Skill Building Workshops for Bobbin Lace
Following the 12-Hour Introduction to Bobbin Lace, The Lace Museum and Karen Thompson are offering a 2-session Just Beyond the Basics class followed by eight or more Skill Building classes in Torchon lace. All are offered at 9:00 or 9:30 am Pacific time. After completing the Just Beyond class, you can take the remaining stand-alone workshops in any order, but the first eight are numbered in the photo, and listed below, roughly in order of increasing difficulty. Check the prerequisites to see where numbers 9 and above fit into the mix. Take one or two classes, or try them all.
If you are interested in any of the workshops that don’t have a specific date scheduled, please fill out our form. Descriptions of the individual workshops are below.
Just Beyond the Basics
Course Description: In the 2-session “Just Beyond the Basics” you will build on the skills learned in the 12-Hour Introductory class. The first project is the “Tiny Square” where you will learn to turn corners and how to join the beginning to the end. You will need 6 pairs of bobbins wound with DMC Perle 8 or similar in 1 to 6 colors. The second project is a circular frame, where you will learn how to calculate how much thread you will need, make the foot side as a smooth, sewing “pin-under-4” edge, make half-stitch fans, and review spiders and joining. The circular frame requires 9 pairs of bobbins wound with DMC Perle 8 or similar in 1 or 2 colors.
Prerequisites: “A 12-Hour Introduction to Bobbin Lace” class OR basic 3 stitches, grounds, fans, and spiders.
Dates: Saturday, June 10, and Sunday, June 11, 2023 Register
Time: 9:30 am – 12:30 pm PDT
Dates: Monday, June 19, and Thursday, June 22, 2023 Register
Time: 9:00 am – 12 noon PDT
Dates: Monday, August 21, and Thursday, August 24, 2023 Register
Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 noon PDT
Registration Fee: $75
Second Camera: Required
Coronet Fans and 3-Legged Spiders
Course Description: In “Coronet Fans and 3-Legged Spiders” you will learn how to calculate how much thread you need for a pattern, how to start in a point with passive pairs along the edge, Coronet Fans, 3-legged spiders, turning stitches, Dieppe ground, and a new way of finishing in a point. You will need 16 pairs of bobbins wound with DMC Perle 8 or similar size thread in 1 to 16 colors (4-8 colors are recommended). A pricking for a frame using the same techniques is also included.
Prerequisites: “A 12-hour Introduction to Bobbin Lace” plus “Just Beyond the Basics” classes OR grounds, spiders, basic fans.
Date: Friday, July 7, 2023 Register
Time: 9:00 am – 12 noon PDT
Date: Saturday, July 8, 2023 Register
Time: 9:00 am – 12 noon PDT
Registration Fee: $45
Second Camera: Required
Star and Coronet Fans Bauble
Course Description: “Star and Coronet Fans Bauble” can be used as an ornament, a pendant, or earrings. You will learn how to start in a point with passive pairs along the edge, Coronet Fans, Star Spider, Dieppe ground, and a new way of finishing in a point. You will need 16 pairs of bobbins wound with DMC Perle 8 or similar size thread in 1 to 16 colors (2-4 colors are recommended). A pattern will also be given for earrings using 12 pairs of tatting thread or equivalent.
Prerequisites: “A 12-hour Introduction to Bobbin Lace” plus “Just Beyond the Basics” classes OR grounds, spiders, and basic fans.
Duration: One session, 3 hours
Registration Fee: $45
Second Camera: Required
Fantasy Bird
Course Description: In this whimsical “Fantasy Bird” you will learn to start a bobbin lace tape and add more pairs as needed, how to use support pins, how to add a bead, and how to do sewings. Six pairs of bobbins wound with DMC Perle cotton 8 are required for this bird, all in one color or in a variegated thread.
Prerequisites: “Just Beyond the Basics” class OR winkiepin and sewing edge (pin-under-4), braid, following a working diagram
Date: Friday, July 21, 2023 Register
Time: 9:00 am – 12 noon PDT
Date: Saturday, July 22, 2023 Register
Time: 9:00 am – 12 noon PDT
Registration Fee: $45
Second Camera: Required
Fun with Fans
Course Description: In “Fun with Fans” you will learn how to make 5 different types of fans, each with a variation of stitches. You will also review the sewing edge, how to turn corners, and how to join. Eight pairs of bobbins wound with DMC Perle cotton 8 are required for this pattern. The 2 outside passive pairs at the foot side and the head side can be of a different color, whereas one color is recommended for the 6 center pairs for this little frame for a picture, or maybe a pincushion or a lavender bag.
Prerequisites: “Just Beyond the Basics” class OR grounds, basic fans, joining
Date: Thursday, August 17, 2023 Register
Time: 9:00 am – 12 noon PDT
Date: Saturday, August 19, 2023 Register
Time: 9:00 am – 12 noon PDT
Registration Fee: $45
Second Camera: Required
Round Medallion with Picots
Course Description: In the “Round Medallion with Picots” you will learn how to make picots, how to make a spider with a different number of legs from each side, how to make a half-stitch spider, and how to do the sections in the correct order. There will also be a review of turning corners and joining. Eleven pairs of DMC Perle cotton 8 in 1 to 11 colors are needed for this little round medallion.
