Description

B T Batsford 1st 1984
4to, min bmps to bds, v v min crsing to d/w edges o/w VG+/VG++ 590 gms
(Order reference 11384).

The lacemaker of today pursues her art as a hobby and very rarely as a means of earning her living, and this has brought about a change in her attitude towards the finished product. Since lace is no longer widely used in fashion she will need to find new outlets for it; she will wish to produce something that is practical as well as creative, something that is capable of standing up to the requirements of life today, while still retaining the charm and delicacy of traditional laces. Here, then, is a collection of patterns making use of traditional stitches and techniques, but with a modern interpretation.

‘Modern’ does not, however, mean futuristic or impressionist. The lacemaker will still instantly recognise the old designs such as Bruges, Bucks Point and Torchon, but techniques have been simplified wherever relevant, to adapt them to modern materials and scale of work. The introduction of colour to lacemaking and different threads that are machine washable, are important innovations, as are the ideas for lace pictures, paperweights, lampshades, bookmarks and three~dimensional models.

There are introductory chapters on equipment and the stitches, techniques and fillings used in the patterns, so that a relative novice can attempt a number of them. But this book is specifically intended for the lacemaker who has already mastered these basic processes and is ready to experiment with them. The patterns are lavishly illustrated with working diagrams, prickings that are ready to trace from the page, and black and white and colour photographs of the finished articles.