BAL 2026 (bucks point lace) and a lace gathering

We have a local bobbin lace society, Nottingham bobbin Lace Society (NBLS) I've been a member on and off since around 1989 and  re-joined (again) last year. We have four meetings a year with a supplier (s) present, monthly meetings with a second hand sales table and a small group  who meet weekly  to simply make lace.

Yesterday was one of the monthly meetings, usually I would walk over to the venue as its only a couple of miles from where I live but the ground was so slippery that I had to take two buses to get there ! I took my lace pillow with the Bucks Point Sampler on it and actually made a little progress on it.

There were 30 or so lace makers present, abilities ranging from a few months experience to those who were taught by their mothers and now teach their own classes.

We have three rooms of varying size which means that we all have space to work and chat, in our room I suspect it was more chat than work haha.

I always have a look at the sales table and this time I was in luck. There was a set of blocks for a lace pillow, I've had most of my pillows for 20 plus years and recently had to swop the blocks between two of them to make a decent one .

I checked the size and purchased this set. Bargain especially as I don.t have a roller block for either of my larger block pillows.

I also treated myself to a few second hand bobbins including a Christmas at the Lace Hall one ( many years ago I used to demonstrate lacemaking there )

There were a couple of lace pillows for sale and an lovely small travel pillow, you know me, always on the look out for small pillows to use in the van.

Yes, it came home with me ! its a good job that I have a craft budget ( which I may exceed this month as its the anniversary meeting in a couple of weeks time which, if we are not at the coast, I will be attending)

My challenge is to get a narrow edging on the go on this over the next few days just to see how useable it is.

BAL part ? (bucks point lace)

 Hi

As I said last time, I'm out of sequence with the bucks a long zoom group but I do now go to a weekly group here in Nottingham. This is not a teaching group, we are all members of the NBLS and simply hire a room for a couple of hours each week . This gives us space to make lace even if we don't do any lacemaking for the rest of the week.

For my Bucks point, I've gone back to the original book that we were working from and I'm slowly making the bucks point sampler. This is a really good challenge as you are given the pricking (pattern) but need to rely on your knowledge of the various techniques as there are no instructions .

This will keep me busy for some time !

 

BAL part 10 (bucks point lace)

 I've not been able to take part in the Bucks point zoom sessions for a while, mainly due to being away and campsite internet not always being the best. However, we have now moved on to another book.

To be honest, I'm not so keen on a lot of these patterns but I started at number 1. Busy bees.

This is as far as I got with it, I simply don't like it much. So , before starting the next one, I dug out Louise Wests book on Bucks Point and had a bash at this one.

A bit more my style, I plan to carry on until the threads on the bobbins start to run out then have a think about where I go next with this.

back to the lace

In early August I received a parcel in the post, gave it a shake then realised what it was.

measuring just 32cm x 23cm x16cm it is one of the smallest lace pillows that I have seen. 

I haven't really had chance to test it out yet but I will let you know when I have.

Meanwhile I have bobbins on two pillows, one with Downton lace on it which unfortunately had to be taken off once I discovered that the threads were week and several snapped without my help. A shame as I do like the pattern and was planning to make a longer strip.

I then sorted out my recent purchases, second hand bobbins and threads from a Lace pop in session.

                and set up a traditional pattern called sheeps head to use on the lace doll.

This is as far as I got with the Downton lace

more purchases, two new ebony bobbins and another antique bone bobbin.

I plan to get back to lace making in October and have a good play with the travel pillow.

BAL part nine (bucks point lace)

 I started this piece before we went a away and finished it a month or so later.

Duke Garter, this time its a version from the Pamela Nottingham book and includes a corner where extra bobbins have been added and discarded.

compared with the last sample of this lace, you can see that this is a slightly different version with the pattern inverted.

We can select the next pattern from the Jean Leader book so I'll leave it as a surprise. In the mentime I have a couple of books on the way so I may see what's in them, watch this space.

BAL part eight (bucks point lace) and recap

 This is a quick recap of where we are with the Bucks Point lace a long as I will now be missing the next couple of lessons due to commitments . I will however prep the pricking ( pattern) and wind he bobbins ready for when I can play catch up.

So far we have lessons one to four on strip one, reading right to left.

 Point ground, honeycomb ground, introduction of gimps (outline thread ) and traditional sheep head pattern.

Strip two 

Traditional pattern Plum Pudding, each pattern introduces new elements into the lace.

Strip three

Peacocks Eye from the Jean Leader book Introduction to Bucks Point Lace, pattern redrafted from a lace eding in the Guild Collection.

Strip four

Rings and Tallies from the Jean Leader book Introduction to Bucks Point Lace, pattern redrafted from a lace edging in the Guild Collection.

Strip five

Traditional pattern found in many lace books, this version is from the Jean Leader book but the next lesson on how to work the corner will be taken from one of several Pamela Nottingham books.

BAL part seven (bucks point lace)

 To be honest, I think that this may be part eight as I have missed a pattern out due to being away. My plan is to play catch up next week.

The Dukes Garter, from the same book by Jean Leader. this is a traditional pattern with variations found in several books. I must admit that it had me scratching my head and undoing it a few times with regard to the gimp outline ) threads.

This is one hobby that I can't travel with due to not having enough room or a table in the van so over the summer it will be a case of catch up when I can.

BAL part 6 (bucks point lace)

 You may have noticed a lace photo in the previous post, that was part 6 of the bobbin a long on line group. The pattern is Peacocks Eye and can be found in An Introduction to Bucks Point Lace by Jean Leader. Drafted from an edging in the Lace Guild Collection.

I may fall out of step with the lace over the next few weeks due to other commitments but will be doing a catch up in June.

