I know a few lacemakers, and they tried to teach me at a demo one day. I could not figure it out for the life of me, and gave it up in frustration. You made it make sense!! Thank you so much! 😃
I wish I could add a photo of what I made in the comments here. I’m not sure how… but I did 20 rows of the cloth stitch, and 12 rows of the half stitch, with gray passive thread, and a multicolored weaver thread, and it turned out really pretty. Not sure how this loose weave looking thing will graduate to ornate lace making, but I’m excited to see my skills evolve. Thanks again!
@stephenieolson8535 Oooo that sounds great! If you're on Instagram you could send me a photo or tag me there, @made_by_lora It makes me so happy to know my video is actually helpful! Thank you
This. Was. Amazing! I have been learning from a book and kit. You bridged all the gaps! I was doing it right, but had tension issues. My kit came with Lizbeth thread. I’m a tatter, and don’t like to use this thread a lot because it’s not a calm thread. Seeing things with a bigger, calmer thread really helped. You are an amazing teacher and I hope you keep posting videos! ❤️
Just saw a random video on TikTok of a lady doing this with hundreds of bobbins and it blew my mind so came to RU-vid to instantly see if there was a tutorial. Genuinely fascinated at what I saw. Your video explained it so simply. Thank you.
@@Mrs_Funshine yes indeed, when you see those ladies flinging bobbins around at 100 miles and hour it really is mind boggling!! The current project I’m working on has approximately 50 bobbins, and the most I’ve ever done (so far) is 80. Thank you so much for watching my video, I know it’s not as entertaining as those fast ones! Haha
It’s a lovely craft. It seems frenzy work, but actually it’s organized. I may be a strange one to say this, but it reminds me of the May Pole dance! Anyway, my learning ability is kind of slow. So I am sure to be watching again and again. Thank you so very much for showing us!❤
Thank you! And thank you for being willing to watch more than once! Haha. Yes, I wonder if the people who first did may pole dancing were actually lace makers? Haha. (I did see a video on RU-vid some time ago where a group of lace makers were “acting out”/dancing making a giant piece of lace)
Thank you! I experimented with some fancy crochet stitches before I started, but in the end I kept the design very plain because it's the colours I was attracted to.
Thanks so much! And a way to remember warp and weft: "WEFT LEFT" 😊 the weft is the one that goes to one side then back the other way. The warp is long and straight ❤
Thank you so much for this video Lora, my daughter has wanted to learn to make lace for years, and she's just made her first piece from your brilliant video x
Dear Madam , I tried learning this lace , from various sources on the U tube but Thanks to your gentle teaching it has at last made its entry into my thick head !!!!! Thank you ,thank you and thank you ❤❤❤
Thank you for your encouraging comment! Glad you enjoyed this. Since making this video I’ve been to some classes with an experienced teacher so I’ve learned a few more skills which I will hopefully be able to share here.
One of the best tutorials for anything I've ever come across on youtube! A friend recently gave me an old bobbin lace kit since I've been wanting to learn for years but always been a bit intimidated by all of those bobbins flying around! Your video makes it so approachable for a beginner and it's so clear what's happening at each step. Thanks so much for sharing your talent
What a fabulous tutor you are, so clear. I used to be a lacemaker years ago but my teacher retired and I couldn't find another one in my area. After many years I finally sold all my beautiful bobbins and pillows. My eyesight and bank balance prohibits me from taking it up again, though watching you did get me interested
Thank you so much for such a great tutorial! I brought a pattern from someone off Etsy who had a video link and it was awful!!! She went so fast you could not understand the steps. I do hope you will make more videos for lace as you made this particular stitch very easy to understand, so a massive thank you!
Thank you! I'm glad it helped. Hopefully it will be easier for you to go back and understand the video for your specific pattern after seeing the basic steps slowly. I hope to do more videos with showing some more practical examples rather than just the basic moves. But I have so many video ideas (not just lace) so I'm not sure when I'll manage to do everything I want to do.
This was so very helpful! I would love it if you pleeeease could make one for the next step! How to read the lace charts? How to use the cross-twist-cross to make and actual lace with “holes” in it? :)
Thank you, I'm glad this was helpful. I'm planning to make a new series of videos showing more different things. I've got lots of projects and ideas at the moment, so I can't guarantee how long it will take me to get to the lace videos again. I do have a few other lace videos which are not specifically tutorials but might give you a better idea how these stitches are used in real patterns. (I've got a playlist of lace videos if you want to have a look).
