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  • Home
  • Makers & Painters
    • Every bobbin tells a story
    • Barry Biggins
    • Chris Parsons
    • Chrisken
    • David Stanley
    • Dee Carver
    • Heather Power
    • Jack Smith - not the acorn
    • Janet Retter
    • Le Tjevoli
    • Loricraft
    • Matthew Hester
    • Margaret Wall
    • M&D Davis
    • Sallie Reason
    • Sarah Jones
    • Shirley & Harry Gates
    • Tuffnel Glass
    • Winslow Bobbins
    • Unknown Makers
  • Want To Make Lace?
    • First Things First
    • Choosing a Pillow
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      • Bobbins
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      • Boxes and Bits
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  • Book Blog
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  • So, Who is the lacebee?
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Book Blog

17/9/2022 0 Comments

Heritage Lace Designs - Louise West

Publisher : Louise West (Sep 2022)
ISBN-13 : 978-0995737320
Heritage Lace Designs by Louise West
Inspired by the Erewash Museums Archive
es
In 2021, Louise West was one of 5 resident artists at the Legacy of Lace Exhibition, held at the Erewash Museum.

The exhibition was a celebration of the machine lace made by the workers of Erewash.

During the 10 weeks of the project, Louise produced 11 designs. From that project has sprung a truly unique and wonderful book.
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Louise has taken these outstanding machine laces and designs and create some beautiful bobbin lace patterns in both Bedfordshire and Buckingham laces, with black & white and full colour imagery through out

Louise provides suggestions and some guidance on how to work these patterns and so, are aimed at the adventurous beginner and above.
What works well?
  • Louise takes you through how she started with the inspiration image and then created the lace design.  This is a unique opportunity to see the creative process
  • Julie Varo's history of Frank Woodward and his involvement in the Nottingham Lace Industry adds an extra depth to this book.
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • This book available direct from the author or other lace suppliers.
0 Comments

7/8/2022 0 Comments

Devon Trolly Lace - Patterns and Lace for Queen Victoria by Carol McFadzean

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Carol McFadzean; First edition (1 Jan. 2007)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0954768310
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0954768317
Devon Trolly Lace - Patterns and Lace for Queen Victoria by Carol McFadzean
​Building on the work of her first book, Devon Trolly Lace - The lost lace of the East Devon Coast, this focuses on the lace patterns from the sampler, sachet and workbag sent ot Queen Victoria at the beginning of her reign.

The book is in two parts - firstly the history of these pieces and secondly the prickings.
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Carol is also the author of two other books:
  • Devon Trolly Lace - The lost lace of the East Devon Coast; which acts as a companion volume to this book
  • Mrs Treadwin Victorian Lacemaker Designer and Historian; a biography of this interesting historical lace woman.
What works well?
  • The history that is explained in this book really augments the patterns meaning
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. 
  • The Author also has some copies still available and you can contact Carol via the Devon Lace Teachers
0 Comments

7/8/2022 0 Comments

Mrs Treadwin Victorian Lacemaker Designer and Historian by Carol McFadzean

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Carol McFadzean (1 Jan. 2009)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0954768329
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0954768324
Mrs Treadwin Victorian Lacemaker Designer and Historian by Carol McFadzean
​Carol has a wonderful way of bringing historical documents, accounts and people's history to life.  Her book on Sidmouth lace is great example of this.
Many of the designers and dealers linked to the East Midlands were male, however Devon, during the same period, was fortunate enough to have a number of female designers and dealers.

In a time and world where women lacemakers were often nameless and workers' associations were springing up to help them get their lace to market, for Devon to have so many prominent female influencers was remarkable.
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Charlotte Treadwin was one of these who understood and promoted the Devon laces worldwide and was rewarded with Royal Patronage.

In her book, Carol McFadzean builds up a wonderful picture of the work that Mrs Treadwin did along with her legacy.

