Bobbin Terms

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Bees Knees Bobbins
Bees knees bobbins are so called due to the stacked triangular shaping that mimics a bee's knee.

Bitted bobbins
In woodworking, "bitted" refers to a process involving a drill bit or similar cutting tool to create holes or decorative patterns in wood. With lace bobbins, the holes and patterns are then usually filled with a contrasting wood.

The bobbin below, by Eddy Faber, is hand-turned from teak with maple wood veneer 'bitted' decoration. It has five 'bitted' inserts, three on one side and two on the other as you can see in the photographs.

Bitted bobbins have been a feature on English lacemakers' pillows for many years with one of the makers of antique bobbins being identified only as 'Bitted Man' due to his making this style of bobbin.

Cow and Calf
Cow and calf bobins will unscrew at the tail of the bobbin to reveal a small bobbin inside the hollowed out core of the bobbin.

Not to be confused with Mother and Baby bobbins.

Head Types
As we have been collecting all the information about the different bobbins we have seen a trend in the bobbin heads and so, we've classified them into different groups. The reason for do this is so lacemakers and bobbin collectors can look at a head and quickly find turners / painters who typically used those heads.

Thistle head (left & middle) with standard head on the right / Painter Alison Tolson / Photo © Jo Buckberry

Ball head / Turner Chris Parsons / Photo © Chris Parsons

Onion head / Painter Margaret Wall / Photo © Liz Baker

Jingles
Jingles are rings that surround the bobbin's main body and are turned from the same piece of wood as the bobbin.

Jingles are also called captive rings. In the video below, Chris Parsons shows how he turns one.

Mother and Baby bobbin
Mother and baby bobbins are where a smaller bobbin is embedded into the main bobbin, either inlaid or within a chamber inside.

Variations are grandmother (baby inside a mother, inside a grandmother) and twins (two bobbins inside a mother bobbin) In the video below, Chris Parsons shows how he turns one.

Spangles
Spangling is a uniquely English thing which is found on Midlands style bobbins.

Spangles were originally a sequin like thing that were used to adorn goldwork from the middle ages. Sparkly by nature, it's no wonder lacemakers co-opted the term to describe the glittery beads at the end of their bobbins.

Bobbin spangles are beads that are used to weight bobbins and prevent them from rolling on pillows and can contain anything from glass beads to buttons and seeds / nuts.

Christine Springett has written a wonderful booklet on the history and origin of spangles; Spangles & Superstitions which is available from her website.

The image below shows two spangles by Elizabeth van Treirum. On the right is a standard spangle whilst on the left is one of her cross bared spangles.

Tinsel
Tinsel may bring memories of Christmas but to lacemakers Tinsel is a strand of shiny metalic captured beneath brass wire. This may be more than one strand and a variety of colours.

Tunbridge Ware
Tunbridge ware is a form of decorative woodwork that originated in the 19th century around Tunbridge Wells in Kent, England. It is distinctive for its intricate mosaic designs, mainly from using different coloured woods to create geometric patterns and pictorial scenes.

It is named after Tonbridge and Royal Tunbridge Wells where the art form originated.

What is that wood?
So, you’ve got out your bobbins and picked out one which you you bought because it was an interesting wood and ….. you have no idea what wood it is. Well, fear no more. We’ve found a great website wher you can search by colour, country, even by CITES level.

Hop over to the wood database here

Wired or wire bound bobbins
Whilst all tinsel bobbins are wire bound, not all wire bound bobbins are tinsel.

From L -> R Wire bound and wire bound with spots (Springetts), traffic light wirebound (Winslow Bobbins)

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Bobbin Terms