Lace Makin' Books and DVDs

[Violette Severin]

What are some good books and DVDs on making lace? The only experience I have is crocheting doilies. I have seen books at the public library on milanese, arctic, torchon and romanian point lace and assume these are styles of lace. If I understand things correctly, the ways to make lace are either bobbin or needlepoint. Please advise.

[Guzzisue]

hi, check out this tutorial from textile dreamer for needlace or this site for info about bobbin lace. I don't know about DVDs as I had classes for about 10 weeks and have worked from books since but I am quite happy to post photos of basic techique on my blog. However you would need the equipment to start, basic bobbins and a pillow ( a shape block of polystyrene? would work to sart with) kits are available.
Milanese and torchon are bobbin laces, Romanian point is needlelace and arctic is knitted lace.
I'm sure that Textile Dreamer will be happy to advise on needlelace.

[Jenny]

Hi Violette,
Try http://www.tat-man.net/making_pillow_bobbins.html for making a pillow and http://www.brandis.com.au/craft/Lace/bobbin.html for making some cheap bobbins. "An Introduction to Bobbin Lacemaking" (book) by Rosemary Shepard will get you well on the way. Torchon is the best starting point for bobbin lace. Romanian Point lace uses crocheted braids with needle lace fillings worked between the braids & Arctic lace I have not heard of before. From my searching this morning it appears to be the really fine knitting patterns that my Mum used to knit but with a new yarn "qivuit" which appears to be from the Alaskan/ Canadian muskox.

[textiledreamer]

A nice resource for free books is Project Gutenbergs Crafts Bookshelf. There are a few books there of special interest for Lacemakers:
The Art of Modern Lacemaking: I posted a review for this one on my blog.
Chats on Old Lace and Needlework
There's some stuff in the Encyclopedia of Needlework, too.
The Bath Tatting Book might be interesting for tatters.

[Nancy]

Hi everyone. Here is a site that has a wonderful selection of books on quite a variety of bobbin laces mainly, but also needle lace:

http://www.vansciverbobbinlace.com/

She lists the books by the type of lace. For example, she has an extensive selection of books on Torchon, or milanese lace or Flanders lace or Bruges flower lace or Russian tape lace or Honitan lace and other types of lace as well as the history of lace and lace making, care of lace, recognition of various lace types. In my opinion, a really great source for books.

Also, a really good introductory book is "Lessons in Bobbin Lacemaking" by Doris Southard--well illustrated and clearly written.

~~Nancy

[Violette Severin]

I just posted a review of Lace-History and Fashion on my book blog. You can read it here.

[Jenny]

Wow, what a great review. Definately makes me want to borrow it now. I'm off to my local lace group at the library today so I will have a look while I am there. Thanks for sharing.

[textiledreamer]

Great, and Pat Earnshaw wrote a book on the topic herself: Lace in Fashion. There's a review here on my blog.

[Lorelei Halley]

See the VanSciver Bobbin lace website. She has a huge book list, and several videos. Doris Southard is a widely respected, even venerated (by me) bobbin lace teacher. I believe Holly VanSciver has her video. Also Christine Springett did some videos.