Yes, it is something that takes quite a bit of concentration, but it’s ok if you take it slow and go step by step. In the past, I tried to jump too far ahead without properly understanding the “basics”
Thank you so much for this! I knit and crochet, and always am drawn to lace type patterns, so I’m excited to get into real lace making! You made it make so much sense, definitely the best tutorial for beginners!
This is fantastic!! I'd seen a video on bobbin lace before, but it was with lace and so kind of overwhelming and hard to follow. This was slow enough, and big enough, that I could follow along. Thank you so much!
Interesting. I've seen other women wind the thread the opposite direction. So, my conclusion from that is that it doesn't really matter which way you wind the bobbins: away from you or towards you. 😊
I've heard that some people wind the opposite way but I've never seen it done (I wonder if they are left handed). I've also heard that as long as you stick with the same method throughout that it works fine (although my teacher did tell me the other way is wrong haha). I guess if you wind the thread the opposite way then the hitch probably also needs to be opposite and how you lengthen or shorten the threads is also opposite. But like I said, I've not seen it done that way, so I'm making assumptions about the additional variations that would also be needed.
Haha thanks Sue! I did this video before I had any lessons and it was just from years of stopping and starting and trying to figure it out from books and RU-vid. I should do an updated version with some of the extra things I’ve learned from Bee!
It's called a pillow. This round style is called a cookie pillow. The shop I bought this one from doesn't exist anymore. There are several online shops that sell lace supplies. I only know sites in the uk so it depends where you live? Different sizes and shapes are available. My green one is 18 inches across.
I’m going to edit this comment a number of times because, as I watch the video, I have questions that I’m afraid I’ll forget to ask if I wait til the end. Is there an advantage to putting your hitch against the thread on the bobbin as opposed to directly into the groove just above the thread area? I’ve been watching videos while waiting for my bobbins to arrive. A lady in one said to turn the bobbin while threading it, which takes longer to put the thread on, but keeps it from unraveling and breaking easier. She said the finished lace looks better too. On your next project, could you try that method and let me know if it works better?
Thank you so much for your comment and your questions! Some of my bobbins have very definite grooves in the head which would hold a hitch nicely, but on others the groove is not so well defined and the hitch tends to slip off. So I just find it easier to put all my hitches on the neck rather than the head so they are all done the same way. Yes, I’ve also been told it is best to turn the bobbin to wind the thread onto it because it stops the thread getting extra twists on it. But….. every time I try to wind bobbins that way, I either get too bored or it starts to hurt my hand, so I go back to winding the bobbins by wrapping the thread around the bobbin, even though I know it’s not the “best” way. I don’t think I’ve even managed to wind ONE pair of bobbins the “correct” way! I definitely couldn’t do 40 pairs that way! Haha (That’s how many pairs I have on my current project)
Thankyou Lora.I always wanted to learn bobbin lace making, but couldnt .Now that I found your video I know I will be able to learn bobbin lace making. Your instructions were very clear.Thankyou Lora.❤🎉😊
Your video just popped up and it was very interesting. I’ve got a pillow and various bobbins to start, but it is a little daunting. I don’t learn well from books and am hoping to try from video tutorials. I know I get frustrated by bobbins unravelling so must check out the hitch. Not sure if one to one tuition is better for this hobby. I will check out your other videos, so thank you for uploading.
If you can find someone in your area to do one-to-one that would be great. There are several lacemaking groups on Facebook (for example “Beginner bobbin lace makers”) with people from all around the world so you could ask there if anyone is local to you. I found out about a class near where I live and I feel like I’ve learnt more in 4 or 5 lessons than I learnt in years on my own. Of course you can learn on your own, and videos can help, but it’s always nice to just be able to ask someone who is in the same room. Glad you found my video interesting! Thanks
I’m just watching your start up video with basic whole and half stitch tutorial. It really is helpful to get me going and I’m hoping to persevere thanks to you. Thank you so much.
19:30 that’s so cool!!! I’m 47 and just to crochet almost a year ago, I still can only do single and one other crochet stitch. But I’ve managed to learn how to work in the back of the stitch or both to kinda mix up my looks lol. And I’ve yet to follow a pattern. I just pick something simple like a scarf, shawl or blanket and wing it lol. Thank you for taking the time to do this. I’ll never do it but I thinks it’s beautiful and the sound is amazing of the bobbins hitting each other. God bless.
