Bev, thank you so much. You have added quite a bit to the discussion, actually. My mother was a stenographer, and typed so fast. Like everyone, I took typing in 7th grade (age 11-12) and I was hopeless. Mistakes, slow. But I had to type papers, and so I persevered. Then came email, and I did a lot of emailing. All of a sudden things were going really fast. So if I practice my lacemaking as much as I practiced my keyboarding when I emailed, I'll increase speed. I understand the concept very well, and I am much encouraged. lrb
-----Original Message----- >From: bev walker <walker.b...@gmail.com> >Sent: Jun 21, 2011 1:48 PM >To: lynrbai...@desupernet.net >Cc: lace@arachne.com >Subject: Re: [lace] Lace yardage -speed > >Interesting thoughts, Lyn, and hello everyone > >Thinking in terms of lacemaking as a job, not a hobby, repetitive work >but requiring the attention of the operator, I liken it to >touch-typing in a later era. > >Typing was something 'women could do' for income as was lacemaking. >Both require small-motor skills (now, that term looks funny in this >context! but I do mean finger movement-brain skills). Speaking from >past experience <g> we learned to fine-tune our typing skills for >greater speed and accuracy. There were books and exercises... >Lacemakers 'back then' probably coached each other. Interesting that >speed and tips on going faster aren't in the early how-to books (that >I know of), but the lace schools wouldn't have had lace manuals, would >they? > >The hobbyist isn't as concerned with speed, as Malvary mentioned, for >us now it isn't a race. We *can* go at our own pace. However if your >desired pace actually is fast, then one thing to try is to switch from >CT to TC in half stitch or the double-half (TCTC rather than CTCT). >I've tried it and *yes* speed is increased, palms up or down. You can >get into a better passing motion with the bobbins. I especially >noticed this when using the hooded bobbins on a bolster and the plain >cylinder handled Spanish bobbins also (for them I use a cookie >pillow). I much prefer a slower pace now though :D > >You can save time by placing less pins in an area of uncomplicated >ground - one at the beginning and one at the end to anchor each >diagonal row. That one is an anecdotal tip from the days of the >cottage industry ;) > >Laces for sale had to be clean and look good - to flatter the wearer. >A lacemaker would go faster without having to stress over making each >repeat absolutely perfect, motifs could vary minimally as long as the >overall appearance was good. > >Whether or not you want to be speedy, make sure your working position >is comfortable. If something hurts, find a way to sit/stand at the >pillow so that it doesn't. Sometimes back pain is caused by tension, >avoid stressing over making the perfect e.g. leaf ;) > > >On 6/21/11, lynrbai...@desupernet.net <lynrbai...@desupernet.net> wrote: >> So experience has a good bit to do with it. Makes absolute sense, and >> that's what I saw. But those lacemakers who made a living out of making >> lace, the faster they went, the more money they made, the better they ate. >> Was it just experience for them? Or are there tricks to it, besides >> figuring out the most efficient way to proceed, so you're not moving bobbins >> needlessly to get where you need to be. > > >-- >Bev in Shirley BC, near Sooke on beautiful Vancouver Island, west >coast of Canada - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003
