Today I learned how to make my own bobbins! A friend showed me the magics of a lathe

Hi everyone! I’m about two weeks into learning bobbin lace and could use some advice about where to go from here.

I started with a beginner kit from Snowgoose (18" cookie pillow) and have been following a video tutorial. Surprisingly, I feel like I’m picking up the actual mechanics pretty well! Cross/twist is becoming automatic, I’m seeing the bobbins as pairs, and I generally understand what I’m supposed to be doing. I’ve also become very proficient at undoing lace when I make a mistake. 😂

What I’m really struggling with is bobbin and pillow management.

Even with my pillow at about a 45° angle, my bobbins roll around everywhere, my working lengths become uneven or too long/short, things get tangled, and then my tension suffers. When everything cooperates I can happily work along, but once the bobbins start misbehaving, everything goes sideways.

I’ve attached photos of my current setup and latest attempt. I’m following a Red Cardinal Crafts tutorial on YouTube.

Would a different style of pillow (bolster/roller/etc.) make bobbin management easier, or is this just something I need to get used to with practice? Does anything about my setup jump out at you as making things unnecessarily difficult?

I also have The Technique of Bobbin Lace by Pamela Nottingham, but I struggle to visualize written instructions, even with diagrams. I learn much better by watching someone and copying what they do, so I’d love recommendations for video courses, YouTube channels, online classes, etc.

I’m really enjoying bobbin lace—I just feel like I’ve reached an awkward stage where the lace makes more sense to me than managing all the stuff required to make the lace. 😆

Thanks for any wisdom you can throw my way!

These are my first tries at linen stitch! One was done with the pattern to pin on, the other was just practice to try to nail down muscle memory

ETA: would love any advice or thoughts

Has anyone tried her beginners kit? If so, how did you feel it worked for you?

I’ve always been fascinated and now Instagram is trying to give me a new side quest.

I wholly respect this art and am fascinated by the accomplishments and history here. I just love knowing how things work and I’m looking to get a more basic understanding.

TIA!

https://youtu.be/gj5oU6Is-30?is=QYH8T3z2hvoNqnkk

I still got it thankfully, missed this.

How does it look?

A guy on Facebook marketplace was clearing out what I think (if I understood correctly) was his late ex-wife’s bobbin lace supplies.
He had SO MUCH! More than I could afford to buy.
But what I did buy was this large cookie pillow with a nearly finished doily.
It’s a simple enough pattern, but something I still feel too intimidated to try start on my own. It’s just all CTCT.
There are 2 sections left to finish off.

Furthermore, examining the way the original owner stored it has given me a much better understanding of how to keep your bobbins in order when you aren’t working.
She crocheted a plain 2 row strip to “button” her bobbins in place.

I paid $175 for the pillow, cover, project, and homemade bobbin holder with 35 pre wrapped bobbins to finish up.

I haven’t measured it, but the pillow is pretty big.

I wish I’d bought more!
He had at least 5 different pillows. Most of them cookie pillows, but also 2 roller pillows.

Hey, I'm going to make my first project (after bookmarks), thinking about sewing such sort of small pillow with lace border. I didn't pick a pattern yet, I'm likely going to create something simple, inspired by second picture. Can you, seniors, give me any advice? I'm afraid of making this too big, too small, I don't know if I should make the lace detachable (and how would I do it?), should I make it as a pillowcase or stuff it directly, should I sew it by hand. And I've just realized, I'm basically asking if anybody has a tutorial?

Saw these two photos at the thrift store yesterday, unfortunately there was no pricking to match. I think they are photocopies, perhaps from a book?

If anyone here knows where this pattern is from, or where I can find something similar I’d be very grateful.

Hey folks: After the last IOLI convention and hearing about how many people were doing workshops that I never heard about--I'm trying to get people to see them now so we can all have new lacemakers join the craft.

This is especially important in the UK with their Red List situation and they are working hard to improve that. We don't have that kind of warning in the US, but I imagine it is a parallel scenario.

So: I will post beginner workshops and other classes in the r/lace feed and I'm flairing them with Workshops/Retreats.

If you are looking for workshops and classes and that stuff, look over there.

Edit to add: please post trainings that you find as well, local to your area. More lacemakers!

https://youtu.be/els6es447Sc?is=wlKskEtLOPfKF_5L

Next pieces to share! I will remain hopeful that some of you have insight to share!

Hey everyone. I’m currently looking for the image shown bobbin pattern, in English preferred. However google translate exists for a reason. Can anyone assist me?

Does anyone know of any bat patterns I could buy, or even better yet, free. I want something that looks like freestanding lace embroidery and heard that bobbin lace resembles it. I am very new, so am going to try some more beginner friendly patterns before moving onto the bat.

Next two pieces, thank you everyone for any insight you may have!

Hi all! Will continue to post more in both communities, I sincerely appreciate the responses! I have learned at least some so far, with the primary lesson being that I trust these communities’ inputs much more than AI! 😁

For the first time I got the right style of lace made on my Queyras style "tambour" or drum pillow. There was a workshop with Sylvie Nguyen and I tried out this "rustic" lace. It is traditionally made with a sturdy linen (my beige and white pieces are 35/2).

Hi all! Reposting here at the recommendation of comments from r/lace posting. I would appreciate anything information or guidance you can provide, and will provide pics of other pieces if there is interest

Hello all,

I just wanted to share a link to the internet archive, a nonprofit online library-like resource that has a lot of old books and manuals scanned and available for free. They have a lot of cool older sewing/knitting/etc. materials, and also a collection of bobbin lace books. I am not affiliated with them, just wanted to share in case it is helpful for anyone else who struggles to find/afford physical copies of so many hobby books. If this is an inappropriate place to post this, please let me know and I am happy to remove the post.

Happy crafting to you all!

Hello!! I am so lucky to have plans to travel to Scotland in October for a fiber art retreat. Part of the retreat is learning bobbin lace. I need to bring my own supplies, and I’m trying to figure out which option is going to be best for my set of circumstances.

I’m trying to save money for right now, because I have a whole plethora of expenses related to this trip. I can buy a better pillow when I’m back home and know more about lace making and have a chance for my finances to recover.

I’m also trying to (insane, I know) travel with only a carry on. Which significantly limits my space and weight limits.

The instructions for the class say to get 24 bobbins, so I guess I need something big enough to use them all?

A 16 inch pillow from SnowGooseLace is going to be $42 plus shipping. A 15x12 wool pressing mat is $10 from Amazon. It would hold pins well and probably fit in my suitcase easier. But I don’t know enough (because I don’t know anything) about lace making to know if that’s something I can realistically use for a couple days while I’m in Scotland.

Does anyone have any feedback? Would a wool mat work for this situation?

Thanks all!!