DB1              DB2                DBD                 DR                   DSL                DB3*

These Danish bobbins are $10.00 each.  See Wood Choices for descriptions of available woods. Bobbins may be made of one wood or combinations of two woods. The shaft designs are interchangeable. These are the only bobbins I bead, because the beading is integral to the design. However, if you prefer to do the beading yourself, just mention that in your order. Standard #10 seed beads work well.

There are two basic ways to order a Danish bobbin:
1)    Say, "Surprise me, as long as it's the wood I want."
2)   If you want something specific, make some choices; select
            a) your wood
            b) your bulb shape
            c) a shaft style if you want a particular one
            d) a color or colors to be predominant (or absent) on your bobbins.

For those of you thinking about bone Danish bobbins... finding a chunk of bone large enough to make a good bulb is not easy. I can sometimes squeeze out a bell or bride's crown.  Alternative:

DQC  Bone shaft, wood  or acrylic bulbs.  $14.00

*Glass, different bone and stone beads are sometimes available so the bobbin will not necessarily look like this one.

The very fine thread used in many Belgian and Danish laces dictated their shape, just as it did in the English laces. The European tradition did not use large beads for spangling, depending instead on the bobbin's bulb to provide the tensioning weight. Long use, however, had the same effect on bobbins everywhere: the wood (or bone) wore flat or thin. The seed beads were then introduced to perform the same function as a spangle- to help prevent rolling- and also to protect the wood itself.

Symbolism promptly became associated with the various shapes. The Bride's Crown supposedly called to mind the high decorated hats worn by the region's brides. A Sugarloaf apparently represented the conical top typical of the local breads. The Mayor bobbins had very large heads and collars... a social commentary on a local politician, perhaps. Danish bobbins usually have small heads and collars, to keep them from tangling among the myriad highly breakable threads on the pillow. With the very fine thread used in these laces, the bobbins still hold an incredible length. Modern makers have added all the tricks from their bags as well as updating the traditional forms and using the new improved woods and resin materials.

There are many versions of Continental bobbins.  These are some that I make by special order only.

Traditional South Bucks bobbins, with or without a Midlands style head.  These bobbins were designed for ease of use in sewings.  The small tail allows catching the thread loop easily, which then slids up over the enlarging shaft; the top of the bobbin is thinner than the lower shaft and slips right through the thread loop.

Rings (Jingles) and Plum Puddings are $5.00 each; plain are $4.00 each.  Available in Moradillo, Maple, Kingwood.
 
 

$3.00 each

Long and thin, Honiton bobbns were intended for use with very fine threads and when making many sewings. They are very light in weight.
 
 
 
 
 

$3.00 each

These bobbins are very similar to the Honiton version, except that they are shorter and the shaft is thicker at the base.  This actually helps when doing sewings; like the shape of the South Bucks, it opens the thread loop far enough to allow the rest of the bobbin to slip through easily.
 
 

Large  bobbins, these were used on pillows allowing them to hang off a bit, so their weight provided the tension on the thread. Normandy bobbins tend to be almost 5 inches long and about 1/2 inch in width.  They can be made with or without the Midlands head.  $5.00 each.  Available in Moradillo, Maple.