Patreon for Teneriffe lace creators: sol lace woven spoke pinned circle foam module odd spoke count over-under circuit lock free-standing disk DMC Cordonnet tapestry needle mundillo South American parallel tradition joining methods collar shawl placemat Apple Tax 2026

Q: What is Teneriffe lace and how does the woven spoke technique work?

Teneriffe lace (also called sol lace, from the Spanish word for sun, referring to the characteristic radial circular form) is a free-standing needle lace technique originating in the Canary Islands, with parallel traditions in South America (Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay, where it is called mundillo). Unlike bobbin lace, needle lace, or tatting, Teneriffe lace is constructed entirely by needle weaving over a foundation of radiating spoke threads set on pins in a circle — the woven structure requires no fabric ground. The process: pins are set in a circle on a foam pad, specialty lace pillow, or purpose-made module; thread is wound from pin to pin across the circle, creating a radiating spoke foundation; the working thread then weaves over and under the spokes in concentric circuits outward from the center (or inward from the perimeter) without entering the fabric or the pillow surface. The completed circle — the sol — is a free-standing, self-supporting woven disk whose diameter is determined by the pin circle diameter. Diameters typically range from 2cm (small accent sol) to 10cm (large panel sol). Multiple sols are joined by their perimeter threads to build larger pieces (placemats, collars, shawls, curtain panels). The technique is accessible to beginners within the lace-making world because it requires only a needle, thread, pins, and a foam base — no bobbins, no pillow tensions, no complex pricking patterns.

Q: How do you set up the spoke foundation and begin weaving a Teneriffe sol?

Foundation setup: draw or print a circle of the desired diameter on paper; tape the paper to a foam pad or purpose-made Teneriffe module; pin the paper through the foam. Insert lace pins at equal intervals around the circle circumference — the number of pins determines the spoke count, which must be odd (16, 24, 32 are common; odd total ensures the over-under weaving alternation shifts per circuit, producing the characteristic interlocking pattern rather than a basket-weave split). Wind the foundation thread: anchor the thread end at one pin, cross the circle to the directly opposite pin (or near-opposite for non-even spoke counts), wrap around that pin, cross back to the next pin along the circumference, and continue, always crossing through the center. Each crossing through the center builds up a hub of crossing threads. After all spokes are laid, anchor the foundation thread securely. Weaving: bring a new thread up through the center hub; begin weaving over one spoke, under the next, advancing in a spiral outward from the center. With an odd spoke count, each circuit shifts the over-under relationship by one spoke — the thread that went OVER spoke 1 in circuit 1 goes UNDER spoke 1 in circuit 2. This systematic shift produces the interlocked appearance that gives the sol its structural integrity (each row locks into the previous). Tension: each circuit should be woven at consistent, moderate tension; too tight compresses the circuits visually; too loose leaves gaps. Advance the circuits by inserting the needle horizontally through the last circuit before the next woven row — this flattens the coil and maintains the flat disk form.

Q: What thread and tools are used for Teneriffe lace?

Thread: DMC Cordonnet Special (#20, #30, #40, #60, #80) is the standard across most contemporary Teneriffe tutorials. Finer thread counts (#60–#80) produce more circuits per centimeter and allow more visual detail within a given sol diameter; coarser thread (#20) produces bolder, more graphic results suitable for larger-scale decorative work. Madeira Cotona #30 and #50 are equally suitable. Traditional South American mundillo uses fine linen thread (Bockens Lingarn #60 or similar); Canary Islands Teneriffe traditionally used cotton or silk. Needle: a blunt tapestry needle appropriate to the thread weight — a needle too fine for the thread snags the foundation spokes; a needle too large for the thread creates overly large holes at the weave intersections. For #40 Cordonnet, tapestry needle size 26 is appropriate; for #20 Cordonnet, size 24. Tools: foam block or purpose-made Teneriffe module (commercial modules include measured pin circles of standard diameters — 3cm, 5cm, 7cm, 10cm); Clover lace pins or glass-head pins (long, fine, rust-proof — standard dressmaker pins are too thick and will distort the spoke geometry at the pin wrap point); sharp scissors for finishing thread ends. Optional: a Teneriffe pattern book or printed spoke-count reference showing standard spoke layouts for each circle diameter and the weaving pattern families (plain weave sol, star insertion, picot-edge sol, complex filling sol with open sectors).

2026-07-23 · KeepTier

Teneriffe lace — sol lace — is a needle-weaving technique that produces free-standing circular disks entirely on a pinned spoke foundation without requiring a fabric ground. Originating in the Canary Islands with parallel traditions in South America (mundillo in Paraguay, Brazil, and Uruguay), it is among the most structurally self-sufficient lace techniques: the completed sol requires no mounting fabric, no backing, and no attachment beyond the joining threads that connect multiple sols into larger pieces. Apple's 30% iOS fee from November 1, 2026 creates significant revenue risk for sol lace creators whose craft audiences are concentrated on iOS platforms.

