Bucks Point

Bucks Point Lace is short for Buckinghamshire Point Lace. It is part of the Point Ground family of laces including Tonder, Chantilly, Blonde and Lille. It is named for the county of Buckinghamshire, England. It is traditionally done with fine white cotton or silk thread with a white gimp. Occassionally ecru on ecru or black thread one black was used. Bucks Point is a continuous lace. The angle is typically between 50 - 72 degrees; 60 degrees is the most common. Corners are a relatively new feature to Bucks Point lace. Traditionally the lace would be gathered to go around a corner.

lace made in Buckinghamshire, Eng., from c. 1665 or earlier until the first quarter of the 20th century. This bobbin-lace industry, which was centered in Olney and Newport Pagnell, is thought to have originated from the successive influx of refugee lace workers to the east Midlands counties. These refugees were reportedly Flemish, especially from Mechlin (1563-68), and French, especially from Lille (1572). It is true that Buckinghamshire, or “Bucks,” lace has the
type of hexagonal mesh ground known as “Lille” and floral motifs reminiscent of Mechlin and Lille lace, but these could be 18th-century rather than 16th-century influences. Among the many patterns characteristic of Bucks lace is the so-called rose and tulip, alluding to William III of Orange.

Bucks Point Features

  • Point Ground: a hexagonal mesh made with the stitches C-T-T-T pin. Also called Tulle. The pin is ot closed.
  • Honeycomb Ground: CTT pin CTT
  • Gimp or heavy thread outlines
  • picots
  • cloth stitch head side.
  • Kat Stitch
  • Tallies are small and called cucumbers

Bucks Point Photos

Cordonett - from 100 Traditional Bobbin Lace Patterns by Stott & Cook page 61. Brok 120/2 Gimp #12 Pearl Cotton Ecru. 36 pair, 8 yards. I used One extra pair in head side & one extra twist between picots and honeycomb since I was using finer thread than was called for (Brok 100/2). I was planning on working multiple yards. When I moved to Portland too many threads snapped so I had to cut it off. I plan on starting again. This time I will add the tallies back in.

Edge from Visual Introduction to Bucks Point Lace.

Plum Pudding un-mounted Handkerchief.

Edge from Visual Introduction to Bucks Point Lace.

Flower Motif from The Technique of Bobbin Lace by Pam Nottingham. I believe this was made with Madeira 50 and the thread is a little heavy.

Bucks point Motif made for Rayna Jacobson. Worked in YLI Silk 100 with Gutterman Buttonhole silk for gimp. Working picture 1 and picture 2.

Same motif as above but mounted in a ceramic jar lid. Gift for my mother. Second Photo.

Bucks Point Links

Bucks Point Bibliography

  • 100 Traditional Bobbin Lace Patterns by Geraldine Stott and Bridget Cook, published by Batsford
  • Australian Wildflower Lace Books by Elwyn Kenn
  • Bucks Point Lace Patterns-50 Patterns with Tear-out Prickings ….. Hardeman, Henk
  • Buck’s Point Lacemaking, by Pam Nottingham Batsford, , ISBN 0-7134-2235-1, 1985.
  • Buck’s Point Pattern Pack, A by Bridget Cook
  • Dryad Pattern Pack
  • Introduction to Bobbin Lace Patterns by Bridget Cook, published by Batsford
  • Jennifer Ford’s “Mayflower” book, only available from Jennifer Ford
  • Lacemaking, Point Ground. by C.C. Channer
  • Point Ground Lace by Pam Robinson 1984
  • Technique of Bucks Point by Pam Nottingham, published by Batsford, but out of print.
  • The Technique of Bobbin Lace by Pam Nottingham, published by Batsford
  • Video lessons by Bridget Cook.
  • Visual Introduction to Bucks Point Lace, A by Geraldine Stott, published by Batsford ISBN 0 7134 4371 5