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    • Shirley & Harry Gates
    • Tuffnel Glass
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    • Unknown Makers
  • Want To Make Lace?
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The Book Blog

18/9/2021 0 Comments

Russian Lace Making - Bridget M Cook

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Batsford Ltd; 1st Edition (5 Aug. 1993)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0713461012
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0713461015
Russian Lace Making by Bridget M Cook
This was Bridget Cook's first book on Russian Lacmaking and is a companion piece to her wonderful book that she wrote with Anna Korableva: Russian Lace Patterns.

Together, they form one of the holy grails of lace books from the 1990s.

The book includes some interesting patterns for all levels of lacemakers, including the collar shown on the book's cover.
Picture
What works well?
  • Both the technique section (at the front of the book) and many of the patterns contain clear and detailed line drawings of the techniques
Anything that we need to take into consideration?​
  • Whilst this is not a step by step guide to making Russian lace, it does contain an excellent reference section at the front and each of the patterns come with key information that will help the lacemaker.
  • This book is out of print.  It is very rare and commands exceptionally high prices when available second hand
0 Comments

18/7/2021 0 Comments

Idrija Lace - Bridget M Cook & Metka Tratnik

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bridget M Cook Publishing (1999)
Paperback‏ : ‎ 116 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0713485590
Idrija Lace by Bridget M Cook & Metka Tratnik
When this book was published in 1999 it brought Idrija Lace to a wider audience for the first time.

Metka Tratnik not only studied at the famous Idrija Lace School in Solveia but is also a teacher there.  Bridget Cook is the author of a number of lace books.  
Picture
What works well?
  • The book has two key sections.
  1. The first is the black and white photo of the piece, along with the pricking and information on the pattern. 
  2. The second part has colour diagrams to take you through the techniques.
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • Characterised by its swirling trails of tape lace with intricate joins, Idrija lace has recently become the lace to learn. Whilst the front cover piece is eye catching, the more traditional patterns are also found in the book.
  • This book is available direct from Bridget Cook on her website and is far more affordable direct from the author than trying to buy second hand.
0 Comments

11/3/2021 0 Comments

Le Pompe, 1559 by Santina M Levey and Patricia C Payne

Publisher : Ruth Bean Publishers; First Edition (1 Sept. 1983)
ISBN-10 : 0903585162
ISBN-13 : 978-0903585163
Le Pompe, 1559 by Santina M Levey and Patricia C Payne
Subtitle - Patterns for Venetian bobbin lace
​Across the lace world, the book Le Pompe is mentioned in hushed, reverential tones.  This books seen as one of the historical root publications of lacemaking and was referenced by a number of writers at the turn of the 19th / 20th centure.

The patterns have a heavy look to them, as though they were drawn using marker pen, but this due to the book being printed using woodblock.  Whilst to today's lacemaker, Venetian bobbin lace looks and feels like a cross between Milanese and Bedfordshire with a hint of Idrija and Russian.

​This book is split into sections:
  • Facsimile of the 1559 book with an introduction by Santina M Levey
  • Facsimile of a selection of pages from the 1560 edition
  • Technical Section by Patricia Payne
  • Glossary
  • How to make your own prickings.
Picture
What works well?
  • The text is clear and the black and white illustrations (by Bridget M Cook) / photo work well.
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 out of print, however, occasionally second hand copies do appear.  Check closely though, at the price being asked.
0 Comments

3/2/2021 1 Comment

100 Traditional Bobbin Lace Patterns - Geraldine Stott & Bridget Cook

Publisher : Batsford Ltd (29 Sept. 1982)
ISBN-10 : 0713439262
ISBN-13 : 978-0713439267
100 Traditional Bobbin Lace Patterns by Geraldine Stott & Bridget Cook
In the early 1980s, Bridget Cook and Geraldine Stott published a number of books that changed how we looked at lace pattern books.  They introduced three colours in the diagrams;
  • Red for cloth stitch (CTC)
  • Blue for half stitch (CT)
  • Black for weaving and gimp threads)
​In addition to using the colours in the diagrams, each of the patterns has clear instructions on how to work them.

I would say that this is more aimed at the adventurous beginner who has mastered the basic stitches and is confident in reading a pattern.

I would probably recommend Geraldine Stott's Visual Introduction to Bucks Point as more of a beginners' book to learn from.

Picture
What works well?
  • The use of multi-coloured diagrams really help in learning the techniques
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • This book is out of print, but readily available on online book sellers, eBay and through lace suppliers
1 Comment

2/2/2021 1 Comment

Russian Lace Patterns - Anna Korableva & Bridget M Cook

Publisher : Batsford Ltd (5 July 1996)
ISBN-10 : 0713467924
ISBN-13 : 978-0713467925
Russian Lace Patterns by Anna Korableva & Bridget M Cook
This one of the holy grails of lace books and is extremely difficult to find at a reasonable price.

It is a follow on book to Bridget Cook's Russian Lace Making.

This book contains a number of outstanding pictorial pieces designed by Ann Korableva including her rocking horse along with other patterns such as the lacemakers.

