Beeton's Book of Needlework 14 – Beeton · Verses Across
Literature · Technology
Beeton's Book of Needlework 14Point Lace Work
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Literature · Technology
Beeton's Book of Needlework 14
Point Lace Work
BeetonEnglish
Lace is of two kinds--pillow lace, which is made upon a cushion or pillow, and point lace, which is made of stitches or points worked in patterns by hand, which are joined by various stitches forming a groundwork, also the result of the needle above.
Pillow lace is entirely worked on the pillow or cushion, the pattern and ground being produced at the same time. Pillow lace is sometimes correctly called bone or bobbin lace, but it appears that the distinction has never been very nicely observed either by lace-workers or lace-traders, many sorts which are really pillow lace being called point, on account of some peculiarity in the stitch or pattern.
The requisites for producing lace in perfection are the dexterity and taste of the workers, and the goodness of the material. To produce many beautiful fabrics a mechanical dexterity alone suffices, but in lace-making the worker must have some artistic talent, even when supplied with designs, for any one can perceive that deviations from the design are easily made, and that the slightest alteration by a worker wanting in taste will spoil the whole piece of workmanship.
The following illustrations are specimens of ancient and modern laces from Mrs. Bury Palliser's collection:--
No. 419 shows Dalecarlian lace, made by the women of Dalecarlia. This is a coarse kind of lace, and is sewn on caps, &c., and, although highly starched, is never washed, for fear of destroying its coffee-coloured tint, which, it appears, is as much prized now by the Swedish rustics as it was by English ladies in the last century.
Both these specimens of Mechlin belonged to Queen Charlotte, who much admired this elegant lace.
No. 423.--The Bedford plaited lace is an improvement on the old Maltese.
Honiton guipure lace is distinguished by the groundwork being of various stitches, in place of being sewn upon a net ground. The application of Honiton sprigs upon bobbin net has been of late years almost superseded by this modern guipure. The sprigs, when made, are sewn upon a piece of blue paper and united on the pillow with "cutworks" or "purlings," or else joined with the needle by various stitches--lacet, point, reseau, cutwork, button-hole, and purling.
Those who wish to study lace and lace-making should read Mrs. Bury Palliser's History of Lace (Sampson Low and Marston).