What works well?
  • The narration in this book is very interesting and the accompanying photographs bring Mrs Treadwin to life.
  • A few of the pieces have also been supplied as prickings, these include both Honiton designs and Devon Trolly lace
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • This book is available from a number of Devon Museums.  In addition, the Author also has some copies still available and you can contact Carol via the Devon Lace Teachers
0 Comments

31/7/2022 0 Comments

Renaissance patterns for Lace, Embroidery and Needlepoint - Federico Vinciolo

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dover Publications Inc.; New edition (1 April 1972)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0486224384
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0486224381
Renaissance patterns for Lace, Embroidery and Needlepoint by Federico Vinciolo
​An unabridged facsimile of the 'Singuliers et nouveaux pourtraicts' of 1587

First published in 1587, this book was reprinted numerous times between then and1658.

The designs are drawings of needle and fillet lace
Picture
​What works well?
  • Although originally published in French, English translations are included and the images are self explanatory. 
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • This book is still in print.
0 Comments

28/7/2022 0 Comments

Sidmouth's Lace - Carol McFadzean

Publisher  : Sid Vale Association
ISBN  : 9780993481413
Sidmouth's Lace by Carol McFadzean
the luxury fabric that hides a world of poverty, distress and power

It's easy to think of Honiton as being the only place that lace was made in Devon.  The town that gave it's name to fine lace motifs was not the only producer of this type of lace and in fact, both bobbin and needle laces were made throughout the East Devon area. 
Carol takes the reader through the history of Devon lace, including the 'Seven Laces of Devon'; Honiton, Devon Trolly lace, Woodbury Greek lace, Colyton Chromatic lace, Kerswell lace, Branscomb Point and Honiton Point. 
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Building on this, she explores lacemaking in the area, how it was taught and the equipment use.
However, the lacemakers who were producing lace needed a way sell their lace and Carol explores the Sidmouth Lace Dealers & Manufacturers who retailed lace and provided a market for the makers to reach their buyers.
Devon lace has, for a long time been connected with Royal gifts and there is listing of notable lace that was gifted.

​All in all, this is one of those books you will devour in one go and then put on your bedside table so you can dip in and longinly look at the photos and re-read chapters.
What works well?
  • This book is sumptuously illustrated throughout with black & white and colour photos of lace and artefacts. 
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • This book is in print and available from the Sidmouth Museum.
0 Comments

24/7/2022 0 Comments

Harry Armstrong and the Bucks. Cottage Workers' Agency - Elizabeth Knight

Publisher  : Self Published
Harry Armstrong and the Bucks. Cottage Workers' Agency by Elizabeth Knight
Harry Armstrong set up the Bucks. Cottage Workers' Agency in1906 to help the local women lacemakers collect and market their lace.

Harry and his family promoted the work of the Agency's lacemakers worldwide and images in the booklet show Harry's wife at the Agency's trade stand in Buffalo, Canada.

​Two patterns are included in the booklet; Town Trot and Plaited Wheel.
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The whole of this booklet, excluding the two patterns, is available to read on the Olney and District Heritage Society Website.

Elizabeth Knight has also given talks on Harry Armstrong and you can read her talk here.

Cis Elderton worked at Harry Armstrong's lace factory and you can read about her experiences here.  The lace factory building is still standing in Olney but as a private building.  You can find out more about the Factory here.
What works well?
  • The booklet is richly illustrated with images which bring the text to life.
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • This booklet is out of print but the text and illustrations can be read here
Picture
0 Comments

