Bobbin Lace Pillows

You need to have something that is starting up the whole pin. The cheapest things to use are blocks of Styrofoam. The problem with them is that once you get into it a little bit, you need to switch to something

that's a little more rounded. That way the bobbins will kind of hang out rather than just sit flat. At that point, you can either make a more elaborate pillow or a simple one. I have one that I made for myself years ago. I started by making a cover out of mattress ticking for an 18 inch round tabletop from Home Depot. Then I got excelsior, which is a wood shaving like saw dust, and stuffed the pillow very firm to hold the pins in. People have used wool, like army blankets, and rolled that over and over for padding. Beyond that we mail order them from lace supply houses around the country and internationally.

What is Italian bobbin lace?

It describes the pattern that would be based on patterns made in Italy. The oldest bobbin laces came from Italy in the 15th or 16th century. There is an old book out there called Le Pompe which has some of those old patterns.

Is there a kit for bobbin lace?

You can get on the internet and find one. In the lace making community, we do not necessarily recommend that because the kits aren't worthwhile. I can give you a source, though, if that's what you want to do. One of the best suppliers in the country is Danseiver out of New York. The website is www.danseiverbobbinlace.com.