Lately I've been getting a lot of mail asking how to get started with bobbin lace. I finally did a Google search on "bobbin lace" and was amazed at how high up in the links my little page is. So I thought I'd put together some tips and links for beginning lacers.

By far the easiest way to learn bobbin lace is with someone else who knows the basics. It really is much easier to grasp if you can see it rather than read about it. I had a very short (under 1 hour) introduction at a conference put on by the Lacemakers of Puget Sound that got me started and provided enough of the basics that I could then go to my books and understand what they meant. It made a huge difference for me. I now go to monthly meetings where I can get help if I run across something that just doesn't make sense. How to find a local lacemaker? First try the International Old Lacers website and see if there is a group near you. Often someone in a group will have supplies you can borrow so you can learn without investing a lot of money. Next, check out the lacemaking e-mail list, Arachne. After joining the list, send a message with your general location and ask if there is anyone nearby who'd be willing to show you the basics.

Can't find someone local? Next step are books and the internet. A great website with information for beginners is Lace Fairy's Beginners Guide, which has lots of information on materials (including links to suppliers). This site will help you get all set up. What to do when you have the materials? Check out this Introduction to Bobbin Lace, which includes picures of the basic stitches. Lacefairy has a huge list of beginner books here. The books I have used most are Rosemary Shepherd's Introduction to Bobbin Lacemaking (this is my favorite for a technical grounding), Bridget M. Cook's The Torchon Lace Workbook (this is the one I've made the most projects out of) and Geraldine Stott's Introduction to Bobbin Lace.

How much can you expect to spend to get started? I got the beginner's kit from Catchpin for $60 US. That may seem like a lot of money, but the components are of high quality and will last me for years, some will last for my lacemaking career. There is an infamous beginner's kit (available from Lacis among other suppliers) that costs about half as much, but is really not worth the money. It is hard to work with and will probably turn you off from making bobbin lace. (By the way, I love shopping at Lacis and have had nothing but good experiences with them, just don't buy that kit!) If you can at all afford it, buy a decent quality pillow made of ethafoam or made in the traditional way stuffed with straw. If you end up disliking bobbin lace, you should be able to sell your pillow for a fair price. If you can't afford to buy one, make your own pillow: insulation foam or a foam excercise mat are materials that will hold your pins in place as you pull your working threads against them. A pillow that holds pins is crucial: if your pins don't hold, you won't be able to make good lace. Bobbins can be quite inexpensive if you don't got for the pretty hand-painted or hand-turned exotic wood ones. You should get at least 24 (or 12 pairs) to start with. You can also make some yourself. One simple way is to get pony beads and thin dowels that will fit snugly thorugh the centers of the beads. Cut the dowel into 4-5 inch lengths, glue 1 bead at the top, leave a space of about 1 inch, then fill the remaining length of dowel with beads (again glued in place). Fairly simple to do, cheap, and perfectly servicable.

I hope this information is helpful to you. I will update this page as I think of more things that need to be included. If you have any specific questions I can help with, feel free to drop me a line!

© Emma Crew, 2001
emmacrew@yahoo.com
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