Lacemaking - info required
Stephanie Peters
J.M....@ukc.ac.uk (jms2) wrote:
>I am a cross sticher and a knitter but I have been thinking about taking up lacemaking.
> I haven't got much of a clue about it really, other than it is done on a pillow with pins
> and bobbins!!! I would really like to hear from any lace
>makers out there.
>I must say, the reason it appeals to me is that is seems very "containable", in
>other words, something I would be able to do on my lap while watching tv. I
>did have a go at patchwork/quilting but I'm afraid it took over the whole diningroom
> and my family were complaining!! I found it a bit messy, what with all the
>bits of thread everywhere. Perhaps I'm a neat freak - although you wouldn't
>think so if you saw my desk!!!
Sounds of hysterical laughter over here - lacemaking has taken over
quite a sizable proportion of my house, and most of the other lacemakers
I know. Some people can work comfortably in their laps, but I'm not one
of them, so I end up with a stand to put the pillow on in front of my
chair. One of the golden rules is to watch the threads, so you won't
see much TV, but I only ever listen anyway. For portable lace making
with small scale supplies tatting is excellent - mine is kept in a small
make-up purse.
I am sure there are local groups in your area, but as I live at the
opposite end of the country I don't know them. The Lace Guild do lists
of teachers, or ask about local authority classes. Their web page is
at http://www.laceguild.demon.co.uk I taught myself from books and with
help from the lacemakers' email list, arachne. For how to join go to
http://www.arachne.com Send me a private email if you would like a copy
of the arachne beginner's bobbin lace books list.
Steph Peters, Manchester, England
bj...@cityscape.co.uk
Tatting, lace & stitching page http://www.cityscape.co.uk/users/bj64/
SCCMW
I had a go at bobbin lace some years ago - I haven't touched it for ages
because cross stitch sort of took over!
Anyway, I taught myself using a very good book by Pamela Nottingham. I had
a beginners lace kit - produced by Dryad I think - this had a basic pillow
and a dozen pairs of bobbins with some wire and beads so you could add the
weights to them.
There are four basic moves which are combined in different ways to create
the patterns. You have to make a "pricking" - a piece of card with pattern
holes in to show where to put the pins. Then you have to wind the bobbins
- I found this very time consuming and I never did work out how much
thread should be wound on.
>I must say, the reason it appeals to me is that is seems very
"containable",
>in
>other words, something I would be able to do on my lap while watching tv.
Well it is containable but I wouldn't say you could "watch" TV while you
are doing it. I generally listen to the TV and glance up every now and
then while I'm stitching and it's much the same with lace making.
Perhaps your local library could get a copy of "The Techniques of Bobbin
Lace" by Pamela Nottingham from another library. (My local library can get
other books on request as long as you know the title)
Hope this helps
Catherine Williams
Wendy Hook
Julie said
> I am a cross sticher and a knitter but I have been thinking about
> taking up lacemaking. I haven't got much of a clue about it really,
> other than it is done on a pillow with pins and bobbins!!! I would
> really like to hear from any lace
> makers out there.
>
>
Hi Julie
I've been making Bobbin Lace for over twenty five years now - makes me
feel old :-) What part of the country are you? There are evening or
craft centre classes in many of the lace areas - Beds, Bucks, Devon,
Nottingham, etc.
I have my doubts that you could watch TV whilst lacemaking - I find I
listen to it and only look up when it all goes quiet to see what is
happening. It is totally engrossing. If I am worried about anything I
take to the lace pillow - can't worry and concentrate on lace!
Learning is easier if you can have someone to show you the basic moves -
simple when seen - a little more difficult from a book, but definitely
possible. There is a very good book called "The Technique of Bobbin
Lace" by Pamela Nottingham. It is published by
B T Batsford Ltd, 4 Fitzhardinge Street, London W1H 0AH
and the Library number is ISBN 0 7134 3230 6
Perhaps you could ask your librarian to get it for you.
