Have you ever wondered when you want to learn a new craft, and you really want to learn it, that things seem to happen so you can? Well this little story is about Bobbin lace, a very old handmade lace craft that I tried once when I was a little girl at a craft weekend and have wanted to learn it ever since.
Many years later, my desire to learn this intricate lacework hadn't lessened, so about two years ago I started to hunt around for some bobbins and a pillow so I could finally have a go at making lace. Well I soon discovered that both the bobbins and pillows could be expensive, and at the time I couldn't find anyone who did bobbin lace to ask where I would get these supplies, other than over seas. So I keep looking, hoping I might one day find something that would lead me in the right direction.
Earlier this year, we went away for a couple of weeks around New Year, and we visited a very old heritage town in Northern Victoria which had a fair few antique shops. It was in one of these shops that I found my first pair of bobbins.
So I felt like I might have finally found a bread crumb that would lead me to my next pair. I did some research into home made bobbins and managed to get part way through making some before I had to set them aside. I mentioned that I wanted to learn bobbin lace to one of the ladies at a local craft group, and she said she had some odd bobbins that she had been looking to find a home for. So then I had a few more bobbins to my first pair.
I then participated in a Ravelry swap and received a home made pillow, some pins and another 8 pairs of bobbins! I was almost ready to start :)
And then the lady from craft group gave me these bobbins the last time I went. She said she had mentioned to a friend of hers in Germany, that I was starting to learn bobbin lace and her friend sent all these bobbins over for me :) I nearly had tears in my eyes from the generosity of this completely unexpected gift, A Random Act of Kindness.
So with enough bobbins to have a serious go at starting to learn the basics, I did, I started!
And I have slowly been working through some basics and I now have a couple of inches of handmade lace! Until that moment when I received those last bobbins, I hadn't realised how much I had really wanted to learn to make lace.
I had been told by many that I must be nuts, how could I possibly make such a fine lace when I can't see the thread I'm using! But this only made me want to have a go at it even more. Just because I have limited sight, doesn't meant that I can have a go and enjoy the things I want to have a go at, and if anything, being told I can't do something for that reason, will make want to do it so that I can show that I ACTUALLY CAN! :) So, Never let anything stop you from wanting and doing the things you love!
I will return with a photo of my finished sampler lace when it is done. Until then, Happy Crafting!
So once again the time is flying and I haven't had the chance to take a min to update my blog before now. I have so many projects on the go at the moment, including my first two big projects, my first cardi...
... and my first pull over. I have also been very busy stocking up my Etsy shop with some new scissor/zip charms / phone straps and some new stitch markers :)
I've started to play with the drum carder again too and this came out...
So feel like spinning at the moment, but with all the knitting and trying to finish off some more WIP's, I think I might have to make do with the 5 min spins here and there when I can fit them in.
The studio is in total chaos again (to no ones surprise) so I'm thinking before I go too much further on anything I might have to do a bit of a "Spring Clean" and at least tidy it to get it back to some resemblance of order - yeah right! I did say try ;)
I have also been working on my first own designed knitting pattern! Well... truth be told, I'm working on about 3 different patterns at once (as I do), so hopefully I might have something to show soon :) So watch this space... Time is just starting to fly and before you know it Christmas will be here!
Well I better get back to the knitting, cleaning and I was just contemplating a new section of my book that I must go a nd write down before I forget :)
Happy Crafting!
