Advice for beginner struggling more with bobbin/pillow management than the actual lace?
Hi everyone! I’m about two weeks into learning bobbin lace and could use some advice about where to go from here.
I started with a beginner kit from Snowgoose (18" cookie pillow) and have been following a video tutorial. Surprisingly, I feel like I’m picking up the actual mechanics pretty well! Cross/twist is becoming automatic, I’m seeing the bobbins as pairs, and I generally understand what I’m supposed to be doing. I’ve also become very proficient at undoing lace when I make a mistake. 😂
What I’m really struggling with is bobbin and pillow management.
Even with my pillow at about a 45° angle, my bobbins roll around everywhere, my working lengths become uneven or too long/short, things get tangled, and then my tension suffers. When everything cooperates I can happily work along, but once the bobbins start misbehaving, everything goes sideways.
I’ve attached photos of my current setup and latest attempt. I’m following a Red Cardinal Crafts tutorial on YouTube.
Would a different style of pillow (bolster/roller/etc.) make bobbin management easier, or is this just something I need to get used to with practice? Does anything about my setup jump out at you as making things unnecessarily difficult?
I also have The Technique of Bobbin Lace by Pamela Nottingham, but I struggle to visualize written instructions, even with diagrams. I learn much better by watching someone and copying what they do, so I’d love recommendations for video courses, YouTube channels, online classes, etc.
I’m really enjoying bobbin lace—I just feel like I’ve reached an awkward stage where the lace makes more sense to me than managing all the stuff required to make the lace. 😆
Thanks for any wisdom you can throw my way!
