Contains designs drawn from the handmade needle and bobbin laces of the 16th to the 18th centuries made in Italy, France, England, Flanders and Belgium.

Lace, like silver or porcelain, can be classified by type and its date and place of origin often can be identified. But in the absence of marks giving maker or date, lace must be judged on its technical features and style. This new edition gathers fascinating and useful information in an easy to read and well-organised text covering needlepoint laces, embroideries, lace knitting and tatting, and bobbin laces made in Europe from the 16th century forward, including 19th century revivals. Each type is described and illustrated with hundreds of photographs and line drawings to show the technical characteristics and particular regard to the way one lace compares with another. A glossary, notes on cleaning, care, and conservation, and a price guide make this an essential reference for lace makers, designers, and lace collectors alike.

From pillows and throws to memory book covers and lampshades, Crazy Patchwork takes the theme of traditional crazy quilts and applies its principles to a whole range of ideas for gifts and for the home. Includes all the information a crafter needs to make exciting crazy quilt projects...in no time! All 20 projects can be easily machine-pieced or machine-embroidered and all use a range of brilliant colors, Many of the projects can be completed in just hours!

Enjoy gorgeous projects that include hats, small and large shawls (circular, semi-circular, and triangular), scarves, and wraps - all inspired by traditional lace doily patterns. Lace-knitter Andrea Jurgrau shows how she creates her patterns, lifting or creating and adjusting individual motifs, then reworking and combining them into original, unique works of wearable art. Take knitted doilies to another level! Intricate, delicate, and from the past, Andrea readily acknowledges that you might not have a use for such items. In her book New Vintage Lace, you'll find a collection of 18 fully-charted projects that she has altered and adapted into fresh wearable accessories suited to more modern styles and tastes. Andrea shows you many particulars of lace knitting - explaining special stitches, how to read both charts and your own knitting, different ways of adding beads, and the importance of proper blocking. New Vintage Lace will take you beyond the current trends and leave you wanting more.

Crocheters at every level of expertise will appreciate these versatile patterns and their complete instructions for 30 motifs, 12 intricate grounds, and a variety of traditional footings and borders. 100 photos.

"Delicate and fanciful flowers to crochet, made using fine crochet thread, are popular amongst crafters. Small in scale, the thread is transformed into a lush garden of lacy blossoms, leaves, and plants. From ethereal ferns to abundant ivies to vibrant wildflowers there are patterns for every season. Portable and easy to make on the go, they are a great way to use up leftover thread. Also, lace never goes out of style! The touch of elegance lace adds to garments and accessories makes this a wonderful book for crafters looking for timeless embellishments for their projects. For those new to crochet, there's a quick refresher course at the beginning of the book. Then the directory of flowers, organized by color and season, will have readers returning to the book all year round to create new designs for different occasions. Lastly, a projects section provides inspiration for using the finished flowers, whether you want to make a whole bouquet to brighten a room or a single applique to embellish a garment or hat, the possibilities are endless!"--

Mary Schiffmann--a founding member of the Lacy Knitters--was a tireless collector of lace patterns and a delightful storyteller about her life and craft. For this book, needle arts historian Nancy Nehring has lovingly collected Mary's knitting legacy and accounts of her life. Veteran lace knitter Pat Shannon has charted and knitted Mary's patterns with thoughtful appreciation.

Old Venetian lace has always been considered one of the high points of the textile arts, what with its imaginative design, technical brilliance, and universal appeal to all lands and times. It was the ancestor of most of the important laces that have since been made in Europe, and surviving specimens are the treasured possessions of the great museums of the world. Federico Vinciolo is one of the masters within this art. A leading Venetian designer, he was summoned in France to the court of Henry II, probably by Catherine de Medici, where he had the monopoly on manufacturing lace neck ruffs. In 1587 Vinciolo published a collection of his best patterns and designs, Les singuliers et nouveaux pourtraicts, which went through more than a dozen printings in France and Italy. It remains one of the basic books in the history of lace. For the modern needleworker who wishes to recapture the charm of this antique lace, Vinciolo's book offers 98 plates of fine patterns and designs in various techniques: needlepoint, darned netting, point coupé, counted thread work, and others. These include geometric forms, exuberant treatment of classical motives, Italian and Levantine designs, and mush else that the modern worker, able to pick out a pattern, can re-create. Most of this material is nowhere else available. Vinciolo's designs are also of interest to the graphic artist who wishes delicate yet forceful textile images.

The spectacular knitted lace designs of New Zealand designer Margaret Stove are truly the pinnacle of the craft. In Wrapped in Lace, dive into Margaret's love for learning and creating knitted lace, then begin your own journey to master lace knitting with 12 original patterns. To appreciate the history of knitted lace, follow Margaret's quest to design and knit the legendary "wedding ring shawl"--A large lace shawl so fine and delicate that it can be drawn through a wedding ring. Wrapped in Lace shares the art of designing patterns and the characteristics of lace traditions from around the wor.