What is Teneriffe lace and how does the woven spoke technique work?

Teneriffe lace is constructed by needle-weaving over a foundation of radiating spoke threads pinned on a circle. The woven structure is entirely free-standing — it does not attach to fabric ground during construction. Setup: pins are inserted at equal intervals in a circle on a foam pad or purpose-made module; thread is wound from pin to pin across the circle, crossing through the center, to create a set of radiating spokes. The spoke count must be odd (16, 24, 32 are common) so that the over-under weaving pattern shifts by one spoke per circuit — preventing a basket-weave split and creating the interlocking structure that gives the sol its dimensional rigidity. Weaving: a needle and thread weave over one spoke, under the next, advancing in concentric circuits outward from the center hub. With an odd spoke count, the over-under relationship shifts automatically each circuit — the spoke that was crossed over in circuit 1 is passed under in circuit 2. This systematic shift locks each circuit into the previous one. The completed sol — a woven disk — is removed from the pins when complete. Multiple sols are joined at their perimeter threads to build larger pieces: collars, placemats, shawls, curtain panels, and decorative inserts. South American mundillo traditions use the same spoke-weaving technique with regional variation in spoke count, joining method, and the use of linen thread rather than cotton.

How do you set up the spoke foundation and begin weaving a Teneriffe sol?

Foundation setup: print or draw a circle of the desired finished diameter; tape to foam pad; insert lace pins at equal circumference intervals. The number of pins = spoke count (must be odd; for a 5cm diameter, 16 spokes is accessible-beginner; 24 spokes produces finer detail; 32 spokes requires finer thread and finer needle). Wind foundation thread: anchor at one pin; cross to the opposite pin (or near-opposite); wrap around that pin; cross back to the next circumference pin; continue until all spokes are laid and the center hub is built up. Anchor the foundation thread securely at the final pin. Weaving: bring the working thread up through the center hub; begin weaving over one spoke, under the next spoke, advancing outward in a spiral. Maintain consistent moderate tension per circuit — each completed circuit should sit flush against the previous, no gaps and no compression. After each circuit is complete, flatten it by running the needle horizontally behind the last row before advancing. Hub management: the center hub (where all spokes cross) tends to build up thread bulk; compact the hub firmly with the needle tip after laying the foundation so that the first weaving circuits sit close to the center without a visible gap. Edge finishing: at the final circuit (perimeter), secure the working thread by passing through the outermost circuit twice; cut and darn the end under several spokes. Picot perimeter: an optional decorative edge adds a small picot loop at each pin before removing the sol — the needle loops through the final circuit and back around the pin before each spoke wraps, leaving a small loop standing at each spoke end.

What thread and tools are used for Teneriffe lace?

Thread: DMC Cordonnet Special in weights #20 (bold, graphic result), #30–#40 (standard for most instructional patterns), or #60–#80 (fine, allows high circuit density and complex filling patterns within each sol). Madeira Cotona #30 and #50 are interchangeable. For South American mundillo: fine linen thread (Bockens Lingarn #60) is traditional. Needle: blunt tapestry needle sized to thread weight — for #40 Cordonnet, tapestry size 26; for #20 Cordonnet, size 24. A needle too large for the thread leaves oversized holes at weave intersections; too fine snags the spokes. Tools: foam block (firm, non-crumbling density foam, approximately 3cm thick — thick enough that pins set vertically and stay vertical under weaving tension); purpose-made Teneriffe module (commercial modules include measured ring channels for standard diameters, with pre-measured pin placement markings); Clover lace pins or glass-head pins (long, fine, rust-proof — thick dressmaker pins distort spoke geometry at the wrap point). Pattern reference: a Teneriffe spoke-count chart shows how many pins to use for each finished diameter at each thread weight; following the chart prevents the two most common setup errors (too few spokes for the diameter = visible spoke gaps; too many spokes for the thread weight = circuits too packed to weave without pulling spokes out of alignment).

How does Apple Tax affect Teneriffe lace Patreon creators in 2026?

Apple's 30% in-app purchase fee applies to all iOS Patreon subscriptions from November 1, 2026. Teneriffe and sol lace creators — concentrated among Instagram needlework and slow-craft communities (70–84% iOS in UK, Spain, US, and South American markets) and Pinterest lace and textile art audiences (64–78% iOS) — face significant iOS revenue exposure. Revenue lost per iOS subscriber: $100/mo at 70% iOS retention = $21/mo; $200/mo at 74% = $44.40/mo; $350/mo at 76% = $79.80/mo. A creator with 14 iOS patrons averaging $175/month loses $529.20/month ($6,350.40/year) to Apple's fee. KeepTier routes subscriptions through web checkout that bypasses Apple's iOS IAP system, preserving the full subscription value regardless of patron device.