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 materials required for this elegant
branch of needlework are neither numerous nor expensive. TRACING
CLOTH, LEATHER, or TOILE CIRÉE, various BRAIDS and CORDS, LINEN THREAD
and two or three sizes of needles, scissors and thimble. TRACING CLOTH
is required when ladies copy point lace patterns, and is the most
convenient mode of taking them, as the design can be worked upon the
tracing cloth, which, though transparent, is very strong; the price is
1s. 6d. per yard. Fine LEATHER is the material upon which bought
patterns are usually traced, and is decidedly more pleasant to work on
than is any other material. In selectingpatterns ladies should choose
those traced upon green leather in preference to scarlet or buff, as
green is better for the eyesight than any other colour. |
