An Introduction to Bobbin Lacemaking by Rosemary Shepherd

Heralded as "a priceless book for the beginner" by the editors of Australian Lace, Introduction to Bobbin Lacemaking is now back in print. Boasting worldwide sales of over 10,000 copies, this seminal guide revitalizes the age-old craft of lacemaking and offers a contemporary introduction to this textile art from the 16th century.

Created for modern hobbyists, craft enthusiasts, and educators, artist and lace historian Rosemary Shepherd has expanded the course she wrote for the Australian lace guild. After describing the necessary equipment and materials, her detailed explanation of every bobbin lace process is accompanied by more than 200 diagrams and photographs.

Most importantly, in Introduction to Bobbin Lacemaking each new exercise builds on the skills of the previous one. This includes a full description of the way each pattern is drawn on the graph paper; by the end of the book new lacemakers have the skills to design their own work as well as make it because they will understand how all the elements of the lace fit together. With this fundamental comprehension they can then enjoy exploring all the different traditional laces as well as the exciting creative possibilities of their new-found art.

A founding member of the Australian Lace Guild, Rosemary Shepherd has worked as an educator and lace historian for over 40 years. She developed the Lace Study Center at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, was awarded the Order of Australia medal for service to the arts and curated the 1998 and 2001 International Lace for Fashion Awards. She was also a selector and judge for the Powerhouse Museum's "Love Lace" exhibition in 2011.

Rosemary Shepherd is well known in the lace world, both as a maker and a lace historian with a passion for the very early laces. Her own work is innovative and experimental, using different materials and forms. Rosemary was a founding member of the Australian Lace Guild and has taught in Australia and overseas for more than 30 years. For 20 years she was also specialist lace curator at the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, where she developed the Lace Study Centre and Curated the 1998 and 2001 International Lace for Fashion Awards.In 1990 Rosemary Shepherd was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for service to the arts, particularly lacemaking.