Evee asked me if I had seen the bobbin lace exhibits when I went to the Creative Stitches event in Glasgow a few weeks ago, and of course I had, so here are just a couple of photos which I took when I was there. I really wanted to show the different designs of the bobbins which are used in the process. You can see them in the photo below. To me they look pretty enough to be earrings.
Here are more bobbins as well as different types of lace on display. Just gorgeous.
The amount of work and concentration involved in making pillow lace is mind-boggling to me, I just know that I could never manage it. I’d end up banging my head off a wall with frustration, but Evee is part of a lace-making group and to me that means that you must be close to the top of the tree as far as lace crafting is concerned, it’s much more difficult than crochet for example, and I’ve never managed anything more difficult than granny squares. Hooks are not my idea of fun.
I think I’m only happy doing things which don’t require too much attention, so I can knit or sew at the same time as watching TV or chatting. Well you’ve got to multi task!
What a beautiful exhibit! The bobbins look like jewels. But, like you, I’d be banging my head on the wall if I tried to make such intricate lace. I have such admiration for anyone with the patience and eyesight to do such work!
Joan,
Exactly, and my eyesight is bad enough – I’d end up cross-eyed!
Thank you so much for putting in these beautiful exhibits! I have to tell you that I am not the best of lacemakers and certainly was nowhere near the front of the queue when they gave out patience, but for me it’s not the finished article altogether, that takes my interest but the challenge of doing it! Of course I love the finished pieces but they are second in importance to me! Sometimes the challenge gets too hard and I do cut off all the bobbins sometimes in sheer frustration, but it is fabulous when you see the piece emerging from under the pins that hold the threads in place while you work, and you realise you’ve done it! I’m not patient enough to have a large piece of lace on the go, that’s likely to take years – I leave that to my sister, who is a far better lacemaker than I am – and I hate things that are too repetitive, but I plod on with my own personal little challenges, though not quite as often these days! Too many other things to do and try out! I’ll be going on the lacemaking week to Knoydart next month and should be able to continue with a piece I started at the workshop we had in February – a whole week of lace, peace and quiet, beautiful scenery – cos we do lift our heads from the lace pillows now and again to look at it – great accommodation, fabulous food, and wonderful friends and companionship! I’m really enjoying the photos you took, thanks again.
xx
Meant to say that the group is just a group of interested people who wanted to learn to make lace, and that there are all sorts of levels of ability. I used to teach beginners’ lacemaking solely because people were interested and I could teach the beginnings of lace! I used to say that once I’d taught them all I knew they’d have to look elsewhere to advance their skills and some of them have, from Catherine who goes to courses all over the place to the rest of us who just have our visiting tutor for a weekend once a year and/or go to Knoydart or Kintyre for a week of lace and holiday!
Evee,
I didn’t realise you taught it!! You won’t have been the first teacher keeping one page ahead of the students mind you! You must get a terrific sense of achievement when you finish a piece of lace. I’m guessing Knoydart and Kintyre will be on that list of favourite places. BTW what do people do with their finished lace – do you all frame it or what?
Hi Katrina, Personally if I get a piece finished, usually a motif of some sort, then I like to get them framed and hang them on the wall! Some people make edgings and attach them to cotton or linen to make mats and things. Others like to make jewellery. I desparately want to make a particular pattern for a necklace, but have never got round to it! My sister made some beautiful motifs for a decorative fan but I don’t know if she finished them. Some folk even work in 3D. Our tutor from Edinburgh made a beautiful firescreen, and one Christmas produced a wire lace nativity, so you can see that there are lots of things to do with your lace!
Evee,
After all that work I think framing it would be the most appropriate. I hadn’t thought of jewellery and I can’t even imagine how you would do something in 3D – the mind boggles!
Thanks you Katrina and Evee for talking about lace.
Beautiful pictures, and it is something that I have always remained transfixed by when I see it and so wish I could do. But sometimes you have to stick to what you can do, there is not enough tIme for anything else.
Enjoy your holiday Evee, hope we get to see some pictures.
Jo,
Thanks. I know how you feel, and I still have so many things to finish off. I’m trying to get my knitting finished, my winter woolly will be ready for summer when I might need it!