After working on large-scale lace projects, I decided to challenge myself in the opposite direction…the world of micro lace. Ethereal is the result: a 1.25-inch bobbin lace piece that pushes the limits of precision and delicacy. Its name reflects its lightness and airiness, much like the fine silk of a spider’s web.

This piece required not only a careful selection of materials but also an intense level of focus. Every stitch had to be meticulously placed, every thread handled with the lightest touch, and every pin had to be as small as possible to keep the lace from becoming dense.

Revisiting Fine Threads: A Decade in the Making

To create Ethereal, I used 140 Egyptian cotton—a thread I hadn’t touched in over a decade. The last time I worked with it was during a Tønder lace class when I was just starting out in lace making. At the time, I worked predominantly with Russian tape lace, which uses a much sturdier thread. The transition to ultra-fine thread in that class was frustrating, and I swore I would never use it again.

Fast forward ten years, and I finally felt ready to take on the challenge. This time, instead of struggling, I was able to successfully make intricate bobbin lace with a thread I once thought unusable.

The Process: Tiny Stitches in a Tiny Space

Despite its small size, Ethereal contains just as many stitches as a larger lace piece, meaning the design is compacted and highly detailed. 

Building the Foundation

Since Ethereal is diamond-shaped, I began by gradually adding bobbins in every row until reaching the widest part. From there, I worked in reverse, removing bobbins with each row to maintain the tapered edges of the design.

Managing Scale: Working with Miniature Tools

Even though the lace is tiny, it still had a complex arrangement of stitches. Using insect pins, which are thinner than traditional lace pins, allowed me to create the lace without overcrowding the delicate structure. The 140 Egyptian cotton thread was equally important, as a thicker thread would have made the lace appear bulky rather than light and airy.

Overcoming Challenges in Micro Lace

The biggest challenge was visibility—seeing through the dense line of pins to check previous stitches was nearly impossible. Every stitch needed to be correct on the first attempt to avoid the painstaking process of un-lacing. Additionally, maintaining light tension was essential to prevent breakage.

Final Details: A Testament to Precision

As the lace neared completion, the only visible part beyond the pins was the center spider stitch, nestled within the fine twists of the pattern. A final careful removal of pins revealed Ethereal in all its intricacy—measuring just 1.25 inches across.

The Impact of Micro Lace

Although Ethereal is small, it still makes a statement. It challenges the idea that lace must be large to be impressive. With this piece, I hope viewers will be astonished by the level of detail packed into such a tiny space.

Micro lace is just as captivating as large-scale lace—proving that size does not determine artistic significance.

Follow Along for More Lace Creations

I loved pushing my skills to the limit with Ethereal, and I’m excited to continue experimenting with micro lace. Stay tuned for my next post on Gossamer, Ethereal’s sister piece, where I explore different design variations within the same scale.

Want to see more behind-the-scenes lace-making? Follow me on Instagram (@BobbinLaceNet) or TikTok (@CajahYupMe) for updates and process videos!