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1.2. Lace pillows

There is a greate variety of shapes and sizes of pillows.

In west and north European countries and in north America flat pillows are used:

- rectangular, square (Fig.1.7);

Fig.1.7. Rectangular pillow

- round (Fig.1.8, Fig.1.9 , Fig.1.10);

Fig.1.8. Round cored pillow

Fig.1.9. Round flat pillow (”cookie”, “mushroom”)

Fig.1.10. Semicircular pillow

- compound sectional (Fig.1.11).
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Fig.1.11. Pillow mounted of rectangular blocks

- cylindrical (Fig.1.12, Fig.1.13);

Fig.1.12. Cylindrical pillow

Fig.1.13. Cylindrical pillow. Puerto Rico

In south, central and east European countries (Italy, Greece, Germany, Slovakia, Czechia, Russia) soft cylindrical pillows (bolsters) are spread (Fig.1.14). Local names of pillows can be found in Russia provinces - “buben” (a tamburine), “baraban” (a drum), “koutooz”, “kooftyr”.

Fig.1.14. Bolster pillow. Germany

In France and Sweden combined mushroom-roller pillow are used for plaiting of rythmical lases (Fig.1.15, Fig.1.16).

Fig.1.15. Combined pillow

Fig.1.16. Combined pillow

A lace pillow is a contrivance that can be made by lace makers without assistance.

It is known from the books containing historical review of lace making in Russia and abroad that bolster pillows were made formerly as sacks filled with tightly rammed hay or straw.

Sawdust of non-coniferous (non-resinous) wood is used as filling material as well. Sawdust is sorted and screened to move off chips and large wood fractions before filling a sack. Surface of pillow must be flat and even. For the purpose a sack is filled gradually, ramming every layer of sawdust. The best ramming tool is a plastic bottle filled with water. Sawdust may be shaken down during lace making. For that reason it is to be added into a pillow periodically.

If sawdust is not available it can be substituted by alder tree shaving that is sold in pet-shops as material for domestic rodent animals.

When none natural filling material can be found, a bolster pillow is made of synthetic leaf materials formed as a cylinder. There are many sorts of porous plastic used to warm walls and tubes in building industry.

A bolster with synthetic materials consists of a cylindrical framework wrapped around with porous plastic. A plastic bottle (from 10 to 16 inches at length, volume from 1 to 2 gallons) can serve as a framework for a little pillow. Several simple actions are to be made to produce a bolster pillow.

1. Cut off a bottle neck.

2. Measure the bottle sizes and calculate sides of a rectangular according cylindrical surface of the bottle. Cut the first rectangular layer out of porous plastic.

3. Wrap the first layer around the bottle and fasten edges at one level with a sticky ribbon. Edge connection at different levels (one above another) is not allowed.

4. Cut out the next rectangle for the second layer according sizes of the first one. Join leaf edges at one level as well.

5. Wrap the bottle with the third and the next layers. Amount of layers depends on thickness of plastic leaf. A pin that is pushed into the pillow must not rest against the bottle. For the purpose total thickness of plastic layers is to be 10-20 mm more than pin length. For instance five layers are needed if pin length is equal 1.2 inch using 8 mm plastic leaf.

6. Shut butt-ends of the bolster with disks cut of the same plastic.

Notes.

1. No framework is needed if a training bolster diameter is less than 20 cm (8 inches). Hardness of multi-layer plastic is quite enough to deliver cylindrical form of a bolster.

2. An office cooler bottle is recommended as a framework for a big bolster if a pillow diameter is to be more then 14 inches (Fig.1.17). A wood “squirrel cage” can be used as a bolster framework.

Fig.1.17. Cooler bottle as a framework

Two covers are to be put on the bolster - constant (inner) and changeable (external). The last one is to be refreshed every time when the finished lace is taken away from the bolster.

Sizes of rectangular fabric rag for the cover are calculated the next way. Length of the first side:

X₁ = 2pR + P,

where: R - bolster radius;

P - margin for tucking (about 2 cm or 0.8 inch).

Inner cover value of X₁ is to be enlarged on 0.5 cm (0.2 inch) and the external one on 1 cm (0.4 inch) when a cover is put on a bolster of porous material. It is necessary to put the cover easily on the bolster.

Length of the second side of the rectangle:

X₂ = L + 2T + 2K,

where: L - bolster length;
T - an addition for butt-end (1/3 or 2/3 of a bolster radius,
as an executor perceives);
K - tucking margin for a chord.
Notes.

1. It is recommended to sponge the rag before it cut out to escape possible changes of cover sizes after washing.

2. The best material for a cover is linen or cotton fabric of light colors.

3. Plastic bolsters turns out too easy. It is recommended to enlarge mass of the bolster up to 2-3 kg. For the purpose it is necessary to put into the bolster cavity a bottle or a little sack filled gravel or sand (Fig.1.18).

Fig.1.18. Training bolster with an additional mass

A lace maker is to choose herself the best variant of bolster manufacturing and taste it because advices are to be followed critically.

Pillows mentioned above are used in permanent establishment for instance at worksop, cottage industry or at home. However it can be happened that plaiting started at one place is to be continued at another one. For instance a training lace is plaited at home but it is to be finished and shown to a teacher at school. Sometimes a lace maker accomplishes forced trip, that must not interrupt plaiting for a long time. Under such “fild” circumstances a portable bolster proves to be very handy to plait rythmical laces (Fig.1.19, Fig.1.20).

Fig.1.19. The portable pillow

Fig.1.20. The portable pillow

A lace maker can sew a sack-”banana” for a portable bolster. Authors of the book suggest their variant of a sack (Fig.1.21).

Fig.1.21. A sack for a portable bolster

“A bandoleer” for 12 pair of bobbins is a good supplement to a portable bolster in link technique. It is needed to set accurately bobbins on a bolster to stave off thread rupture and entangle during travel. Bobbins are fastened at “a corset” (Fig.1.22) that is put on a bolster (Fig.1.23).

Fig.1.22. A corset

Fig.1.23.A bandoleer for bobbins