in this day and age for someone to teach themselves lacemaking than to locate and attend a class. As we know, classes are few, meet rarely, and tend to be so spread out that distance becomes a problem. I think this might be especially the case for a young mother. What answer should I give this questioner about the best way to start the hobby? Devon - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
