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The Book Blog

14/2/2021 0 Comments

The Technique of Tonder Lace - Inge Skovgaard

The Technique of Tonder Lace by Inge Skovgaard
At first glance, Toner lace looks very similar to Bucks Points and in fact, it has the look and feel of Bucks, however, the patterns are unique to this area of Denmark and developed independently.

​Tonder is a great lace to get into after having worked on Bucks Point.

The book covers the history of Danish lace, along with the techniques of Tonder and finally some key patterns to work through with clear diagrams, photos and explanations.
What works well?
  • The clear line drawings, coupled with the black and white photography really enhance the instructions and techniques in this book
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.
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0 Comments

12/2/2021 0 Comments

Flowers in Polychrome Bucks - Alexandra Stillwell

Publisher : Self Published
Flowers in Polychrome Bucks by Alexandra Stillwell
Working on the principles of blonde lace, Alexandra takes you through three patterns with colour working diagrams and photos, to learn the technique of polychrome in bucks point.

​Using silk thread, Alex provides three beautiful patterns:
  1. Rose
  2. Chrysanthemum
  3. Primrose
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What works well?
  • The booklet is illustrated throughout with colour photos and diagrams
Anything that we need to take into consideration? ​
  • Alex recommends using Piper Silk for these patterns
  • This book is still in print and available from the author so do support Alexandra Stillwell by buying direct.
0 Comments

6/2/2021 0 Comments

The Batsford Lace Pattern Pack - Pamela Nottingham

Publisher : Batsford Ltd (30 Oct. 1986)
ISBN-10 : 0713454512
ISBN-13 : 978-0713454512
The Batsford Lace Pattern Pack by Pamela Nottingham
This pack was produced to compliment two of Pam's books:
  • The Technique of Bobbin Lace
  • The Technique of Bucks Point Lace
The pattern pack contains duplicate patterns for a number of the prickings where it's say a straight piece with a corner, so you can make a square.
​The Carnation Fan pattern from The Technique of Bucks Point Lace is included in this pack.
What works well?
  • The patterns are reproduced full size
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • There are no instructions provided with these patterns as these are in the two books linked above
  • The pack should contain 32 sheets of cards containing a total of 77 patterns.
  • This book is out of print, but occasionally appears on online book sellers, eBay and through lace suppliers
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0 Comments

6/2/2021 0 Comments

Malmsbury Lace by - Joan Blachard

Publisher : Batsford Ltd; First Edition (5 Aug. 1990)
ISBN-10 : 0713466154
ISBN-13 : 978-0713466157
Malmsbury Lace by Joan Blachard
My husband's Great Grandmother was head hunted in the 1880s by the Malmsbury Silk Mill and moved from her home in Essex to the small Wiltshire town.  

By the time the photo, on the back of this book was taken of the lace school in 1907, she had been managing the production of fine silk in the town for nearly 20 years.

Malmsbury lace, obviously holds a special place in my heart because of this.

Malmsbury is a sister lace to the other Wiltshire lace; Downton
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What works well?
  • The lace is clearly illustrated with black and white photos.
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • The Honiton style piece on the front cover is NOT included in this book
  • This book is out of print, but readily available on online book sellers, eBay and through lace suppliers
0 Comments

6/2/2021 0 Comments

Dowton Lace - Bertha Kemp

Publisher : Dryad Press; First Edition (25 May 1988)
ISBN-10 : 0852197454
ISBN-13 : 978-0852197455
Downton Lace by Bertha Kemp
Downton lace looks and feels like Bucks Point however the key difference is that in Bucks Point, the foot side is on the right, whilst in Downton, it is on the left.

Bertha Kemp learnt lacemaking, as a child, in 1917, from the people who were working in the Downton Lace Industry.

When the lacemaking died out, in the area, in the 1960s, the 200 patterns were passed to Salisbury Museum who have them in their collection.  

Downton is a sister lace to the other Wiltshire lace; M
almesbury​
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What works well?
  • The lace is clearly illustrated with black and white photos and diagrams
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

6/2/2021 0 Comments

Lace for Church Use - Marie-Clare Downham

Publisher : Batsford Ltd; First Edition First Printing (5 May 1989)
ISBN-10 : 0713458364
ISBN-13 : 978-0713458367
Lace for Church Use by Marie-Clare Downham
​Marie-Clare was a member of the Community of the Nursing Sisters of St John the Divine, the community that was the inspiration of Call the Midwife

Because of this, Marie-Clare understood the significance and use of lace in churches which makes her book very accessible.

If you are interested in learning more about the Community and seeing a photo of Marie-Clare from the 60s, then you can read more here. 
Picture
What works well?
  • The lace is clearly illustrated with black and white photos.
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • The book has very little guidance in it so this definitely a book for the intermediate lacemaker
  • This book is out of print, but readily available on online book sellers, eBay and through lace suppliers
0 Comments

3/2/2021 0 Comments

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
0 Comments

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

31/1/2021 0 Comments

Bucks Point Lacemaking - Pamela Nottingham

Publisher : Batsford Ltd; First Edition (1 Jan. 1986)
Language : English
Hardcover : 96 pages
ISBN-10 : 0713422343
ISBN-13 : 978-0713422344
Bucks Point Lacemaking by Pamela Nottingham
This book builds on Pam's previous Bucks Point book; The Techniques of Bucks Point and contains a number of smaller pieces.

For me, this book is very special.  Back in 2000, I had been recovering from an illness and had not made any lace for a whole year.  My Mum encouraged me to start again so I said I'd make a small piece for her dolls house and she chose one from this book.  It brought my lace mojo back.
What works well?
  • ​Pam Nottingham's writing style is very easy to read.  She is very descriptive.
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • This book was one of the first of Pam's books to be published with colour diagrams where the use of blue and black were used to help define the diagrams.
  • This book is out of print, but occasionally comes up on eBay or with lace suppliers
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0 Comments

31/1/2021 0 Comments

Bucks Point Prickings drafted - Kate Riley

Publisher : Lace Guild (1 Jan. 2001)
ISBN-10 : 1901372065
ISBN-13 : 978-1901372069
Bucks Point Prickings drafted by Kate Riley
Subtitled: From samples in the Luton Museum Lace Dealer's Pattern Book

​
Kate has drafted 59 patterns from the Lace Dealer's Pattern Book in Luton Museum. 

Each of the patterns show:
  • The trued pricking
  • The original pricking
  • Black and white diagrams
  • Black and white photo of the original lace sample
Picture
What works well?
  • This book is aimed at the absolute beginner and is clearly structured to support the new lacemaker in learning.
  • The booklet is illustrated throughout with colour photos along with black and white line drawings & diagrams 
Anything that we need to take into consideration?​
  • This book is currently available from both The Lace Guild and lace suppliers
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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