Lace

Lace is a thin, pretty fabric.

It has many open holes. People make it by hand or by machine.

Some lace is made with a needle. Other lace uses small wooden sticks called bobbins.

This lace is made on a soft pillow.

Long ago, people used silk or gold thread. Now, most lace uses cotton. Some artists even use silver wire!

Lace was very special to rich people. They used it for fancy collars and cuffs. It was also used for church clothes.

Some lace is so fine it is very light. One kind can pull through a ring!

It is a beautiful craft to see.

Lace is a delicate fabric with an open, web-like pattern.

People make it by hand or with machines. It is made by looping, twisting, or knotting threads together.

There are two main ways to make lace by hand. One way is called needle lace. It uses a needle and thread to make patterns. The other way is called bobbin lace. This uses small tools called bobbins to weave threads.

Makers often use a stiff pillow to hold the work.

Long ago, lace was very expensive. People used silk, gold, or silver threads. It was used for church clothes and fancy collars. In Italy and France, rich people loved it. In Belgium, makers used flax to make very fine linen.

Some lace is incredibly thin. One type of knitted lace is so fine it can pull through a wedding ring! Today, most lace is made with cotton. Some modern artists even use fine silver wire to make it.

Lace is a beautiful and delicate fabric with an open, web-like pattern.

It is created by looping, plaiting, twisting, or knotting threads together. People can make it by hand or use a machine to replicate the designs. While many people think of lace as one thing, it actually includes many different crafts. For example, knitted lace is a type of knitting, and crocheted lace is a type of crochet. Some artists even use fine copper or silver wire instead of thread to make modern lace art.

Handmade lace is usually split into two main groups: needle lace and bobbin lace. In bobbin lace, also called bone lace, makers use small tools called bobbins. These bobbins can be made from wood, bone, or plastic. The bobbins carry threads that are woven together and pinned to a pattern on a stiff pillow. These pillows are often filled with materials like straw, sawdust, or even foam.

Needle lace is made differently using a single needle and thread. Some needle laces, like Venetian Gros Point, take a very long time to finish.

Historians are not exactly sure where lace began. Some believe it started in Italy during the late 1500s. Others look at a painting from about 1485 by Hans Memling to find early examples.

In the past, lace was made with very expensive materials like silk, gold, or silver. Because it was so costly, it was used by the Catholic Church for religious clothes. Eventually, wealthy people began using it for fancy clothing trimmings and cushion covers.

Different parts of Europe became famous for their own special styles of lace. In Venice, lace making was a pastime for noblewomen, and some wives of leaders even supported the craft.

Belgium became a major center for bobbin lace starting in the 1500s. Belgian makers used flax to create extremely fine linen threads. This helped them make high-quality lace in places like Brussels, Lier, and Bruges. In France, lace became very popular at the court of King Louis XIV. His finance minister, Jean Baptiste Colbert, even helped the industry by starting lace schools.

Lace has also had a big impact on fashion in other countries. In England, lace became very fashionable during the time of Queen Elizabeth.

In 1840, Queen Victoria was married in lace, which changed wedding dress styles for a long time. In America, women in Ipswich, Massachusetts, were known for making handmade lace in the 1700s. Even though machines now make much of our lace, the skill of the makers remains amazing. Some knitted lace, like the Shetland wedding ring shawl, is so fine it can pull through a wedding ring.

Lace is a delicate fabric characterized by an open, weblike pattern.

It is created by looping, plaiting, twisting, or knotting threads. This process can be done by hand or by machine. The word "lace" comes from Middle English and Old French roots meaning "noose" or "string." This describes the open spaces outlined by thread. While many people view lace as a single craft, it actually encompasses several different techniques. For example, knitted lace is a form of knitting, and crocheted lace is a form of crochet.

Handmade lace is generally categorized into two primary methods: needle lace and bobbin lace. Bobbin lace, also known as bone lace, requires several bobbins to hold the thread. These bobbins are often made from wood, bone, or plastic. The maker weaves the threads together and pins them onto a pattern template. This template is placed on a stiff pillow filled with materials like straw, sawdust, or foam.

Needle lace is constructed differently. It uses a single needle and thread to build the design. Some styles, like Venetian Gros Point, are incredibly time-consuming to complete.

Many other specialized types of lace exist. Chemical lace is typically made by machine. It uses a water-soluble or non-heat-resistant material to create a stitching ground. Once the embroidery is finished, the ground is dissolved away. Cutwork, also called whitework, is made by removing threads from a woven background. The remaining threads are then filled with embroidery. There is also tape lace, which uses thin woven strips called tape. These strips are joined and embellished with needle or bobbin work.

Other forms include tatting, which uses a shuttle or needle to create knots and loops.

Historians still debate the exact origins of lace. One claim points to a 1493 will from the Sforza family in Italy. Another claim looks at a painting from 1485 by Hans Memling. This painting shows lace on a priest's clothing.

Because lace is so fragile, very few ancient specimens still exist. Originally, makers used expensive threads like silk, gold, or silver. Today, most lace is made with cotton or synthetic fibers. However, linen and silk are still used, and some modern artists even use fine copper or silver wire.

Lace has a long and complex history in Europe. In the 1300s and 1400s, Italian states imposed heavy duties on lace. They even passed strict sumptuary laws to control its use. These laws regulated who could wear certain luxury items. In the 1500s, lace became a major part of the cottage industry. In Venice, lace making was a pastime for noblewomen. By 1595, a wife of a doge founded a workshop for 130 women.

In Belgium, the industry grew because of locally grown flax. This produced the fine linen threads needed for high-quality Belgian lace.

Different nations developed famous lace traditions. France became a major center after Catherine de Medici brought Venetian makers to her court in 1533. King Louis XIV's reign saw great extravagance in lace fashion. His minister, Jean Baptiste Colbert, even established lace schools to strengthen the industry. In Germany, a woman named Barbara Uttmann started a workshop in 1561. By 1575, there were over 30,000 lacemakers in her area. In England, lace making was significant in Devon and the South Midlands. One tradition, Cattern's Day, may come from Catherine of Aragon. On this day, lacemakers celebrated with small dough cakes called Cattern cakes.

Lace has also traveled to the Americas. In the 1700s, lace making was taught in American boarding schools. In Massachusetts, the town of Ipswich was known for producing handmade lace. Even in the 1634 colonies, sumptuary laws existed to prevent the purchase of luxury lace. This suggests that lace was already being made or used there. Today, lace remains a symbol of skill and beauty. Some knitted lace, like the Shetland wedding ring shawl, is so fine it can pass through a wedding ring.