I remind visitors that bobbin lace is really an 'off-loom weaving' process. Upstairs they will see the weavers working weft thread across the prepared warp threads, while I am essentially weaving both warp and weft at the same time. It is also a good time to remind them that the weavers could be making lace on those big looms, but are making fabric for clothing or rugs or blankets - the typical needs of an 1840's family. Tension is always important. For the weavers, it gives them good strong edges to help make the work long-lasting. For bobbin lacers, correct tension is the difference between a meticulous piece of work that visitors recognize as a near-lost art, and a sloppy piece that droops and sags.