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    • Sarah Jones
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    • Unknown Makers
  • Want To Make Lace?
    • Choosing a Pillow
    • Bobbins >
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The Book Blog

28/3/2021 0 Comments

A Grandmother's Pattern Book by Gilian Dye

Publisher : The Elviston Press; First Edition (30 Oct. 2000)
ISBN-10 : 0952270978
ISBN-13 : 978-0952270973
A Grandmother's Pattern Book by Gilian Dye
​In her introduction, Gilian Dye talks about this book being one for lacemakers who want to make things to give away as presents to family.

This book is the first time that Gilian's book worm makes an appearance.
What works well?
  • As will all of Gilian's books, the drawings and instructions for the patterns, in this book, are well done.
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • The pattern for the elephant, on the front page is included in this book
  • ​This book is currently out of print, but recently stock has appeared on eBay at a reasonable price
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0 Comments

27/3/2021 0 Comments

Nyplayksen Opas

Publisher : Finnish Confederation of Home Industries (1966)
ISBN : 9519517219
Nyplayksen Opas
The work is based on the author's series of articles published in Kotiteollisuus magazine and Helmi Pekkola's book Nypläys.
What works well?
  • The text is clear and the black and white photos
​Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • Although this book is in Finnish, translating it should not be an issue - read my post on translations
  • This book is currently out of print.
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0 Comments

22/2/2021 0 Comments

Bedfordshire Lace - Jean Leader

Publisher : The Crowood Press Ltd (22 Feb. 2021)
ISBN-10 : 1785008188
ISBN-13 : 978-1785008184
Bedfordshire Lace by Jean Leader
​As always, Jean has produced clear, easy to read text that compliments the colour diagrams and photos.

Although designed to stand alone, this would make a fantastic follow up book to Jean's Introduction to Bedfordshire Lace, published by the Lace Guild.

The techniques are grouped at the beginning of the book so that they are easily referenced. 

The 26 patterns take you from a very simple plaited circle, with picots through learning leaves and tallies to floral bucks.

Included in the book are the three butterflies on the front cover along with 3 collar patterns.

Picture
What works well?
  • Jean uses colour work at the start of the book to create interesting patterns but also to demonstrate the way that the stitches work through the trails.
  • Jean shows how to place large patterns onto block pillows in order to make them
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • A number of the patterns need to be enlarged; the percentage for doing this is clearly stated on the prickings.
  • This book is currently in print and available from online sellers and lace suppliers.
0 Comments

17/2/2021 0 Comments

Grof (Brugs) Bloemwerk - Sonia Vanoosterwijck

Publisher : Kantcentrum, Belgium; First Edition (1 Jan. 1996)
Grof (Brugs) Bloemwerk by Sonia Vanoosterwijck
The pack consists of a number of elements:
  • Set 1 - Foreword and historical notes
  • Set 2 - 8 individual pattern sheets.  Each pattern is printed on a separate large folded sheet. 
  • Set 3 - Stapled booklet of techniques

The pack is printed with multilingual text in English, Dutch, German and French.
What works well?
  • The technique booklet works well, allowing you to look at the elements you need when working with the patterns.
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • Check that the pack is complete before buying.
  • ​This pack is currently out of print.  It rarely appears second hand and is worth buying if you can find it at a reasonable price.
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0 Comments

17/2/2021 0 Comments

Bruges Flower Lace - Edna Sutton

Publisher : Batsford (1985)
ISBN-10 : 0713483067
ISBN-13 : 978-0713483062
Bruges Flower Lace by Edna Sutton
Edna Sutton's book was the first English language book published on Bruges flower lace and introduced a whole generation of lacemakers to this floral lace.

​Edna Sutton also published two other books; Bruges Flower Lace Patterns and Designing for Bruges Flower Lace.
Picture
What works well?
  • The line drawings and black and white photos show the techniques clearly and compliment the text
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • ​This book is currently out of print, but is available online booksellers as well as on eBay and is worth buying when you see it.
0 Comments

17/2/2021 0 Comments

The Technique of Bruges Flower Lace -  Veronica Sorenson and J E H Rombach-de Kievid

Publisher : Batsford Ltd; Reprinted Ed edition (5 Mar. 1995)
ISBN-10 : 0713473290
ISBN-13 : 978-0713473292
The Technique of Bruges Flower Lace by Veronica Sorenson and J E H Rombach-de Kievid
​J E H Romach-de Kievid also authored the Dutch language book on Bruges Flower Lace.

