On each thread hangs a bobbin, which also serves as a weight. The threads are then braided in pairs. The structures thus formed are secured with more pins pushed into the cushion. For most techniques you move only 4 bobbins at a time. The resulting lace is a filigree fabric, in which not only the threads, but the open parts as well make up the design.
Some parts look like a net, others like woven fabric and some like braids.
The technique of bobbin lace is very old and was derived from weaving and braiding. If the bobbin lace makers were organized in Guilds, they often didn't have their own guild, but belonged either to the weavers or the braiders. Bobbin lace was possibly invented at two locations at the same time, namely in northern Italy and in Flanders. The Technique then fastly spread throughout Europe, later also to North America and Asia. In Germany it was Barbary Utmann who introduced bobbin lace making during the 16th century.