Bedfordshire Lace Patterns

2 x single sided A3 sheets giving the full-sized pattern & a full-sized picture of the finished lace.
3 x double-sided A3 sheets giving full details of all the techniques needed to work this design.
1 x enlarged full working diagram showing every thread & pin. It measures an incredible 35" x 25" (90cm x 64cm) which will be folded into quarters to fit into the envelope.
A re-sealable cellophane bag big enough to contain & store all of the above sheets will be included with your order.
This beautiful, eye-catching hankie edging was inspired by the bird motifs in the corner of an old handkerchief. The full story of its design & development is given together with all the helpful hints & diagrams needed to make this challenging piece. The thread used was Egyptian Cotton 100/3 with 12 DMC Perle as the gimp.

3 double-sided A4 sheets + 1 single-sided A4 sheet for the pricking
This pretty oval is an original design by Christine Springett and is made up of a series of gimp-edged flowers linked by a narrow cloth stitch trail. The outer edging is a little bit different from the standard 9-pin which together with 'Blossom' fillings and open decorative windmills makes this piece stand out from the crowd! It has a finished size of approximately 18x23cm (7"x9") and is worked in 100/3 Egyptian Brok cotton. It requires 29 pairs with 6 additional pairs plus one pair of 8 Perle gimp bobbins being added for each repeat. Full working diagrams and detailed written instructions explain all the techniques Christine has used.

4 double sided A3 instruction sheets + 1 single-sided A3 sheet of prickings.
This series of edgings and motifs was designed by Christine Springett. The narrower version has a small 6-petalled gimp-edged flower surrounded by plaits and a scalloped outer trail. It is worked with 18 pairs plus an additional 4 pairs and 2 gimp pairs for each repeat. This basic edging has been adapted to make a rectangle which should fit a commercial 8”x6” frame. The larger flower from the corner has been used to make 2 small single flower motifs, 2 ovals and a small circle. In December 2012 Christine created two wider edgings with this larger flower. The widest has 2 scalloped trails and is worked with 21 pairs plus an additional 4 pairs and 2 gimps per repeat with an extra 8 pairs and 2 gimps for the flower in the corner. The threads used for the original sized pieces are 100/3 Brok and 8 DMC Perle, but it is possible to enlarge the prickings to use 36/2 Brok with 5 DMC Perle.

One A4 sheet.
In this Bedfordshire bookmark pattern, requiring 18 pairs of bobbins to make, Christine briefly explains how to start, how to add 2 new pairs, backstitching, working the picot crossing, joining a plait to a trail at a V, how to take a plait into a trail and finishing off.

One A4 sheet.
This pair of Bedfordshire bookmarks will help you develop the basic skills of making plaits, picots, leaves and crossings. Requires 8 pairs of bobbins.

Three A4 sheets
Christine's careful working diagrams and instructions will help you make this delightful lace butterfly. Upper wings require 50 pairs each, lower wings require 22 pairs each and the body needs 12 new pairs added.

Two A4 sheets.
This circular pattern combines crossing trails with plaits picots and leaves to produce a balanced piece of lace. Requires 17 pairs of bobbins.

Two A4 sheets.
This pattern has crossing trails with plaits, picots and leaves surrounded by two trails connected by kisses. Requires 29 pairs of bobbins.

Two A4 sheets.
These six pretty Bedfordshire circles, about 5cm diameter, are designed to fit glass coasters. They require between16 to 20 pairs to complete the pattern.

Two A4 sheets.
These five 5 Bedfordshire motifs, no larger than 3cm, have been designed to fit into brooch mounts. They require no more than 22 pairs each, to complete.

One A4 sheet.
This is a traditional Bedfordshire Fertility pattern with a very attractive scalloped shape. The edge is very practical, retaining its shape well after laundering. It takes surprisingly few pairs, no more than 18 pairs, and is an excellent piece for the less experienced Bedfordshire lacemaker - but be warned it is not called the Fertility Edging for nothing.

Two A4 sheets.
This is a pretty Bedfordshire pattern with an interesting double ninepin edge. If you wish you can work a raised tally in the centre of each half-stitch circle. 27 pairs for the straight edging with 8 pairs added for the corner.

Two A4 sheets.
This pattern is based upon an antique lace cuff. Christine has re-drafted the edging and carefully designed a complimentary corner. 49 pairs of bobbins are needed for each repeat and a further 23 pairs are added at the corner.

Two A4 sheets.
This pattern, designed by Christine, requires 34 pairs of bobbins for the edging and an extra 10 pairs at the corner.

