[lace] What style of bobbins?
I use continental bobbins. When I first started making lace (can it really be thirty years ago?) my bobbins rolled, too. I found that if I put a terry cloth wash cloth or small towel underneath them it helped. But the real trick is to keep the pillow flat. It is the slope, so commonly used with beaded bobbins, that is the problem. For me, anyway. I use completely flat block pillows and never have a rolling bobbin. Also, I flick my bobbins as I work, which I can't seem to do with the beaded bobbins. Concerning the mail problems, which really sound quite dreadful, I hope those who lose their mail can find the solution soon. I use my iPad, MacBook Pro, AOL, Safari, and have all outgoing mail copied to myself when I send it out, and have never had the troubles afflicting so many. I wonder if knowing this will help solve the trouble: I hope so. Good luck! Tess (tess1...@aol.com) happy in summertime Maine USA, where the weather is gorgeous! - 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 style of bobbins to buy?
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 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 style of bobbins to buy?
Dear all, If you don't know what bobbins to go for, buy the bobbins you love the look of. I was used to continental bobbins, but I loved the look of the spangled Midland bobbins. So I bought 10 pairs and spangled them myself. When I first used them I thought I made the biggest mistake, I didn't like working with them. Now I'm used to both of them. Joke in Glasgow enjoying the Commonwealth Games Sent from my iPhone On 29 Jul 2014, at 18:42, hottl...@neo.rr.com wrote: 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, pro! ba! 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 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] What Style of Bobbins to Buy?
It is so quiet, that I thought to post a comment from the late Elaine Merritt; found by searching Elaine Merritt, lace expert. It may also be in our archives, but I found it on Kenn Van-Dieren's site. This came to mind because of the lace maker who recently asked what bobbins to buy. Regarding bobbin shapes, I love to collect Midlands bobbins, but there is no doubt in my mind that a lacemaker who is working for her living will be able to make lace faster using continental bobbins which are all the same size and weight. I think the varying shapes of continental bobbins have been determined by the type of lace being made, the thickness of the thread, the shape of the pillow and therefore the way the bobbins are handled. The varying Belgian shapes, differing as they do for Rosaline, Duchesse, Bloemwerk, Michelin, etc. are examples of this. Elaine Merritt Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center - 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 Style of Bobbins to Buy?
Dear Jeri, et al, I agree with Elaine Merritt and add the fact that you can get basic continental bobbins for $1 per. The only real drawback is that some people complain that they roll. Then, enter the square bobbin, although I don't really think that is necessary. Midlands bobbins are incredibly beautiful, but if the purpose of bobbin lacemaking is to make lace, and not to use Midlands bobbins, the continentals win. In my opinion. And it is certainly a matter of opinion. Since I use continentals exclusively, I can say nothing on the speed of lacemaking. Lyn in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA, where the weather has been unseasonably pleasant for this time of year. Not too hot, little rain, been going on for weeks. OK, I was away for the heat wave, but still, only one real heat wave, Remarkable. Via Jeri, Elaine Merritt wrote: Regarding bobbin shapes, I love to collect Midlands bobbins, but there is no doubt in my mind that a lacemaker who is working for her living will be able to make lace faster using continental bobbins which are all the same size and weight. I think the varying shapes of continental bobbins have been determined by the type of lace being made, the thickness of the thread, the shape of the pillow and therefore the way the bobbins are handled. The varying Belgian shapes, differing as they do for Rosaline, Duchesse, Bloemwerk, Michelin, etc. are examples of this. Elaine Merritt Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center - 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/
