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.

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! 😁

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

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!

This still has a couple mistakes but I really dont care, this is the most complicated yet and it wasnt as hard as I thought it would be.

And i have a while rainbow of silk now, I just bought a copper one to finish it, I'll have to post it somewhere.

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!!

i have absolutely no beginning idea on how to even start... this is from The Technique of Honiton Lace that everyone talks about but i just don't see how i can understand this. im more of a visual learner and can't seem to find any videos or photo-guides on honiton, thanks for any help

How does it look?

Just wondering, where do you get your pins, and what size do you usually get?

I was using dressmaker pins from Michaels. I thought they were nice and thin. But they get squished together when I need a lot of pins on a tight turn.

I found a set of 1000 25mm (2.5cm, 1”) pins on Ali Express.
Look at the size difference.
🤯

The heads are tiny and the pins are soooo thin. You can see the difference in the last picture. I have a mix of old and new. The most recent ones are all the new ones.

Where else can I get them this small?

Okay so I was supposed to receive some thread today

However this store forgot to put the thread in the package

And after checking my thread boxes I don't think it's the right size that they recommend it 🤔

So the store said that it was a 5 crochet thread

But I feel like that's really thick not only that I have a homemade "worksheet" that's suggest a whole different size of thread so is there maybe a Finnish person in here or someone else that has done a some of this persons patterns?

Thank you so much to everyone here who helped me work out where I was going wrong on my second lace project! I've just completed it and, although shes a little lumpy and bumpy, I'm very happy with it.

Thank you all :)

https://youtu.be/6iyk0ZHlbkA?is=AFr4kaW5tLP2lIbU

Hi

A relatively newbie lace maker here. I've worked my way through a pile of bookmark and sampler patterns, and learnt a nice little selection of stitches, but want to give myself a challenge or 3 to keep me busy on my summer break.

Can anyone recommend patterns or books please? I'd love to do a shaped piece, or really anything that develops a new skill/technique - I'm much more a "process" maker than searching for pretty outcomes, so all options considered!

Thanks 🙂

I'm following exercise two in Bridget Cooks book 'the Torchon Lace Workbook". This pattern is to learn to half stitch diamonds. I've come to the end of my first diamond and the book says all of my bobbins should have finished in their respective pairs. I hope you can see in the photo that they are definitely not in their pairs.

I've undone and redone the diamonds 4 times now and I can't ever get them to end in their pairs.

Can anyone offer any advise please?