BAL part five (bucks point lace)

 We are now on to a traditional pattern called plum pudding, you will have seen an old example of mine in the last post.

Every lace book shows slight variations in working these pasterns depending on where the writer learnt to make the lace. This time the difference is not huge but just a slight variation on the outer edge when comparing the two books.

So this is week five in progress

BAL part four (bucks point lace)

 On Sunday afternoon I joined in the fourth zoom on Bucks point lace. As I have previously  mentioned, I am using this as a refresher and also to check for any bad habits along with and tips and hints that I may no know as I am mainly self taught.

We have now covered the basics for point ground, the background. Honeycomb stitch, the use of gimps and the first pattern called sheep head.

I am probabaly going to miss the next meeting but we will be starting a pattern that I have done in the past called plum pudding.

This is my version from about 30 years ago.  

as I never kept lace as a regular hobby, I still have a lot to learn or rather re-learn but I'm hoping that, with the encouragement of the group, I may do now.

BAL part three ( Bucks Point Lace)

 I missed the on-line lesson due to being in Yorkshire so I've been playing catch up. Lesson three was a introduction to gimps ( thicker threads that outline part of the lace ) 

You can see that the thicker threads have been taken to the sides prior to cutting off.

I've started securing my bobbins with a ribbon when not working the lace.

BAl part two( Bucks point lace)

 Having caught up after week one, I set about week two.

We have now moved on from point ground to roseground which is one of my favourites. Next week we start using a gimp which remind me that I need to sort one out. A gimp is a thicker thread that outlines part of the design..

Part three is in a couple of weeks time.

Not a SAL, not a KAL but maybe a BAl ? Bal part one. Bucks point sampler

 In case you are wondering , SAL = Stitch a Long, KAL = Knit a Long which makes BAl = Bobbin a Long :-)

I found an online lace group recently who meet on zoom and have Bobbin along sessions. I just happened to join at the start of the Bucks Point Sampler and it seems like a good idea to use it as a refresher. I realise that at some point I will have to make up a few weeks as I really can't take the lace in the van as we don't have a table with a suitable height to work on but I can always play catch up when I get back.

Week one was a basic introduction which I sat in on but didn't have any bobbins round up.

although I'm familiar with this style of lace, I still managed to make a mistake just this far in !! I can see it in the photo but did not realise until much later so it will be in the final piece.

A bit of this and a bit of that

 Thursday morning saw me in my usual spot a Cafe Sobar with my lace pillow, I am currently working through some old patterns  as I've found that I have forgotten quite a bit over the years, 

Concentrating on Bucks point, I am working my way through Geraldine Stott visual guide to Bucks point lace (again)

I'm currently on lesson three, I know I have left the pins in the temporary starting holes and the thread is thicker than required but I'm using up oddments in my thread stash.

At the moment its more about making sure that my fingers remember this style of lace and don't revert back to Torchon lace.

I managed a small amount of spinning which I hope to finish today (Friday)

Its raining again so no fleece washing but I have started to process the Ryeland.

In other news, we had a phone call last night from the company who are due to refurbish the van in June saying that they have had a cancellation and would we like to drop it off on Saturday so our weekend plans have been totally turned around. This also means that the campsite that we had booked for an auto event in June, that we cancelled two nights ago when we realised we wouldn't have a van has been hastily rebooked !

Speak soon x

A change of scenery

 Hi,

Our last trip away was 16 March so we thought that we had better start to make up for lost time. On Friday we packed the van with nearly everything we needed and set off. We found out that a couple of things were missing once we got there but that always happens after we have emptied the van for its annual checks.

 This is Ferry Meadows, we sometimes spend Christmas here as its not too far from home. I must admit that after staying at home for so long , I was a little apprehensive about going away but being in the van made it easier as we we can hideaway if we want to. The other good things about this site are that its a Caravan and Motorhome Club Site so the pitches are clearly laid out and distanced, the facilities are spotless and a lot of the time empty as majority of vans and caravans have their own. Also the site is next to Nene country Park and on a footpath/cycle path to Peterborough.

As Ian took his bike, I had some time to myself on Friday afternoon to sit in the sun and spin the first bobbin of the Jacob fleece. This time I had brought the E Spinner with me and sat outside with it on a table, cold drink to hand and a Radio 4 programme  about the seaside playing on the headphones.

When I eventually fancied a cup of tea, I discovered that we hadn't packed an essential item, the milk !! Ian rode in to the the rescue and dashed off the to campsite reception in his mask and bought some, phew

On Saturday I wandered out for a walk /hobble ( did I mention that I bruised my toes on Friday morning ). I was originally intending to walk back up towards the main road where I had spotted a coffee stall to get a caffeine fix but I didn't fancy it when I got there. I had noticed a sign at the railway saying that they were doing drinks so I headed back and was relieved to see only 4/5 people spread out amongst their tables. A hot chocolate and a few mins with the drop spindle followed.

The train arrived at 11.15 , I love steam, the smell and the sound. My Dad was a big steam engine enthusiast and passed the love of them on to me.

The rest of the weekend turned overcast and then very wet but it was really good to get out and about again even though I'm still very cautious about things.

On the craft front, I've spun the first skein of Jacob and I'm thinking that it would make a cozy cardi sometime if I ever pick up the courage to knit something big. Its a dk/aran weight so I may have a look at how much is needed.

I'm also working my way through this book again to brush up on my rather rusty lace skills

I find the written instruction and the diagrams very clear and I'm on pattern three at the moment.

Pattern one.

Pattern two.

Pattern three.

There are mistakes but I am learning from them and I could do with a softer gimp (thick) thread but I'm trying to use what I have and not buy any more at the moment.

Finally, a rare photo of me, Saturday morning waiting for the kettle to boil again.

Have a great week xx