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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.

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

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New Designs in Honiton Lace - Pat Perryman and Cynthia Voysey

Publisher : B T Batsford Ltd; 2nd edition
ISBN-10 : 0713437421
ISBN-13 : 978-0713437423

New Designs in Honiton Lace by Pat Perryman and Cynthia Voysey
Pat Perryman and Cynthia Voysey published this book with the view of offering a number of the patterns that they had designed, over the years.

They note in the frontispiece that they deliberately 'worked the patterns in a simple way to make them accessible to a large number of people. They can, however, be made more intricate by interpreting them in a different way.'

The book is divided into five parts:

Simple flat patterns
Partly raised patterns
Raised patterns
Helpful hints
The fillings

What works well?

The black and white photos, working order diagrams and patterns are complimented by the text which talks through how the pattern is tackled.

Anything that we need to take into consideration?

This book is currently out of print, but is often available on from online booksellers and occasionally on eBay

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14/2/2021 0 Comments

Honiton Lace: The Visual Approach - Elsie Luxton and Yusai Fukuyama

Publisher : Batsford Ltd (1988)
ISBN : 0713459360

Honiton Lace: The Visual Approach by Elsie Luxton and Yusai Fukuyama
When this book came out in 1988, it was considered a ground breaking book.

Firstly, because it introduced Yusai's beautiful Japanese inspired patterns and secondly because each pattern was shown with a right side and a wrong side photo showing both the finished and the working side of the lace.

There are 40 patterns in the book; 22 by Elsie and 18 by Yusai.

What works well?

The right and wrong side enlarged black and white photos

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

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New Patterns in Honiton Lace - Caroline and Barry Biggins

Publisher : Batsford Ltd (5 Feb. 1993)
ISBN-10 : 0713464895
ISBN-13 : 978-0713464894

New Patterns in Honiton Lace by Caroline and Barry Biggins
Caroline and Barry Biggins were both qualified art teachers and this comes through in both Barry's bobbin painting and their Honiton lace patterns.

The key look and feel of their designs were the fluidity of the designs.

This book is aimed at the intermediate and advanced Honiton lacemaker

What works well?

The black and white photos of the finished lace are often much bigger than the actual patterns allowing you to see the pattern in greater detail

Anything that we need to take into consideration?

This book is currently out of print, but is often available on from online booksellers and on eBay

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14/2/2021 0 Comments

Withof Duchess Lace - Trude v.d. Heijden-Biemans, Yvonne Scheele-Kerkhof & Puck Smelter-Hoekstra

Publisher : Terra
ISBN : 9062553362

Withof Duchess Lace by Trude v.d. Heijden-Biemans, Yvonne Scheele-Kerkhof & Puck Smelter-Hoekstra
Although by the same authors as Withof lace, this book is not as full of techniques ad patters as their other book.

However, the patterns in the book are also in the larger Withof lace book

The book is in Dutch.

What works well?

The line drawings are complimented by the text

Anything that we need to take into consideration?

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 and is worth buying when you see it.

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14/2/2021 0 Comments

Withof Lace - Trude v.d. Heijden-Biemans, Yvonne Scheele-Kerkhof & Puck Smelter-Hoekstra

Publisher : Batsford (1991)
ISBN : 0713461861

Withof Lace by Trude v.d. Heijden-Biemans, Yvonne Scheele-Kerkhof & Puck Smelter-Hoekstra
Although 50 Dutch Bobbin Lace Patterns is touted as a rewriting of this book, this is still probably the main book of Withof that is available internationally.

With techniques and 92 patterns, this book is a treasure trove of Withof lace.

What works well?

The clear line drawings 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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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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50 Dutch Bobbin Lace Patterns : Withof & Duchess - Yvonne Scheele-Kerkhof

ASIN : B007YW7XJI
Publisher : Batsford, London; 1st edition (1 Jan. 2001)
ISBN-10 : 0713487003
ISBN-13 : 978-0713487008

50 Dutch Bobbin Lace Patterns : Withof & Duchess by Yvonne Scheele-Kerkhof
Closely related to Honiton lace, Withof and Duchess lace is a great next step.

Although this book was touted as a revised volume of Withof Lace, it is not and Withof Lace has 92 patterns within it.

The book is divided into two sections; techniques and 50 patterns.

With clear photographs and line drawings this book takes you through the key steps to learn this lace. It also includes suggestions for each of the patterns on adaptation.

What works well?

This book includes a complete set of letters for anyone looking for an alphabet

Anything that we need to take into consideration?

This book is currently out of print, but is often available on from online booksellers and occasionally on eBay
This book is available on kindle. As with many kindle books, care should be taken when buying lace books on kindle that have patterns in them as there can be issues in printing them out to the correct size.

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Further Steps in Honiton Lace - Suzanne Thompson

Publisher : Batsford Ltd; 1st edition (5 Jun. 1993)
ISBN-10 : 0713463627
ISBN-13 : 978-0713463620

Further Steps in Honiton Lace by Suzanne Thompson
This sequel to Suzanne Thompson's first book on Honiton; Introduction to Honiton Lace builds on that first book to take the lace maker further on their journey.

Again, just using a few patterns to take the lacemaker through a number of techniques.

What works well?

Although this book only contains 4 projects, it covers all of the basics of Honiton across those projects
The clear line drawings 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 online booksellers and eBay and is worth buying when you see it.

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14/2/2021 0 Comments

An Introduction to Honiton Lace - Suzanne Thompson

Publisher : Batsford Ltd; New edition (1 May 2002)
ISBN-10 : 0713407360
ISBN-13 : 978-0713407365

An Introduction to Honiton Lace by Suzanne Thompson
A simple Honiton flower, from the first project is used to illustrate the cover by showing a repeat of 6 flowers, summing up the beauty of Honiton lace.

Although a 'from scratch book' in itself, this also makes a great follow on book after the Lace Guild's An Honiton: Basic Technical Instruction Book

Suzanne Thompson also wrote a follow up to this book; Further Steps in Honiton Lace

What works well?

Although this book only contains 4 projects, it covers all of the basics of Honiton across those projects
The clear line drawings really enhance the instructions and techniques in this book

Anything that we need to take into consideration?