M&D Lace History

Christmas 1986, David was given a book on “How to turn a Bobbin” by David Francis, and twelve bobbin blanks from a relative new to lace making, this same new lace maker presented their two daughters with the basic lace making equipment.

Margaret found a lace class for adults as there were no classes for children, and David practised bobbin turning, doing very well, considering he had not been near a lathe since school days.

With lots of advice from lace makers David came to the bobbin style he has made for several years.

The first lathe David used was not really a lathe, all he had was a drill with a lathe attachment, when turning became more demanding he decided to invest in a cheap foreign machine, this soon became inadequate so bought a lathe built by David Francis. David demonstrates bobbin turning at Lace Days and Suppliers Fairs so when David Frances decided not to make any more lathes, (as often husbands wanted to make bobbins for there wives, liked the lathe David used). Not being able to buy a Francis lathe he found another British Lathe made in Braintre, Essex. The Selbex lathe has been very popular for bobbins and dolls house furniture making.

Margaret is still making Lace, having tried Torchon, Bruges flower lace, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Tonder and Schneeberger lace techniques. Her long term project the Solace table cloth.

After twelve months of practising David and Margaret were fortunate to be invited to sell and demonstrate at a local lace day, after mentioning to the organiser that he made lace bobbins, since that day MD bobbins have been demonstrating and selling through out most of England, some of the bobbins have made there way to Europe, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Looking forward to a new year to seeing old friends at lace days in places they have been asked to in the past, and making new friends at lace days and suppliers fairs they have not been to before.

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