​This book takes you from the basics through to more advanced patterns and techniques.
Picture
What works well?
  • The line drawings and black and white photos show the techniques clearly and compliment the text
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • ​This book is currently out of print, it is occasionally available on eBay and is worth buying when you see it.
0 Comments

17/2/2021 0 Comments

Bruges Bloemwerk - J E H Rombach-de Kievid

Publisher : Uitgeverij Terra Lannoo; 1st edition (1 Jan. 1987)
ISBN-10 : 9062552196
ISBN-13 : 978-9062552191
Bruges Bloemwerk by J E H Rombach-de Kievid
This author co-authored the English language book The Techniques of Bruge Flower Lace with Veronica Sorenson

Whilst this book is in Dutch, the line drawings and photos clearly show the techniques used in the book.
What works well?
  • The line drawings and black and white photos show the techniques clearly.
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • The patterns for this book are supplied on two sheets as a supplement, at the back of the book.  You need to ensure that these are included when buying the book
  • Although this pack is printed in Dutch, translating it should not be an issue - read my post on translations
  • This book is currently out of print, it is occasionally available on eBay
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0 Comments

15/2/2021 0 Comments

February 15th, 2021

Publisher : Batsford Ltd; First Edition (5 Mar. 1989)
ISBN-10 : 0713456299
ISBN-13 : 978-0713456295
Duchess Lace : An Introduction by Jane Newble-de Graaf
Often mentioned in the same breath as Withof, Duchess Lace is named after Marie Henriette, Duchess of Brabant, who married the future King Leopold III of Belgium in 1853. 

​As the author points out, because this lace was in vogue until the early 1900s, it often appears as antique pieces which makes it accessible to buy actual pieces for study and reproduction.

For me, Duchess lace makes a nice bridge between Bruges Flower Lace and Honiton / Withof as it has similar techniques to Bruges, but is more delicate, which can then be a gateway into the finer and smaller laces of Honiton and Withof.

Jane takes you through the history and techniques of the lace along with discussion and help on designing your own pieces.
Picture
What works well?
  • The lace on the front cover is included in the book in the section on designing
  • The contains lots of large scale drawings and diagrams which really work well with the text on the techniques.
​ Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • This book is currently out of print, but is often available on from online booksellers and eBay
0 Comments

14/2/2021 0 Comments

Honiton Lace - A Practical Guide -Cynthia Voysey

Publisher : Bishopsgate Press Ltd; 1st edition (1 Oct. 1991)
ISBN-10 : 1852190574
ISBN-13 : 978-1852190576
Honiton Lace - A Practical Guide by Cynthia Voysey
When this book came out in 1991 it was exciting as it was only the third main stream Honiton teaching book published in 20 years.  

The first was Elsie Luxton's The Technique of Honiton Lace, followed by Suzanne Thompson's An Introduction to Honiton Lace.

This book could have been called 'a visual introduction' as it is full of clear black and white photos demonstrating each of the techniques, step by step

The two bobbins on the front were painted for Cynthia by Barry Biggins in his typical style.
Picture
What works well?
  • The black and white photos of the step by step elements of the techniques
​ Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • This book is currently out of print, but is available on from online booksellers and on eBay
0 Comments

14/2/2021 0 Comments

The Technique of Honiton Lace - Elsie Luxton

Publisher : B T Batsford Ltd; 1st Edition (1 Mar. 1979)
ISBN-10 : 0823150518
ISBN-13 : 978-0823150519
The Technique of Honiton Lace by Elsie Luxton
For nearly a decade, this was the only modern book on Honiton and inspired many people to take up this fine lace.

Taking the lacemaker through beginner's pieces onto flat and raised & rolled work, this book also has a good collection of filling that can be used across the lace.

Elsie's writing style is easy to read and makes this book very accessible.
Picture
What works well?
  • The techniques are referenced in notes which are at the end of the book, allowing easy access to them from any of the patterns
​ Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • The working diagrams only show the order of making 
  • This book is currently out of print, but is often available on from online booksellers and occasionally on eBay
0 Comments
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    I'm the lace bee and these are my books

    With currently over 300 books and about the same number of individual patterns, I have an enviable library.  So here are some of my books.

    ​You can see all of the titles by opening up the archives or by clicking on the categories which I've used to group by authors, language and lace types

    I am very grateful to the lace gumnuts of Australia for permission to quote and link their reviews to this site.

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