Category: Bridget Cook

Idrija Lace - Bridget M Cook & Metka Tratnik

18/7/2021

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.

What works well?

The book has two key sections.

The first is the black and white photo of the piece, along with the pricking and information on the pattern.
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.

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

11/3/2021

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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.

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.

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100 Traditional Bobbin Lace Patterns - Geraldine Stott & Bridget Cook

3/2/2021

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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.

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

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Russian Lace Patterns - Anna Korableva & Bridget M Cook

2/2/2021

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Oringial
Publisher : Batsford Ltd (5 July 1996)
ISBN-10 : 0713467924
ISBN-13 : 978-0713467925

Reprint
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Echo Point Books & Media, LLC (27 Aug. 2021)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1648370276
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1648370274

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, however it has been reprinted and is available from Amazon.

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.

Original Cover

Reprint Cover

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 now available as a reprint from Amazon.

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Introduction to Bobbin Lace Patterns - Bridget M Cook

1/2/2021

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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.