Two A4 sheets.
This pattern has been taken from a publicity sheet issued between 1906 and 1909 by the Buckinghamshire Cottage Worker' Association founded in Stoke Goldington by Harry Armstrong. In 1909 he moved to larger premises in Olney. This pricking has been worked out, completely redrawn and a corner added by Christine Springett. Requires 33 pairs of bobbins plus and extra 9 pairs at the corner.

Two A4 sheets.
This pattern was saved when Christine carefully unfolded an old, crumpled parchment pattern. She completely redrew and amended the pattern. Three handkerchief edge variations can be made using this pattern. Requires a maximum of 44 pairs.

Two A4 sheets.
This Bedforshire lace pattern has been designed and worked by Christine Springett. It requires 26 pairs of bobbins plus an extra 8 pairs for the corner.

Two A4 sheets.
This is a traditional pattern taken from an old parchment and redrawn by Christine. The use of honeycomb and mayflower fillings, which are more often associated with Bucks. Point, makes this a "mixed lace" rather than a pure Bedfordshire edging. 40 pairs are needed for the edging and an extra 20 pairs are added for the corner.

Two A4 sheets.
This is an old Bedforshire pattern taken from Mrs. Fent's collection and I am grateful to her for allowing me to re-draw and publish it. The most unusual features are the five and three pettalled flowers which require an extra two pairs to be added to each half-stitch centre in order to work the "odd" petal. The original pattern had tallies between the two footside trails, but in order to make this area a little firmer I have substituted two plaits which criss-cross down to form an attractive lattice effect. It is a very straight forward pattern to work and I hope that you will enjoy making it as much a I did. Require 37 pairs for the straight edge and an additional 11 pairs for the corner.

Two A4 sheets.
An edging and corner drawn out from an antique handkerchief by Christine Springett.
This pattern requires 24 pairs plus an extra 24 pairs for the corner.

One A4 sheet.
This simple but effective edging is ideal for the less experienced Bedfordshire lacemaker giving plenty of opportunity to practice plaits and picots, and there are no leaves.

Two A4 sheets
Taken from an old traditional pattern. Re-drawn and re-worked by Christine Springett.
Requires 36 pairs plus an extra 50 pairs for the corner.

Two A4 sheets.
This pattern has been adapted from an antique pricking by Christine Springett.
Requires 26 pairs for the edging and an extra 18 pairs for the corner.

Two A4 sheets.
This circle, designed by Christine, will fit nicely upon a CD. It is worked with 22 pairs plus 6 new pairs for every repeat and the circle is made up of 9 repeats. 135 leaves, excellent practice.

3 double sided A3 instruction sheets plus a single sided A3 sheet for the pricking.
Bedfordshire lace is beautiful and I sincerely hope that you will enjoy working this edging. I have adapted this handkerchief edging from an antique collar pattern and have, unusually for me, produced an asymmetric design. There is no doubt that this is a challenging piece and you do need some previous experience of Bedfordshire to work it satisfactorily even though I have given you step by step working diagrams to follow.

2 double sided A3 instruction sheets plus a single sided A3 sheet for the pricking.
This edging and corner is based on a draft in a booklet of 52 designs published by The Cecil Higgins Art Gallery in Bedford. It has been completely redrawn then worked by Christine Springett. Pin hole by pin hole instructions given.

5 double sided A3 instruction sheets plus a single sided A3 sheet for the pricking.
Many years ago when David and I were studying old lace bobbins in order to discover more about Nineteenth Century bobbinmakers, our good friend Dr Celia Westropp invited us to see her collection of antique bobbins. I don't know whether I came away more excited by her beautiful bobbins or by a stunning antique Bedfordshire lace handkerchief which Celia generously allowed me to photocopy so that in the future I could draw out the pattern and make it myself. It's been a challenge, but I have thoroughly enjoyed drafting, improving and constantly revising the pricking. It's been a wonderful piece to work and I hope that you will gain just as much pleasure from making this beautiful piece of Bedfordshire lace as I did.

4 Double-sided A3 instruction sheets plus a single sided A3 sheet for the pricking.
This is an unusual edging made up of four triangular corners which together make an attractive diamond shape in the centre. Full working diagrams are given for the whole piece, which very unusually contains none of the leaf-shaped tallies which are generally characteristic of traditional Bedfordshire designs. The pricking has been adapted and completely redrawn from an old pattern by Christine Springett. The diagrams give pinhole by pinhole instructions and also include plenty of guidance on the techniques Christine used to create this lovely piece of lace.