After testing my first bobbin lace sampler for this project, I made changes to the design before eventually moving on to my final version in hand-spun produce bag thread. This second sampler was better, confirming that I’m on the right track, though there’s still one final adjustment I need to make before moving forward.

Success with the Gimp: Defining the Triangles

One of the biggest improvements in this version was the addition of a gimp thread to outline the triangles. Instead of using a traditional Torchon single-thread gimp, I opted for a Russian tape lace twisted gimp, which provided a bold outline to the shapes.

I was thrilled when I could actually see the triangle design through the forest of pins, which was a major issue in the first sampler. The heavier gimp prevents the triangles from blending together, allowing the overall composition to stand out.

Reevaluating the Center: Removing the Spider

While the gimp was a success, the central spider configuration proved to be a design flaw.

• In the first sampler, I used five small spiders in a diamond shape.
• For this version, I replaced them with one large spider, hoping it would provide a more unified focal point.

However, the spider interrupted the triangles shapes, making the design feel broken. The space where the triangles should continue is implied, but it doesn’t read well. After evaluating the finished piece, I realized that forcing a spider into this design doesn’t work. My next step will be removing the spider altogether and let the triangles fill the entire space instead.

The Asterisk Spider: A Challenge Worth Solving

Even though I won’t use the large central spider in this design, I still enjoyed the process of figuring it out. Years ago, I found a photo of an asterisk-shaped spider on Pinterest, but didn’t do any more than pin it. I eventually tracked down the instructions in French. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t translate well. The only other resource I found was a complex lace diagram, which took an entire day of trial and error to decipher. After many attempts, I finally figured out all the steps!

While the asterisk spider won’t appear in this lace, I’m delighted to learn a new and unusual bobbin lace technique that I can use in future projects.

Tension & Stitch Adjustments

Another key improvement in this sampler was better control over tension. The new stitches I incorporated required more attention than I initially thought, and I made two important adjustments:

– Ensuring each stitch was properly tensioned before moving forward.
– Adding an extra tensioning step at the end of each row, which made a difference in the overall look.

These refinements will be especially important when I transition to the hand-spun produce bag thread, as plastic behaves very differently from silk.

Next Steps: Moving to the Final Version

With Sampler #2, I finally have a design I feel confident in. The gimp defines the triangles beautifully, the new stitches hold their shape well, and removing the center spider will bring the full design together.

That said, I’m still feeling a little anxious about working with the hand-spun produce bag thread. Even though I’ve spun it with two strands for extra strength, the material is still very thin, and I worry about whether I’ll be able to tension the plastic thread without it stretching.

That’s all part of the challenge and why I love pushing lace into unconventional territory.

Follow Along for the Final Reveal

Now that the design is ready, it is time to make the final version using my hand-spun produce bag thread. Stay tuned for updates as I take this lace experiment to the next level.

Want to see behind-the-scenes progress? Follow me on Instagram (@BobbinLaceNet) and TikTok (@CajahYupMe) for real-time updates and videos of the process!