Lace Reimagined

Elizabeth Healey originally trained as a graphic designer at the London College of Printing, after which she worked in various design groups before gravitating to the world of illustrated books. For as long as she can remember she has made things – usually with yarn or cloth, but sometimes with paper and clay. She is particularly interested in utility stitching and tries to use recycled textiles wherever possible, in a way that looks fresh, modern and urban rather than old and fusty. Elizabeth teaches workshops and has written articles for various magazines. Her first book, Stitch, Fabric & Thread was published in 2016. You can see examples of her work on her blog: www.elizabethsquarters.blogspot.co.uk.

Introduction 6

The basics 8

A basic sewing kit 10

Tools for making lace grounds 12

Bobbin lace basics 14

Preparing bobbins 14

Cross and twist braid 15

Cloth stitch 16

Whole stitch lace 19

Double whole stitch lace 24

Tatting basics 25

How to hold the needle 25

Making a double stitch 26

Making picots 26

Rings 27

Chains 27

Joining picots 27

Joining in new threads 27

Split rings 28

Net darning 29

Embroidery basics 31

Needlelace stitches 31

Drawn and pulled stitches 34

Freestyle embroidery 37

Found & made 38

Something old, something new 40

Visible mending 44

Fish motif 46

Little green fingers 50

Peggy-Sue 52

Shirtwaist buttons 56

On the button 60

Teneriffe lace 62

Wall hanging 66

Torchon headband 70

Rag doll Tattiana 72

Floating cloud 75

Fairy wings 78

Reimagined 82

Paper lace bowl 84

Low-sew lace bowls 87

Gold leaves 88

Moths to a flame 92

Shadow boxers 94

Shadow play: Black Queen 96

Red queen 100

Skeleton leaf fan 102

Lace impressions 106

Sailor boy 110

Twisted lace 112

Printed ephemera 114

Templates 118

Further reading 127

Index 128