Threads of Time:
Lacemaking

WHAT IS LACE?

Lace is defined by the space between threads and tools used to create them.

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     Needlepoint lace is a form of lacemaking using a needle and thread to build up buttonhole stitches. Patterns and designs are formed by varying space between stitches, skipping spaces, adding extra stitches within a space, or even placing additional stitches over stitches to create dimension.

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     Almost every country in the world has a lacemaking tradition. True needlepoint lace was developed in the mid-sixteenth century and became the luxury item on garments worn by the aristocracy, nobility, and powerful church figures. 

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Lace became a symbol of power and wealth.