Prerequisites: “Just Beyond the Basics” class plus a little more practice using those techniques OR ground, fans, spiders, turning corners, joining, bobbin management, following a working diagram.
Date: Friday, August 25, 2023 Register
Time: 9:00 am – 12 noon PDT
Date: Saturday, August 26, 2023 Register
Time: 9:00 am – 12 noon PDT
Registration Fee: $45
Second Camera: Required
Magic Thread Bauble
Course Description: The Magic Thread Bauble uses magic thread loops to finish most or all of the threads. The center can be made as a half stitch spider or a star, and beads may be added if desired. The bauble works well as an ornament or as jewelry. Twelve pairs of bobbins wound with a variety of possible threads plus sewing thread for the magic threads are needed for this project.
Prerequisites: “Just Beyond the Basics” and “Coronet Fans” classes OR experience with spiders, fans, and following a working diagram.
Duration: One session, 3 hours
Registration Fee: $45
Second Camera: Required
Rose Ground, Gimps and Spanish Fans
Course Description: In the “Rose Ground, Gimps and Spanish Fans” class, you will learn how to use gimp, make rose ground and make Spanish fans. You will need 16 pairs of bobbins wound with 1-10 colors of DMC Perle cotton 8, plus 1 pair of bobbins wound with DMC Perle cotton 5 for the gimp. Patterns will be given for a bookmark, which we will do in the class, plus a corner, a border, and a square, all using the same techniques. The same patterns will also be provided for the thinner DMC 80 or Lizbeth 80 among other options.
Prerequisites: “Just Beyond the Basics” class OR grounds, fans.
Sessions:
Friday, June 16, 2023 Register
OR
Saturday, June 17, 2023 Register
Time: 9:00 am – 12 noon PDT
Registration Fee: $45
Second Camera: Required
Linen and Half Stitch Trails
Course Description: In “Linen and Half Stitch Trails” you will learn how to make half stitch and linen stitch trails, how to turn corners in the trails, how to start and end with a straight edge, and how to make a winkiepin edge with 2 pairs of passives. You will need 14 pairs of bobbins wound with DMC Perle 8 or a similar thread in 1 or 2 colors.
Prerequisites: “Just Beyond the Basics” class OR grounds, winkepin edge.
Duration: One session, 3 hours
Registration Fee: $45
Second Camera: Required
Trails, Spiders and Rose Ground
Course Description: In the “Trails, Spiders and Rose Ground” bookmark you will review those three elements. Twelve pairs of bobbins wound with DMC Perle Cotton 8 are needed for this project. A pricking for a long length, for example for a scarf, is also included.
Prerequisites: “Linen and Half Stitch Trails” and “Rose Ground, Gimps and Spanish Fans” classes OR half stitch trails, spiders, and rose ground.
Duration: One session, 3 hours
Registration Fee: $45
Second Camera: Required
Everything But …
Course Description: “Everything But…” is a review of many Torchon techniques. The pattern starts at a point with a smooth pin-under-4 edge. It has a gimp outlining the motifs, winkiepin and pin-under-four smooth edges, simple and Spanish fans, heart-shaped motifs, Scandinavian ground, turning stitches, and more. Twelve pairs of bobbins wound with DMC Perle cotton 8 plus 1 pair with a thicker gimp thread, such as DMC Perle cotton 3, 6 strands of embroidery floss, or similar is required for this pattern.
Prerequisites: “Rose Ground, Gimps and Spanish Fans” class plus a little more practice using those techniques OR grounds, fans, gimp, winkiepin and sewing edge (pin-under4), following a working diagram.
Duration: Two sessions, 2 hours each
Registration Fee: $55
Second Camera: Required
Corners and Magic Threads
Course Description: “Corners and Magic Threads” is an introduction to using magic threads for joining the end to the beginning without using crochet hooks or needles. The other main technique is turning sharp corners.
Prerequisites: Be able to follow a color-coded working diagram.
Duration: One session, 3 hours
Registration Fee: $45
Second Camera: Required
A Taste of Spiders & Such
Course Description: As requested, learn some of the techniques for making the Spiders and Such Scarf. In this 4-hour class you will learn starting with braids, crossing linen-stitch trails, triangular ground, a few different spiders, and Scandinavian ground. These are the critical elements used in the larger scarf pattern that has 40 different types of spiders. For this sampler you will need 20 pairs of bobbins wound with a thread of your choice. The 6 edge pairs can be in a contrasting color. The pricking you receive will be for Perle 8-size threads, approximately 17 wraps/cm. Or enlarge or reduce to your desired thread size. Suggestions for making a full-size scarf will be discussed.
Prerequisites: Ability to comfortably interpret working diagrams. At least four previous skill-building classes or equivalent. Please inquire if you’re not sure.
Duration: One session, 4 hours
Registration Fee: $55
Second Camera: Required