I crochet too. Maybe one day I'll get around to doing a crochet video, but I have more ideas for videos than time to do them haha. Thanks for watching my lace video
@@madebylora you’re welcome, they are so mesmerizing to watch. I’ll definitely watch if you crochet. I desperately want to learn more stitches but there are no videos that break it down slow enough for me lol. New sub here.
Thank you so much! At the time when I made this video I was pretty much self taught, but I’ve since had some lessons and I hope to soon do a series of videos about what I’ve been learning.
Thank you for the excellent video. I’m going to try it. I’ve ordered the bobbins and will make a table platform. Could you suggest where I might find a few simple patterns?
Thank you so much! I’m so glad my video was helpful. There are plenty of books with patterns and even online on Pinterest etc, but the difficulty is keeping it REALLY simple to start with. In the past I’d pick a pattern that I liked but then didn’t understand any of the instructions (you’ll see this if you watched my video where I made lace for my parents anniversary). I don’t know what is “best”, but a book that I’ve found helpful is “The Torchon Lace Workbook” by Bridget M. Cook. (You can usually find a copy second hand on eBay). It is divided into 2 main sections. At the start are 10 exercises which teach basic techniques and then there are approximately 30 patterns. But you don’t have to do all the exercises first. For example after the first 3 exercises it tells you that you can now do the first 6 patterns. Then after the 4th exercise is says you can now also do patterns 7-12 etc etc. It’s still hard to understand some of the written instructions, but I really like the way the book is structured and helps you progress.
@@madebylora Thank you for the book info. I did as you suggested, and got it on eBay for $9. It retails new for $27.50. So, you saved me 2/3’s of the price, plus a big headache trying to figure out which book to buy. As a new subscriber, I’m looking forward to watching all your videos.
@@madebyloraI got the bobbins and was waiting on the arrival of the book. I couldn’t wait, so decided to just make the little pattern you are using in this video so that I could practice these stitches. I made the dots across the top, then made the vertical dots directly under the first and last horizontal dots. Well, you know how my first practice went. It was awful. Such a simple mistake had me scratching my head. So, start over, make a new pattern. Vertical and horizontal dots NOT aligned. More later.
The bobbins which have the beads on the bottom (like the ones I use) are often called “midlands” bobbins. But there are many types of bobbins for different styles or from different countries. For example many European bobbins have a large bottom (🤣) instead of beads to give it some weight. Personally I like to use the ones with beads but it’s mostly down to personal preference. If you want to start, I would suggest looking at second hand bobbins on eBay. There are always people either selling their own collections or ones they have inherited. You usually get a better deal if you buy a bundle of them, rather than buying individually. When I first started, I had 15 pairs of bobbins, but now I’ve probably got about 80 pairs. Some people make their own bobbins to test out if they like the hobby before investing too much money. In my bobbin lace playlist I did a video where I talked about my own journey starting lace and there is also a little bit about bobbins, pillows, threads etc in that video. I hope that helps.
I love watching you you’re very meticulous and I like that. Could you do a spider slow like this they’re giving me a pain in the butt and I don’t know why I had such trouble.
Hi Valerie, thank you so much for your comment. I made this video before I had any proper lessons, so now that I have had some lessons and a bit more confidence, I am planning to do a series of videos to share what I've learned. However I don't know when that will happen. This may or may not help, but this is how I approach a lace spider. Top legs: At the start, each pair of threads that will be legs should have 3 twists in total (depending what stitches you had before the spider you might already have one twist, so add 2 more twists). Top of body: If your spider has 3 leg pairs coming from each side, you will have 6 leg pairs hanging down. Start with the 4th pair from left (or I tend to think of it as the 1st pair to the right of the centre). Use that pair to work cloth stitch (cross, Twist, cross) through the 3 pairs on the left. Then go back to the 5th pair and work cloth stitch through 3 pairs to the left. Then the 6th pair is also worked cloth stitch through 3 pairs to the left. Now the 3 pairs that were originally on each side have swapped sides. Put a pin in the middle and tension all the threads to create the top half of the body. I think of those old specimen cases where they used to pin different varieties of insects and butterflies on a board. Pin him down! Bottom half: Do the exact same process again, starting with 4th pair and work cloth stitch through 3 pairs to left, and same with 5th and 6th pairs as before. To finish, put 3 twists on each leg, and pull his legs for a bit of tension! More legs: If your spider has more than 3 legs from each side, the process is the same you just increase the numbers. So for 4 legs, you'd start with the 5th pair and work back through 4 pairs each time. Or for 5 legs, start with 6th pair and work back through 5 pairs each time. I know reading is not the same as watching, but I hope that is helpful.
