Bobbin Lace come to us from the Middle Ages where alot of lace was used on clothing.  

Only the rich and noble could afford such elegance in there attire.  It was used lavishly on nearly every clothing item.  

 

The people that made the lace did so in very poor conditions often loosing their eye site at a very young age.  

Your work would consist of a very small section of lace that you would repeat over and over again.  So as not to learn enough of the pattern to make your own.  

You also worked in dimly lit and damp work rooms, lit only by candles and bowls of water to direct the beam of lite to your work. The moisture was needed so to add strength to the fine threads so not break them.

 

Bobbin Lace is really very easy to learn.  It is has only 2 different steps a cross and a twist done with bobbins.  You use pins to hold the work to a pricked pattern, on what is called a pillow.

You would not think that such an easy lace would produce such lavish items that was much sought after and vanish so quickly that most people would not be able to recognize the bobbins now or how it was even done.

         

 

The sun catchers are in children's 2 3/4 inch bangles.

 

         

 

 

         

 

 

My Mum used to make bobbin lace. She had the large cushion, and countless bobbins, made from wood and ivory. She gave it up to concentrate on patchwork items, and now does quilting, selling many of them for charity. 

But it is the bobbin lace that sticks in mind.

Have you made many items?

I wish I could have seen your moms bobbin lace when I was in England. Several of the items in the first post stayed in England as they were made as thank you gifts. Yes I still do bobbin lace when I get some time. I have 2 boards with unfinished lace, I need to work on.

I have lots of bobbins made of plastic, wood, bone, metal even glass with oil and glitter inside. I love looking at the bobbins.

Yes I have made a lot of items of lace that went on exhibit in a couple of local shows. They now live in folders to keep them clean. 

I gave a lot away as gifts. 

My mom also loves doing patchwork 

My Mum sent me over a couple of images of her lacework, although her photos are not that good.

 

Those are beautiful. I have done both of those styles of lace before.

What type of bobbins does she use? Are they spangled with beads or round fat bobbin  or some other design.  Are they wood, glass, metal, bone? I have a few spangled bobbins made from paper. The bobbins I use most have spangles on them. I have seen (I think it was Dutch) that was unspangled or square that was gorgeous.