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Needle lace is associated
with 17th century embroidery styles such as Jacobean and stumpwork
and looks complicated. If you are an embroiderer who wants
to widen your repertoire and have a go at something different,
this is a good place to start.
A companion to this author’s Needle Weaving Techniques
For Hand Embroidery (also reviewed on this site this
month) this book has a useful spiral spine so the book stays
flat when you are using it. This is a more advanced book than
the other and I would recommend it to more experienced stitchers,
but the diagrams are easy to follow and go a long way towards
making this technique seem accessible. After a very brief
introduction on how to read the charts you are instantly plunged
into having a go yourself and starting off simply. I think
that starting at the beginning and doing some of the easier
patterns first is the key to success here; there are thirty-four
of these to work through and each one teaches something new.
After this section there follows a short one on adding beads,
another on making edgings plus a final chapter on extra techniques
and fillers. These include picots, arches, daisy centers,
and a padded buttonhole. Fillers are combinations of stitches
for the stitcher who has mastered this book and can “start
to play.” The needle weaving book had some insets showing
photographs of actual work and this book does not, apart from
the cover, which is a pity,. Charts are in color and easier
to read than needle lace charts usually are, with a few written
instructions often including a simple code (eg 2 x DBS into
first BS = two detached buttonhole stitches into the first
backstitch). A needle is often shown working a part of the
stitch and I was pleasantly surprised that it all seemed doable
and rather relaxing. Originally published in South Africa,
this is a very user-friendly primer and I would recommend
it to anybody who wants to learn needle lace.
Reviews
of other titles by Hazel Blomkamp
Needle
Weaving Techniques For Hand Embroidery
Needle
Lace Techniques For Hand Embroidery
Crewel
Intentions (Fresh Ideas for Jacobean Embroidery)
Crewel
Twists (Fresh Ideas for Jacobean Embroidery)
Crewel
Creatures
If you cannot find a good range of embroidery materials locally
visit www.searchpress.com for a list of suppliers.
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