There are many types of bobbin lace

There was a time when lace was an essential part of fashion. As with many industries, it became highly competitive, which drove the development of different styles of lace most commonly identified with the geographical area in which they were made. For instance, different areas of England each had their own laces, which differed from those made in France, Belgium, Spain, and other locations.

There are also different methods for making bobbin lace. The major distinction is between continuous and discontinuous laces. The continuous laces are made in one continuous strip. Discontinuous laces are made in pieces - for instance, the flowers and leaves may each be made one at a time, and then joined together using a variety of techniques and stitches.

The most common continuous lace is Torchon. Most lacemakers begin with this type, as it is one of the most straightforward to learn. There are many varieties of continuous laces, including Bucks Point, Bedfordshire, Flanders, Binche, Chantilly, Lille, Paris, Valenciennes, Cluny, Chrysanthemum, and others.

Discontinuous laces include Honiton, Rosaline, Duchesse, Milanese, and Bruges flower lace, also known as Bloemwork. The advantage of this kind of lace is that many lacemakers could simultaneously make motifs, and they could then be joined together into a much larger piece.

Now that bobbin lace made by hand is no longer a major fashion industry but is primarily a hobby, lacemakers have the latitude to try their hand at making many different types of lace. The lacemaker can focus on a particular type of lace, or explore all of the possibilities that are available.