​The four pieces, shown on the front cover, are in the book.
Picture
What works well?
  • The black and white photos are often far bigger than the actual lace patterns so these compliment the prickings adding visual information to the patterns.
Anything that we need to take into consideration?​
  • This is a book of patterns and a knowledge of Russian and / or tape lace is assumed.
  • This book is out of print.  It is very rare and commands exceptionally high prices when available second hand
1 Comment

1/2/2021 0 Comments

Introduction to Bobbin Lace Patterns - Bridget M Cook

​Publisher : Batsford Ltd; New edition (1 Sept. 1990)
Language : English
Paperback : 120 pages
ISBN-10 : 0713445149
ISBN-13 : 978-0713445145
Introduction to Bobbin Lace Patterns by Bridget M Cook
When this book came out in 1985 it was considered a game changer as it used three colours in the diagrams;
  • Red for cloth stitch (CTC)
  • Blue for half stitch (CT)
  • Black for weaving and gimp threads)
​In addition to using the colours in the diagrams, each of the patterns has clear instructions on how to work them.

Although positioned as an introductory book, I would say that this is more aimed at the adventurous beginner who has mastered the basic stitches and is confident in reading a pattern.

I would probably recommend Geraldine Stott's Visual Introduction to Bucks Point as more of a beginners' book to learn from.
Picture
What works well?
  • The use of multi-coloured diagrams really help in learning the techniques
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • This book is out of print, but readily available on online book sellers, eBay and through lace suppliers
0 Comments

21/1/2021 0 Comments

Building Torchon Lace Patterns -  Bridget M Cook

Publisher : Batsford Ltd; 1st Edition (1992)
ISBN : 9780713486231
Building Torchon Lace Patterns by Bridget M Cook
One of the first multilingual books on lacemaking published in the UK.
I originally bought this book thinking it would teach design like Jane Atkinson's Pattern Design for Torchon Lace however this book focuses more on adapting the given patterns using suggestions in the book
What works well?
  • The diagrams are full colour and well drawn
Anything that we need to take into consideration?​
  • This book is out of print, but frequently comes up on online sellers and eBay.
Picture
0 Comments

10/1/2021 1 Comment

The Torchon Lace Workbook - Bridget Cook

Publisher : Batsford Ltd; New Edition (5 May 1988)
ISBN-10 : 0713457406
ISBN-13 : 978-0713457407
The Torchon Lace Workbook by Bridget M Cook
This book by Bridget M Cook takes you through the basics of Torchon Lace building up to making one of the holy grails of lacemaking ... a table cloth.
Picture
What works well?
  • When this book came out it set a standard for instructional books as it was one of the first books published with colour diagrams which Bridget Cook championed.
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • This book has a wonderful modular table cloth in it which is a great project to work towards
  • This book is out of print, but frequently comes up on eBay.
1 Comment

10/1/2021 0 Comments

The Book of Bobbin Lace Stitches - Bridget Cook & Geraldine Stott

Publisher : Batsford Ltd; 2nd Revised edition (24 Feb. 1982)
ISBN-10 : 0713438835
ISBN-13 : 978-0713438833
A great reference book for nearly every British Stitch (and some continental ones) that you will need in your day to day lacemaking.
What works well?
  • ​Clear photos of each stitch
  • Clear instructions
  • Grid to show set up
  • Organised by main stitch, then the variants 
Picture
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • This book was published before diagrams were commonly used
  • This book is out of print, but is available on kindle and frequently comes up on eBay.
  • The kindle version has formatting issues with individual stitches appearing over multiple pages
0 Comments

9/1/2021 1 Comment

Practical Skills in Bobbin Lace - Bridget M Cook

Publisher : Batsford Ltd; First Edition (9 Oct. 1987)
ISBN-10 : 0713443669
ISBN-13 : 978-0713443660
This is my go to book for techqniues when I'm stuck.
​

Yes, there are lots of videos on the web to help you these days, but the line drawings in this book are fantastic and it's always my first choice to find out an answer when I can't remember how to do something or if I find a term in another book but don't recognise it, I turn to Bridget M Cook for help.

​This book is available on the kindle
Picture
What works well?
  • ​Great line drawings and text explanations
  • As this is out of print, second hand copies do appear occasionally on eBay, however the kindle version works well
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • In order to find the information you want, you need to know the term, which can be a road block if you don't know what the bit you are doing is called.
1 Comment
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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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    All Advanced Alex Stillwell Australian Barbara Underwood Bedfordshire Beginner Bobbins Bridget Cook Brigitte Bellon Bruges Lace Bucks Point Building Butterfly Christine Springett Christmas Claire Burkhard Cluny Danish Design Downton Duchess Dutch Easter Eeva Liisa Eeva-Liisa Elwyn Kenn English Estonian Expert Finnish Flemish Flowers Free Lace French Geraldine Stott German Gilian Dye Gozo / Malta Guipure Historical History Honiton Idrija Instruction Intermediate Italian Jane Lewis Jewellery Louise West Malmesbury Mechels Milanese Lace Miniature Mixed Lace Multilingual Needle Lace Non Bobbin Lace Pam Nottingham Pat Perryman Pat Read Patterns Portuguese Pricking Reference Rosaline Russian Lace Sandi Woods Scarves Spanish Stitches Swedish Tape Lace Techniques Tonder Torchon Ulrike Voelcker Valenciennes Wedding Withof

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