Ninepin edgings in bobbin lace

 

Ninepin lace is made up of a series of plaits and picots. It is the traditional edging on the headside of many Bedfordshire lace patterns, which are characterised by cloth stitch trails, plaits, leaves, tallies and picots. There are many variations of ninepin. The image shows a basic type, consisting of a plaited loop, which links in to the footside on each downward point, and is stabilised by a continuous plait running parallel to the footside through all the loops.

The plait is made with two pairs of bobbins, by crossing the second thread over the third (the cross) and then passing the second and fourth threads over the first and third (the twist). This crossing and twisting is then continued until the length of plaiting is complete. Where two plaits meet they are crossed in the same way using each pair of threads as a single thread. Picots are made on the outer edges. In the main image five picots are made on the top part of each main loop, but in this image two picots have been made and the loops are wider and shorter making a more solid edging.

The ninepin on the upper part of this image is a basic style but the lower part of the image shows a variation which follows the same basic pattern with the addition of three larger loops of plaiting at the apex of the main loop.

This variation includes one main loop intersected by two wider and lower loops crossing it and each other, with one picot at the top of the main loop. There are many other types of ninepin, including versions with two main loops overlapping each other or an outer and inner loop intersected by a long joining plait. The plaits linking the loops may also be replaced by leaves or tallies to make a more solid join, and the number and placing of picots can also be varied.

Ninepin lace makes a distinctive and beautiful edging to any piece of lace and even a small section can be added to a design to provide a highlight along a straight edge or an attractive link across an indentation.