You don't need to spend a lot of money to start with; polystyrene (?)
pillows, some bobbins, pins, thread - this could be the beginning of a
whole new Huge Stash Society :-)) {I am now up to 5 pillows and about
200 pairs of bobbins - just done't ask me about the threads, I just get
carried away when I see them.)
If you live anywhere near Bedford then I'm more than willing to set you
on your way. Contact me if I can help in any way - explanations over
the e-mail could be interesting .....
Rosemary I H Powell
In article <EDw4w...@cix.compulink.co.uk>, Wendy Hook
<star...@cix.compulink.co.uk> writes
>Julie said
>
>
>> I am a cross sticher and a knitter but I have been thinking about
>> taking up lacemaking. I haven't got much of a clue about it really,
>> other than it is done on a pillow with pins and bobbins!!! I would
>> really like to hear from any lace
>> makers out there.
>>
>>
>
>Hi Julie
>I've been making Bobbin Lace for over twenty five years now -
>Learning is easier if you can have someone to show you the basic moves -
>simple when seen -
My husband bought a whole set of wood turning videos, which he could
watch, rewind, replay, etc,to his heart's content, and he learnt a lot
about techniques from seeing an expert/teacher "doing". I think it would
be possible to learn the basics of many practical crafts this way. Even
if you have access to a "live" teacher, the opportunity to sit quietly
and watch repeatedly until it sinks in seems like a good way of
learning...With lace you could more or less watch and do at the same
time - not quite so easy with wood turning though - I would draw the
line at a lathe in the living room! But a lace pillow...:-)
Rosemary
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| Rosemary I.H.Powell EMail: Home: rose...@dozyrosy.demon.co.uk |
| Work: r.i.h....@rl.ac.uk |
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Stephanie Peters
Rosemary I H Powell <ro...@dozyrosy.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>Does anyone know if there any lacemaking videos at all?
Yes there are, and jolly helpful too. Not a substitute for a book, but
a good companion. A book to refer to for the basic stitch moves is
easier than rewinding a video, but videos are great for things like how
to spangle a bobbin, wind it properly and how to hold the bobbins,
before even the first stitch is made.
Lacemaking videos tend to be a bit hard on the pocket, since if you take
to the art you'll soon outgrow the beginners ones. Instead join the
Lace Guild, at less than half the price of one video for a year, and
borrow a succession from the library for just the postage (under 2
pounds there and back).
Of the ones I've seen I'd recommend the Dryad video presented by Raie
Clare for absolute beginners, then progress through Christine
Springett's series Torchon 1 and 2. I liked Christine's Bedfordshire 1,
but with hindsight am not so keen on Beds 2 and 3, but Beds 4 is good.
And Julie, if you're still reading, most beginners kits are horrid,
getting the individual pieces will cost little extra and not have to be
thrown away afterwards. One glorious exception to this, Jacqui
Southworth does a good kit
Jacqui Southworth, Fleetwood, Lancs, England : email (for catalogue):
jac...@nwmarit.demon.co.uk
http://www.nwmarit.demon.co.uk/jacqui.htm
Larkholme Lace - Bobbin Lace Tuition & Supply - enquiries welcome.
Tel: +44 (0)1253 876317 ; Fax: +44 (0)1253 878699
(Jacqui is a friend, but I have no interest in her business.)
Jackie Reynolds
In article <Shwk8RAf...@dozyrosy.demon.co.uk>, Rosemary I H Powell
<ro...@dozyrosy.demon.co.uk> writes
> -
>Does anyone know if there any lacemaking videos at all?
Hi Rosemary
C & D Springett at the British College of Lace, 21 Hillmorton Road,
Rugby, Warwicks CV22 5DF make and sell their own lacemaking videos
(*and* they have an excellent tatting one by Pam Palmer, by the way!)
Their catalogue is free; phone number is 01788 544691, fax 01788 551757.
Hope this helps. I really enjoyed your special sampler pages, by the
way.
--
Jackie Reynolds
jac...@subs-desk.demon.co.uk