Betty Carlile and Betty Ewing, members of the Vancouver Lace Club explained the basic steps for making bobbin lace at the Gibsons Landing Fibre Festival.
Basic Bobbin Lace Steps
Bobbin lacemaking is a form of warp-weighted weaving. The basic weave structure is a tabby weave, done using 4 warp threads at a time.
Work with 4 bobbins at a time
Number them from left to right: 1,2,3,4
Bobbin No. 2 goes over No. 3
The bobbins are renumbered from left to right – 1,2,3,4
Bobbin No. 2 goes over Bobbin No. 1
Again, number the new bobbin placement
Left to right: 1,2,3,4
Bobbin No. 4 goes over Bobbin No. 3
Renumber the bobbins, left to right: 1,2,3,4
Bobbin No. 2 goes over Bobbin No. 3
Tighten the warp and weft threads into place
Move these 4 bobbins to the left and move the next 4 bobbins to the centre
Repeat the above steps for weaving the next 4 warp threads
Work your way across the pattern as above.
When you get to the end of the row, pin the lace in place to hold it down, then work back to the right, following the same steps.
Bobbin Lace – You Tube
Lacemaking Books
Lessons in Bobbin Lacemaking (Dover Needlework)
Lacemaking with an emphasis on yardage laces for trim as opposed to motifs and doileys.
UK: Lessons in Bobbin Lace
The Technique of Bobbin Lace
A progressive series of patterns to work through, starting with clear geometric shapes which gain in complexity.
UK: Technique of Bobbin Lace
Torchon Lacemaking: A Manual of Techniques
Torchon lacemaking is ideal for the beginner as it is geometric, and mistakes are easily corrected and is also a stepping stone to other forms of lacemaking.
UK: Torchon Lacemaking
Bobbin Lace – EBay Watch
