to add to Alice's excellent discussion: I think that the style of bobbin tends to work best on the sort of pillow to which it is normally associated. However, try the continental style, maybe borrow a couple of bobbins, or find something in the household that resembles the bobbin, attached a thread and go through the motions on what you have.
I work with the continentals differently than I do the midlands. For the former I use my knuckles and the between-fingers space more, and for the latter it is more of a picking-up motion. There is also more 'flicking' possible, with the continentals, as the bobbins are transferred in position. This might or might not be a good thing, depending on the methods of the lacemaker. For honitons I used a combination of methods - sometimes palms up, sometimes not, sometimes I store bobbins in my hand, such as when working a whole stitch (CTC) area. I find it interesting, from time to time someone who would have learned bobbin lace with midlands style bobbins and pillow, then tries continental - or vice versa - suddenly finds that they are now at home with the lace, as if it was meant to be. I have been studying some lace photographs using equipment from Tignes - the upright donut shaped pillows and the characteristic bulbous bobbins with comparatively skinny necks. I cannot imagine using this equipment with my usual laces, but I am longing to try one of the traditional laces from Tigne (a freehand lace - i.e. no pins, or very few, between sides)(a digression - I don't think I'll be able to acquire one of the lovely traditional pillows with carved stand, but I can try using a Chevy air filter for a base via Adele's idea. but what to do about the appropriate bobbins? hmmmm.....<vbg>). I notice that the bobbins on Tigne pillows with work in progress have rather short tethers. Whether this is the process at rest, or short tethers are the norm, I don't know...yet... :))) The Spanish bobbins used on the upright bolster pillow are held palms up; the heads of these bobbins are rather large, but they are meant to hang vertically, or nearly so. I have some hooded bobbins that I use exclusively at a bolster pillow. Right away I worked them palms up, and I acquired some funky big-headed pins to use as 'holders' for the pairs I want out of the way when I'm working the current pairs. At first I thought it would be awkward having to keep moving bobbins around, but one soon develops a rhythm of working. There are things I don't like about the bolster, such as the way I have to position myself - this is not the fault of the bolster of course! A good thing to keep in mind if you have pain in the hands or arms, is to see if adjusting your posture, position (such as height of chair, standing, sitting - which is better) helps any. Keep the wrists lower than the elbows. It becomes a game of detail - adjust the chair, get a better light, find a footrest. I like to work in daylight, standing - so I have my pillow stacked on a couple of boxes near a window, or whatever desk arrangement I can find so as to avoid stooping. You may need to use the continentals on a less-domed pillow than the midlands. I prefer a slight dome for both, except honiton where the round pillow of a certain size acts with the characteristic bobbins. Honiton bobbins have to be 'just right' - not too heavy, nor too light, too long or too short, or too big of a head - or too small. I think my message is getting too long....too! bye for now hope everyone is having a good weekend - Bev in Sooke BC who shouldn't be thinking of Tigne laces, but working on her Flanders instead - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
