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The pillow used in bobbin lace is as essential as the thread
or the bobbins are. Without the pillow to act as a base, the lace would have no form or structure to it at all.
Pictured above is a selection of pillows at the
Bedford College of Lace Making. These pillows range in size from the itty-bitty to the absurdly large. The type
of pillows listed here run from left to right. . Row #1: Red
Velvet French Roller (Pincussion), Pink & Black Velvet French Roller, Pink Velvet Bolster (Pincussion), Blue Velvet Cookie
Pillow and a Black Velvet French Roller. . Row #2: Blue
German style Bolster Pillow, Plaid Honiton type pillow, giant Wine Russian style Bolster Pillow and Black Plaid Tignes style
Ring Pillow.
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Bolster Style Pillow
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| 7 Inch diameter bolster type pillow |
The Bolster style pillow is the oldest known type
of a pillow used in bobbin lace. This is the only style of pillow that uses gravity as the source for the tension in
the lacework. All other types require the lace maker to slightly pull on the threads as they are worked. Also
this type of pillow allows the lace maker to place their hands behind the bobbins instead on top as the other pillows do.
This method of holding the bobbins allows the lace maker to see the bobbins and thread easier and more importantly, to be
seen by others when teaching lace making or demonstrating it.
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| 8 Inch Pillows built by Stephen |
Depicted above are two 8" diameter
bolster pillow created by Stephen Bowman. These pillows are packed tightly with sawdust and covered in cotton unbleached
muslin for the inner liner and the cover is 100% cotton also.
Block Style Pillow
The Block style pillow is the second oldest known type of a pillow used in bobbin lace. This
type of a pillow comes in several pieces or blocks usually in a "tic-tac-toe" design that can be moved around to
create different shapes.
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| Ring Pillow built by Stephen |
The Ring Type Pillow originated in Tignes,France, and in Cologne, Italy, along their common border. This type
of pillow does not usually utilize a pricking, but rather the lace maker will work in the free-style method. Also this
unique pillow is placed between the lace maker's knees and held tightly as the thin lace edging is worked. This method
not only made it easy to transport the pillow, by simply looping it over the forearm, but was actually good for developing
leg muscles needed to hold it in place. Sort of like the thigh-master of it's day. Cookie Style Pillow
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| Blue Velvet Cookie Pillow |
This
style of pillow was developed in Belguim by the lace makers there, but the Cookie became extremely popular
with lace makers in other countries, especially in England. A Cookie pillow or as it is sometimes refered to as a Mushroom
pillow, is very useful when making laces that are in the round, such as a doily, laces with angles in them, such as a
corner, and in lace where many bobbins are used at one time.
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| Travel Pillow built by Stephen |
This style of pillow was developed in
France by the lacemakers there. This pillow is a combination of the Belgium cookie and the German bolster pillows.
The main body of the pillow is a large flat surface, usually round or oval shaped, with a small bolster roller either in the
middle of the pillow or at one of the longer sides. The advantages of this type of pillow is the lack of a stand or
table needed to hold the pillow as this style can sit comfortably in the lap of the lace maker.
Honiton Style Pillow
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| Honiton pillow made by Virginia Ray |
The Honiton
style pillow was developed in Honiton, England during the height of England's lace making industry. A Honiton style
pillow is usually packed tightly with ground barley stalks into a bag-like liner until it is full and then sewn closed.
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Pillow of Horror!
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| 1903 Princess Pillow |
Truth be told the
lace maker's urban myth of the "Pillow of Horror" is really just a pillow that is hard to use. Every generation
of lace makers have had their own versions of the "Pillow of Horror." About a hundred years ago, the Princess
pillow, which is variation of the French Roller Pillow and was manufactured in St. Louis, MO by the Torchon Lace Company,
was considered a terrible pillow to use by serious lace makers of the day. Now the Princess is considered a collector's
item.
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| Lacis Bobbin Lace Kit |
However, in the 21st century, the "Pillow of Horror"
for modern lace makers is a pillow without enough weight on it to work properly. Many modern manufacturers use Ethafoam,
which is a self healing lightweight foam originally developed as insulaton for coolers, which also took on popularity in the
medical field as a physical therapy devise. Many reputable pillow manufacturers who work with Ethafoam have anchored
their pillows to give them some weight. The pillow, without this weight, will slide around and be uncontrollable as
the lace is attempted to be made.
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| House of Craft lace kit |
In the United Kingdom there are two kits
for sale that is their own version of the "Pillow of Horror," which is supposedly intended children to play with.
However, is there really an adult lace maker out there who wouldn't love to play with a lace toy? This kit has
plastic bobbins and the pillow is a small cylinder made of styrofoam with no base to it to keep it steady. This
kit makes the Lacis kit with it's wooden bobbins look like a dream in comparison.
Booklets For Sale
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| How to Build A Bolster Pillow |
Stephen Bowman has written an instructional booklet on
the construction of a Bolster type Bobbin Lace pillow, with instruction on sewing the fabric cover and liner. Plus
there are instructions on building the cradle, which is the base for the pillow, out of wood. This booklet can only be purchased through the Bedford College of Lace Making either on this site or at any event
listed on the schedule page, with the noted exception of gourd shows.
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Click here to buy the "Step by Step Instuctions on How to
Build Your Very
Own Bobbin Lace Pillow: the Bolster
Pillow" booklet for $12.00. This price includes all
shipping charges
for the continental United States of
America and Canada. All other countries please email
for instructions.
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| How to Build a Cookie & Honiton Pillow |
Stephen Bowman has written another instructional booklet
on the construction of a Cookie and a Honiton type Bobbin Lace pillow, with instruction on sewing the fabric cover
and liner. This booklet can only be purchased through the Bedford College
of Lace Making either on this site or at any event listed on the schedule page, with the noted exception of gourd shows.
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Click here to buy the "Step by Step Instuctions on How to
Build Your Very Own Bobbin
Lace Pillow: the Cookie
Pillow & Honiton Cushion" booklet for $12.00. This price
includes all shipping
charges for the continental United
States of America and Canada. All other countries please
email for instructions.
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Stephen Bowman has written yet another instructional booklet
on the construction of a Travel French Roller type Bobbin Lace pillow, with instruction on sewing the fabric.
Plus there are instructions on building the apron, which is the base for the pillow. This
booklet can only be purchased through the Bedford College of Lace Making either on this site or at any event listed on the
schedule page, with the noted exception of gourd shows.
Stephen Bowman has written an instructional booklet on
the construction of a Ring type Bobbin Lace pillow, with instruction on sewing the fabric cover and liner.
Plus there are instructions on building the ladder, which is the base for the pillow, out of wood. This booklet can only be purchased through the Bedford College of Lace Making either on this site
or at any event listed on the schedule page, with the noted exception of gourd shows.
Running Naked with Scissors and Plotting World Domination
on a Shoestring Budget
 
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