Wednesday 5 October 2016

Bobbin lace - lace weight this time!

Me and wonderful mum went back for another class with Louise West in the summer.  We had our first bobbin lace class their earlier in the year and this was the progression.  We made another bookmark, but this time we used lace-weight thread - size 80.


Here is my lace pillow, with the pricked pattern attached and the bobbins wound with the lace thread.  I used a lovely aqua/mint thread for the bobbins and white for the workers.


This pattern is made using just the two stitches that we learnt last time.  It's amazing how different lace can look using just these two stitches.


As last time, I was able to finish the bookmark in the class, the first person to ever do so!  Once I get in the zone, I'm throwing those bobbins around like nobody's business!


Ta dah!  The photos above were all taken in the class room.  The ones below are taken outside in natural light so should show the pattern a bit better.


You can see that the centre is the aqua/mint colour and the frilly bits are white.  I have no idea how people work out lace patterns and know how to get the colours in different places.  it's like magic.


There is actually a bit of mistake in this piece, though i can't see it on the photos.  My tension wasn't very good in one of the aqua/mint areas and you can see a real difference between that and the rest of the pattern.


I'll know to be careful of that in the future.  And there will be a future!  I love making lace and want to go to more classes with Louise.  For my homework she said I have to make the same pattern all in one colour as it's a little bit trickier keeping a grasp on where your workers are.  I haven't started yet...  ooops!

16 comments:

Bethany said...

THAT is beautiful. It looks like a set of wind chimes dangling off of the work. I'd probably make a right mess of that. But that is sincerely lovely.

D1-D2 said...

Beautiful job! I always found this technique fascinating.

busybusybeejay said...

Lovely.I have started lace making again after a gap of probably ten years.I bought a Beginners Guide to Lace Making to jog the old memory and it is mainly bookmarks.I like your two colour option.If you are just using one colour pick two bobbins that are distinctive and then it is easier to keep track of them.

Rachel said...

She's even given you homework? She must have a good opinion of her student!

Marly said...

Well done; this looks lovely. Funnily enough this was one of the first lace patterns I made, about thirty years ago!

Pamela said...

Beautiful finish! How amazing.

Jane said...

love it! I've always been awe of the ladies that made lace this way, those pillows are a work of art in themselves. Can't wait to see the results of the next class you do

margaret said...

you have certainly taken to lace making like a duck to water so delicate

Anonymous said...

That is gorgeous! I love the way that minty coloured centre comes out of the white. Lace is a complete mystery to me but it's been fab to see the work in progress.

Christine said...

That is lovely!

Cath said...

You're well on your way with lacemaking now. Looks great. The mint colour shows up nicely in the middle panel of ground.

Shirlee Fassell said...

Lovely work!

Chris of UK City Crafter said...

Wendy this is just gorgeous - you clever lady.

ukcitycrafter@live.co.uk

Sandra :) said...

You keep finding these cool crafts to try out - this is another one that you've learned that I would love to try myself (if my hands would stand up to all the bobbins needing to be handled). Actually - I think I could settle for a medium tallish vase-y bowl, in which to tuck a bunch of those beaded bobbins - that would be easier for me, lol!

Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers said...

Absolutely delightful! Perhaps one day I'll happen upon a class and learn to do this myself.

Sarah in Stitches said...

So pretty! I think you've done a lovely job :D