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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.

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

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24/7/2022 0 Comments

Schmetterlinge - Ulrike Lohr (Voelcker)

Publisher : Self Published (1991)

Schmetterlinge by Ulrike Lohr (Voelcker)
This booklet contains 12 different butterfly designs including instructions and working diagrams.

As the book is in German, for the non German speaker then this would be for the adventurous beginner.

This makes a great companion volume to Ulrike's Point Ground; Butterfly and Moth.

What works well?

There are clear instructions (in German) on how to approach each pattern
It is well illustrated throughout with black and white photos and diagrams.

Anything that we need to take into consideration?

Whilst this book is in German this should not prove an issue for those who do not speak German, check out my post on translations
This book is out of print, however it occasionally appears second hand.

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23/7/2022 0 Comments

Folio of Bobbin Lace Design - Joan Duckworth

Publisher : Self Published (1981)
Reprinted : D J Hornsby (1982)

Folio of Bobbin Lace Design by Joan Duckworth
As Joan Duckworth says in her introduction to this book:

"It will be noted that the quality of the designs illustrated is variable. A few of them may be well be described as 'rough and inaccurate'. It has been the aim of the publisher to illustrate these as found, emphasising the difference between designers' prickings ... And the cottager's own designs.'

Although the patterns here are taken straight from rubbings of the original parchments, they have a wonderful feel of being connected to the workers who originally used them.

The final pricking #25 'oak' flounce, is the same pattern as shown in plate 17 of Thomas Wrights, Romance of the Lace Pillow.

No instructions on how to work the lace is included with the prickings so a knowledge of lacemaking and the styles included is needed.

Patterns cover both Bedfordshire and Bucks Point lace

What works well?

The origins of each of the prickings has been added to the pricking details.

Anything that we need to take into consideration?

These are direct copies of original prickings and may need to be trued up prior to usage.
This book is out of print

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23/7/2022 0 Comments

Torchon Patterns from the Winslow Sample Book

Publisher : The Lace Guild (2002)
ISBN : 19013742146

Torchon Patterns from the Winslow Sample Book
In 1998, the Lace Guild acquired a large sample book that was used to showcase the lace offered for sale by the Winslow Lace Industry, in Buckinghamshire.

This book is a small sample of patterns from that book, just 10, which are either directly transcribed or adapted.

As these are prickings and photos only, with no instructions, this would be perfect for the adventurous beginner or intermediate lacemaker who is familiar with Torchon lace.

What works well?

Each design contains a black and white photo of the finished lace, pricking, number of pairs and suggested thread.

Anything that we need to take into consideration?

This book is out of print

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22/7/2022 0 Comments

A History of Lace - Hilda Barnard

Publisher : Sidmouth Museum 1989

A History of Lace by Hilda Barnard
This interesting little booklet was put together from notes by Miss H Barnard, the last commercial lacemaker in Sidmouth

Born into the fourth generation of Sidmouth lacemakers, she was Sidmouth's last commercial lacemaker, having a shop until her retirement in 1960. Her shop counter was added to the collection of Sidmouth Museum.

She left her notes to the museum and the booklet was put together with very little editing.

What works well?

This book is produced as a photocopy, even so, it is filled with clear typewritten instructions and diagrams.

Anything that we need to take into consideration?

This book is out of print

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22/7/2022 0 Comments

A Lace Alphabet in Decorative Braids - Ann Brook

Publisher : Self Published

A Lace Alphabet in Decorative Braids by Ann Brook

The book is divided into three sections:

Abbreviations, letter pages (with working information, right side photo and diagram
Working notes and Instructions for 13 braid designs
26 patterns; one for each letter. Note that the patterns are shown reversed as the lace is worked wrong side up.

Whilst instructions are given to many of the designs, a basic knowledge of Milanese lace is needed and the author recommends Practical Skills in Bobbin Lace (Cook & Stott) along with two books by Read & Kincaid; Milanese Lace: An Introduction and New Braids and Design in Milanese Lace

What works well?

Each letter is supplied with picture of the right side of the lace, information on number of bobbins, thread, reversed pricking.

Anything that we need to take into consideration?

This book is out of print

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22/7/2022 0 Comments

Bucks No. 1 - Kathy Corbett

Publisher : Self Published, 1984

Bucks No. 1 by Kathy Corbett

As with Kathy's other booklets, published during the 1980s, this focuses on Bucks Point patterns with clear instructions and hand drawn working diagrams.

This selection has a small edging, hankerchief corner and various shapes of motifs.

Whilst instructions are given to many of the designs, a basic knowledge of Bucks Point and lacemaking is needed

What works well?

This book is produced as a photocopy, even so, it is filled with clear typewritten instructions and diagrams.

Anything that we need to take into consideration?

This book is out of print

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22/7/2022 0 Comments

Lace for Keeping - Kathy Corbett

Publisher : Self Published, 1988

Lace for Keeping by Kathy Corbett
2 fans, 2 variants of 1 collar, a motif & a Jabot with 2 extra inserts. Original Designs.

This booklet is well thought out and some of the patterns allow you to make variants within them. In addition, there are few extra large, hand drawn diagrams.

As with Kathy's other booklets, published during the 1980s, whilst the instructions are given to many of the designs, a basic knowledge of Bucks Point and lacemaking is needed

What works well?

This book is produced as a photocopy, even so, it is filled with clear typewritten instructions and diagrams.

Anything that we need to take into consideration?

This book is out of print

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22/7/2022 0 Comments

Lace for Giving - Kathy Corbett

Publisher : Self Published, 1984

Lace for Giving by Kathy Corbett
Original designs for Pendants, Brooches, Keyrings & Pillboxes with diagrams & instructions.

Mainly Bucks Point, there are two Bedfordshire style flowers sprays along with a snail and a hedgehog in Torchon based lace.

As with Kathy's other booklets, published during the 1980s, whilst the instructions are given to many of the designs, a basic knowledge of Bucks Point and lacemaking is needed

What works well?

This book is produced as a photocopy, even so, it is filled with clear typewritten instructions and diagrams.

Anything that we need to take into consideration?

This book is out of print

0 Comments

22/7/2022 0 Comments

Design Techniques for Modern Lace - Veronica D. Sorenson

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Batsford Ltd (5 Oct. 1989)
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0713460210
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0713460216

Design Techniques for Modern Lace by Veronica D. Sorenson
There have been a number of lace design books published over the years, however, this was one of the first.

Veronica takes you through taking your inspiration and turning it into a lace pattern, with each chapter building on the previous one.

There are a number of interesting topics covered in the book in particular; Schneeberg lace design, designing crosses, lace and embroidery, use of colour, working with wool, lace from lace and dot to dot design.

What works well?

The book illustrated throughout with black and white photos and diagrams along with a few colour plates showing key designs from the book.

Anything that we need to take into consideration?

This book is out of print, but second hand copies are readily available through online book sellers and lace suppliers.

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Book Blog

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

Schmetterlinge - Ulrike Lohr (Voelcker)

Folio of Bobbin Lace Design - Joan Duckworth

Torchon Patterns from the Winslow Sample Book

A History of Lace - Hilda Barnard

A Lace Alphabet in Decorative Braids - Ann Brook

Bucks No. 1 - Kathy Corbett

Lace for Keeping - Kathy Corbett

Lace for Giving - Kathy Corbett

Design Techniques for Modern Lace - Veronica D. Sorenson

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