Victorian Lace Today [Paperback]

Did you know that Queen Victoria was a keen knitter? Have you ever wanted to knit a 150 year old pattern but not known where to start? This excellent book addresses both questions, tracing the history of how lace-making evolved from the 1830's to the 1900's and updating Victorian patterns for the modern knitter. As part of her research on the subject, author Jane Sowerby has gathered together many original Victorian patterns, and then given them a clever modern update, by adapting them for today's yarns and colours. The result is a very successful collection which includes flowing shawls and delicate scarves, as well as some more unusual designs. It also caters to all skill levels, so even if you're new to lace, you'll find something simple and stunning to start on. This book is also beautiful to look at and includes many great location shots taken in and around Cambridge. The gorgeous photos show off Jane's designs against some wonderful backdrops. The stunning design of the book itself combined with the wealth of historical details and the gorgeous patterns makes this an ideal coffee table book for the keen knitter. It would also make an excellent gift for a special knitting friend - we're adding it to our wish list. --Simply Knitting, Feb 08

This is a beautiful book, full of lovely photographs, mainly of elegant models displaying superb knitted lace shawls, scarves and collars. But it is more than just a handsome book for the coffee table, for it gives a fascinating account of the development of lace knitting patterns through the Victorian era, and transcribes those patterns for modern knitters. (note the book is entirely concerned with knitted lace, it does not cover bobbin, or other types of lace). I had not appreciated how much we owe to those pioneering Victorian knitters who recorded these patterns, and invented the abbreviations and charts that we take for granted today. It seems that, previous to the 1840's, patterns (if recorded at all) were written out in long-hand. As the author states in her introduction about the earlier pattern books (1830's onwards) 'Unfortunately many of these old patterns, possibly from oral tradition, are muddled, inaccurate, and often in a style incomprehensible to the modern reader.' Furthermore, by today's standards these earlier pattern books were expensive: for example. The Ladys Assistant by Mrs Gaugain (1841) cost five shillings and sixpence, more than the weekly wage of most women of that time. By the 1890's knitting and crochet abbreviations, charts and needle sizes had become standardised, and the patterns far more complex and sophisticated. A beginner may find the patterns difficult to follow, for there is no obvious explanation of their complex layout, no indication of where to find the easier patterns, no index, and even the list of contents is hidden away. But I hope beginners will find time (and a quiet corner) to persevere with the challenge, for the patterns are wonderful and the results will be will worth the effort. --Journal for Weavers, Spinners & Dyers, March 2008

This wonderful book has now been published in paperback and if you are a fan of lace knitting and have not yet seen it, it is a must for your bookshelf. The author has a passion for lace and the Victorian women who pioneered the first published knitting patterns. There are 40 patterns in the book for beautiful lace shawls and scarves that have been inspired or recreated from these vintage patterns. The book begins with a brief exploration of Victorian knitting books and chapters based on the patterns of several nineteenth century tomes. The patterns provided are for a variety of levels from the enthusiastic first-time knitter to the experienced with simple but effective starter projects to the mind-bogglingly challenging. There are clear explanations and charts to accompany each one and there is a full technique library which covers a variety of cast-ons, stitch manoeuvers and borders. The entire book is sumptuously photographed with a fascinating chapter on Jane's researches and production of Victorian Lace Today. If you have ever been even remotely tempted to try lace then this book is an excellent companion; the author describes herself as a 'normal' knitter before embarking on her research and with 'curiostity and determination' has created this beautiful collection of lace shawls you see in the book. --Knit Today, April 08

Jane Sowerby - v iolist, teacher, spinner, and dyer - began researching Victorian lace knitting over a decade ago. She lives and knits near Cambridge, England.