Lace Reimagined…

Here it is at last, my second book. I can't fill a shelf, but at least I can have a book at either end of one. Lace Reimagined was due for publication back in Spring, but due to Covid the release date has been pushed back to October. I hope you'll think the wait worth while.

I envisaged Lace Reimagined as a direct follow-on from my first book. Stitch, Fabric & Thread was aimed at those new to textiles (perhaps enrolled on a foundation course), or those who are tired of following patterns and want to explore their own creativity but are unsure where to start. Lace Reimagined is for those who want to start to specialise. I emphasis 'start to specialise' as this isn't a book for experts. If you imagine that you've completed a year of your foundation course, or the Dorset buttons and needle lace projects in Stitch, Fabric & Thread appealed to you, Lace Reimagined will equip you with more in-depth skills and ideas for incorporating lace into your textiles.

When writing Stitch, Fabric & Thread, I discovered a couple of things. Firstly, I am definitely not a cross stitcher! Secondly, I rediscovered my love of lace. This could be genetic as my grandmother made beautiful bobbin lace. But I also love lace in all its manifestations whether it is the patterns cast by wrought iron garden furniture, the wiggly raised patterns on custard creams, intricate paper cuts, moulded ceilings, carved masonry, needle lace, or indeed traditional lace. I became fascinated by the folklore surrounding lace, the many types of lace making techniques that exist, and the snobbery surrounding which is the best, or truest, form of lace making.

Lace Reimagined touches on many of the above and uses a range of media in the thirty or so projects included in the book. The emphasis may be on thread but there are plenty of ideas for using metal, paper, concrete and found objects in your lace projects. Almost a third of the book is dedicated to lace making techniques, including; bobbin lace, tatting, Tenerife lace, net darning, and needle lace stitches. While for those who love the look of lace but haven't the inclination to make it, there's inspiration for using existing lace in new projects.

So, although Lace Reimagined is a little more grown up than Stitch, Fabric & Thread, it is still full of tips, stories, techniques and project suggestions. Writing the book was a pleasure: the team at Search Press are a joy to work with and I couldn't wish for a better editor than Becky Robbins. Thanks also to Katie French for once again thinking that my slightly left field book suggestion might actually have legs. I hope you'll enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Elizabeth,

x

PS: This new blogger isn't behaving as I'd like it to, so please excuse any blips in the layout. I would have liked the book jackets on the side panel to be the same size, but blogger won't allow it. Perhaps I've been reading too much Asimov lately, but I hope the computer isn't ranking my books in its own order of merit!