Among the various embellishment options available to us, one is bobbin lace. Most people are already familiar with laces. Laces are a common staple of many dresses and occasions. A variety of western dresses usually do make use of laces. Wedding dresses are often entirely made out of lace, lace lingerie is very common, and laces are also sewn onto crocheted tops. In other parts of the world, laces are used in daily wear as well.

Handmade laces are of two types- needle lace and bobbin lace. Bobbin lace is a lace-making technique that braids and twists threads bound on bobbins. The lacemaker twists beautiful patterns using the lace, holding it together with pins pricked in the lace pillow. 

Bobbin lace gained its name because the threads are wound around bobbins or spools. The bobbins serve quite a few purposes; their weight supplies a tension that makes handling of the threads easier, they work as thread reserves, and they assist in keeping the thread clean by minimizing the need for touching the thread itself.

Other names for bobbin lace are pillow lace and bone lace. It is called pillow lace due to the whole process being done on a pillow. It is called bone lace because bobbins in the olden days used to be made out of ivory or bone. Today they are mostly wooden or metallic.

The major tools to make bobbin lace are a pillow, bobbins, pins, and pricking. Traditional lace-making by hand is nothing less than an art. The lacemaker holds two bobbins in their hands. The threads are crossed over, twisted and turned around, and the beautiful patterns start emerging. Lace-making emerged in the 15th century in Italy; it was considered an easier and more profitable alternative to sewing and embroidery, and the tools required were pretty inexpensive, too. 

Many women took up the craft to earn a bit of income for their households. Today, most lace-making is being done with the help of machines. However, traditional lace making is not dead and is still practiced in parts of the world.

Even though there are new types of lace in development (a colored variant of Milanese lace and 3D Rosalibre), traditional bobbin lace has a charm that can’t be beaten. There’s just something about using the old pillow and metal or wooden bobbins that makes for the most stunning and beautiful designs.

Do you find the details of lace pretty, too? Lace can be used on necklines and hems, and give a really sophisticated touch to dresses. A lace border can spice up your ordinary tops. Faraj Beading offers embellishments on lace too. Just contact us and we’ll figure out the perfect bead pattern to embellish your lace trim or neckline design.