18/7/2022 0 Comments

A rough lot - Alan Brown

Publisher. : ​Self Published
ISBN  : 0953520668
A rough lot by Alan Brown
Nottingham in 1862 - lace finishing employed thousands of young women and girls.  This is the story of their life and work, as told to the Royal Commission of that year ...
​
In 1862, the government set up a Royal Commission to investigate the employment of 'children and young persons in trades and manufactures not already regulated by law'.  Commissioners were sent around the country to take evidence from these children working in these industries along with independent people in the locality.
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John Edward White, who was the commissioner interviewing Honiton and East Midlands bobbin lace children as well, visited Nottingham to see the conditions in the machine lace industry.
Alan wrote 4 books in total:
  • Take the Children
  • A rough lot 
  • The Honiton Lace industry in 1887
  • Lace and the Emerald Isle​
What works well?
  • Alan Brown supplements the hard facts of the commission report with information about the time to help place the report into an historical context.
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • This book is out of print, and rarely comes up for sale.
  • It is available to download from the University of Arizona Digital Archive on Weaving.  When printing this pdf remember that it was originally designed to be printed on legal size paper.  So choose to print actual size if you don't have access to that paper size in order to maintain pattern integrity.
0 Comments

18/7/2022 0 Comments

Lace and the Emerald Isle - Alan Brown

Publisher. : ​Self Published
ISBN  : 0953520668
Lace and the Emerald Isle by Alan Brown
​In this book, Alan looks briefly at pre 1845 development of Irish lace forms, the time of the Irish Potato Famine and then in more detail at the years following this catrosphy  
Alan wrote 4 books in total:
  • Take the Children
  • A rough lot 
  • The Honiton Lace industry in 1887
  • Lace and the Emerald Isle
Picture
What works well?
  • Alan Brown supplements the hard facts of the commission report with information about the time to help place the report into an historical context.
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • This book is out of print, and rarely comes up for sale.
  • It is available to download from the University of Arizona Digital Archive on Weaving.  When printing this pdf remember that it was originally designed to be printed on legal size paper.  So choose to print actual size if you don't have access to that paper size in order to maintain pattern integrity.
0 Comments

18/7/2022 0 Comments

Take the children - Alan Brown

Publisher. : ​Self Published
ISBN  : 0953520633
Take the children by Alan Brown
How Victorian lace girls lived and worked in Honiton & East Midlands districts - this is their story, as told to the 1862 Royal Commission

In 1862, the government set up a Royal Commission to investigate the employment of 'children and young persons in trades and manufactures not already regulated by law'.  Commissioners were sent around the country to take evidence from these children working in these industries along with independent people in the locality.
Picture
Alan Brown brought together the extracts regarding lace in this self published book. 

It is often an unpleasant read detailing the poverty and suffering of these children but through it all, John Edward White, the assistant commissioner in charge of pillow lacemaking shows compassion for his interviewees in the 26 towns and villages that he visited.
Alan wrote 4 books in total:
  • Take the Children
  • A rough lot 
  • The Honiton Lace industry in 1887
  • Lace and the Emerald Isle​
What works well?
  • Alan Brown supplements the hard facts of the commission report with information about the time to help place the report into an historical context.
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • This book is out of print, and rarely comes up for sale.
  • It is available to download from the University of Arizona Digital Archive on Weaving.  When printing this pdf remember that it was originally designed to be printed on legal size paper.  So choose to print actual size if you don't have access to that paper size in order to maintain pattern integrity.
0 Comments

17/7/2022 0 Comments

30 Years of Lace Design

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ The Lace Guild
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 901372219
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1901372212
30 Years of Lace Design
A Pattern Book to celebrate The Lace Guild's 30th Anniversary
​Issued to coincide with the Lace Guild's 30th Anniversary, the Guild looked through 120 issues of 'Lace' and chose a pattern relevant to that year.

Chosen to showcase many different varieties of lace, many of the patterns were only ever published in Lace.
Picture
Examples of adverts are also reproduced to show how suppliers had interacted with lacemakers over the years.

Patterns represent some of our best known designers, along with others who were lacemakers sharing one of the free patterns that they had designed. ​
What works well?
  • Filled with black and white photos along with patterns, some diagrams and some instructions / suggestions for working
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • This book is out of print
0 Comments
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    I'm the lace bee and these are my books

    With currently over 400 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.  Want to find a particular book?  Scroll to the top of the page, click on the magnifier glass and type in a title or author.

    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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