When you think about lace making, you may associate it with lace collars in paintings by the old masters and dresses at your grandmother’s house. But even today, there are lace makers who have the dedication and patience for this craft. And of course, this craft, too, has evolved. The lace making technique is not only used in art, textile art, fashion and jewellery. Even steel fencing has been made using the technique of bobbin lace. So, with bobbin lace, much more can be done.
Once you have mastered the basics, you can make choices in which direction and with which application you want to continue. Maybe you have no idea how to make lace. Perhaps you have been looking at a bobbin lace pillow with bobbins shooting in all directions, and you have wondered how someone knows which bobbin goes in which direction and when… In either case, we challenge you to come and experience what it is like to sit behind a bobbin lace pillow and make something small with bobbins. You will go home with a happy little octopus and an idea of how those experienced lace makers know which bobbin, when, should go where.
We got to know each other at various lace bobbin courses at home and abroad. Meanwhile, Corrie has started teacher training in Germany, and Rit is chairman of a large lace society in the Netherlands. We no longer want to keep our enthusiasm for making lace with bobbins to ourselves but share it with the world. That may seem a bit ambitious, but for the Ambacht in Beeld Festival, we are happy to pull out the lace bobbin pillows, bobbins and pins.
Photos: Kika Booy.