@@valerieford5742 I won't be offended if it doesn't make sense! I know when we write things down it makes sense to us, but doesn't always make sense to someone else reading it!
@@madebylora yeah thanks so much I found the book and spiders are just making me crazy. I have tons of other books but I think maybe a book and a video will be the key. I’ve already watched the videos a couple times, but I have other books and they are different from what you said and I can’t watch your video and read a book same time that are different all it does is make a mess.
@@valerieford5742 yeah that is hard. I know when I've watched a video demonstrating something "similar" to what I'm trying to follow in a book, it gets more confusing. There are sooo many variations.
Thank you! I’m hoping to do some more lace videos soon. When I made this video I was self taught from books and RU-vid but I’ve since had some lessons with an experienced teacher and there are a few minor things I would explain differently now or I have a clearer understanding about.
I've Watched several different beginner videos in this and yours is the best. And I think the extra twist at the end of each row is supposed to Be done after you put the pin in to help lock it in place.
Thank you so much! It really means a lot to know that my video is helpful! At the time when I recorded this, I was just self taught from books and other videos, but I’ve since had some face to face lessons with an experienced lace maker. Apparently there should be 2 twists when the threads go around the pin. So, if there aren’t currently any twists, you add 2, but if there is already 1 twist then you add another. This helps the 2 threads stay neat and twisted together as they go around the pin and not as separate loops of thread at the end of a row. I should really do an updated video now that I’ve learned a few more things! Thanks again for your lovely comment!
It was just a basic pattern that I drew myself. To practice the stitches you just need a row of dots across the top where you hang the pairs on pins, and then also dots down the sides to mark where the pins will go at the start and end of each row. I used paper with squares on it but you can use any paper for practice. I hope this helps. Sorry I don't have a pattern to share.
Thank you, I’m glad that was helpful! I’ve not done a video yet about patterns (I hope to do more lace videos early 2024). Since recording this video I have attended a few classes and our teacher taught us to transfer the patterns this way - use a photocopy of the original pattern, place the copy over a piece of coloured card (preferably proper lace pricking card, which is usually brown as far as I can tell). Pin down the copy and card onto a piece of cork or something similar and then using a “pricker” (a fine needle in some sort of handle or pin vice…. My teacher was horrified when I said I’d been using an old hat pin haha) prick through each pattern hole to transfer it to the card. Then re-draw any markings onto your new card pattern using a fine liner (not biro because this can rub off on your lace). A quicker “cheat” way is to copy your pattern onto thin card and then cover it with a matt plastic film, then prick all the holes before starting. If you’re using white thread, it’s easier on the eyes to use coloured card or coloured plastic film. I know written descriptions are harder than seeing it in a video, but I hope this description helps.
Thank you. My pillow is about 18 inches across. It’s made from dense polystyrene. I bought it many years ago in a shop that was about an hour drive from where I live. Funny story…. I recently looked up the shop online to check it was still there and then took a trip to visit to see if they still do lace products….. turns out that just because a company still has a listing online, that does not mean they are still in business!!!! Hahaha it’s now a newsagents shop! But on the plus side, I did accidentally find an amazing fabric shop in the same area.
Thank you so much for this! I was wondering about the difference between the two stitches (because silly me: I undid the twist of the previous row when trying half stitch before doing the next row... Omg), your demonstration was really clear - I loved that I could see what each thread/bobbin was actually doing. You can't easily see that in many other videos because they use very thin yarn. Thank you very much!
Thank you for your lovely comment! It makes me so happy to know this video is helpful! I should really do some updates because at the time of filming, I was self taught (from books and videos) but I’ve since had some classes and have learned a few more things. For example, I wasn’t too sure about the twists at the ends of rows, but my teacher says that there should always be two twists around a pin at the ends of rows. So depending on which stitch you’re doing you might need to add one extra twist or 2 extra twists.
@@madebylora I would love to watch any video you upload, I'm sure it will be just as interesting and useful as this one. Again thanks for posting this video! It is really helpful and totally cleared up a big mistake I was making. Thanks so much for responding to my comment!
@gisellef9335 thank you for your lovely kind comments! Have you seen my Bobbin lace making playlist? I've got a few lace related videos. You might like the ones with the black squares and the gold swans. They are not a step by step tutorials but I do show some of the process which may (or may not) be interesting/helpful
