Cattern Lace

I didn’t get much chance to do any lace last weekend as we had family staying, bonfire parties and by Sunday evening I had a massive headache so I know if I picked the lace up I’d end up unpicking more than I actually got done (or doing ‘reverse stitch’ as it’s more commonly known ;-)).

I did however have chance to visit my old lace teacher, Lorna, on Friday. She’s been making lace since the 1970s and was even lucky enough to do her PhD on lace-making. Over the years she has amassed a large collection of lace making equipment, books and resources and as she doesn’t need them all anymore, has been passing a few things to me as she knows I will use them, keep them and pass them on to other lace makers in the future. One of the things I’m hoping to do next year is start teaching after-school lace classes at my daughters’ school, so any extra equipment will be put to good use.

She very generously gave me her Honiton bobbins back in the summer as she won’t be using them anymore, which all have this distinctive ‘N’ on the end, signifying that they were made by a Mr Norman, down in Devon who apparently no longer makes bobbins.

This time, she had found some ebony bobbins she’s had for many years but had never used or spangled and wanted to pass them on to someone who may use them.

I haven’t yet done anything with them but think they deserve some beautiful beads so will be looking out for some spangles at the next North West Lacemakers meeting in December, when Jo and Ash Firth are the suppliers.

On the way home I stopped in Uppermill and browsing in Tow Path books found an old lace book I didn’t have called Lace in the Making with bobbins and needle by Margaret L. Brooke, originally published in 1923. I’ve often found lace books in there- there must be a seam of them coming from somewhere! I haven’t yet read it all but this extract did make me laugh:

especially seeing as when I was taking the photos for this post, I had a furry helper!