Bobbin Lace

1.What is "bobbin lace" ?
2.My tools
3.Books
4.Links


1.What is "bobbin lace" ?

There are many techniques of lacemaking in Europe:
Crochet lace, Battenberg lace, Needlepoint lace, Embroidery lace, etc.
Bobbin lace is one of the most popular skills of lacemaking.

It began and developed in Europe, expecially in the region of Belgium since 16th century.
It is said that one lady had the idea of bobbin lace making
when she was looking at the spider's cobweb in an attic.
It is made by twenties to hundreds of thread braided by hand into a very complex pattern.

Bobbin lace has a very fine and delicate structure.
These days bobbin lace making is gradually getting more popular in Japan.
I started learning lacemaking only 3 months ago, but in Belgium
some women have made lace for over 70 years since their childhood !

lacemaking


Point Torchon


Spider
Can you see the many spiders with eight legs?



2.My tools.

from left...
  • pins (made of brass)
  • pin pusher
  • pricker (to make holes on the pattern)
  • thread (#60)
  • bobbin (This is belgian type.)



    • Fan





    3.Books


    Click this picture for a full image.     		レース 歴史とデザイン
    Anne Kraatz 著 深井晃子 監訳
    平凡社 1989


    You will feel as if you were in a museum in Europe.

    Click this picture for a full image.     		ボビンレース
    光平一子 著
    日本ヴォーグ社 1995


    This book is one of the few Japanese guidebooks
    for beginners of bobbin lace making.

    4.Links

    My favorite links to sites on bobbin lace.

    Bobbin Lace Ms Ohta's homepage in Zurich.
    Lots of information about bobbin lace and life in Switzerland.
    ちょっと便利なもの Ms Mizuno's useful homepage.
    Interesting history of bobbin lace.
    宮野ヒロコの
    ホームページ         		She teaches bobbin lace in Tokyo.
    Picturesque designs of lace.
    Feare Ms Haraga, a teacher in Fukuoka
    Author of a book about using a computer in bobbin lace.
    Beautiful sights of Brugge.