Lace

Lace making is a timeless craft, started back in the s. It has evolved from hand making into machine-making, and involves a wide variety of types. There are many different classifications of lace, which are called loom textiles. Lace is thought to have begun in Europe way back in the s. Lace making rapidly became an art form and was performed by the average person as well as professionals as it spread out of Europe and into different regions, such as into Russia and Ireland.

Hand made lace was considered a fashion accessory of the rich because of the expense it took to make it. It also was time-consuming, so the more intricate the piece of lace, the more it obviously took to design it. By the time the early s rolled around, machines began to make lace, taking the hard work away and allowing for even more intricate patterns. Handcrafted lace, however, did not become obsolete and was continued to be crafted by many.

There are three main types of lace to be found today. Needlepoint lace is the first. This type of lace is made by using only a needle and thread, and was the first to be developed. Needlepoint lace also includes different types. These are openwork styles that can include Reticella, a Guipure style that includes what is known as Punto in Aria, and Flemish, Venetian and French needlepoint.

Bobbin lace is the second type of lace, which began as a flat, straight woven braid. This was performed by interlacing the threads into geometric patterns. The threads were worked with a bobbin pin, which was crafted from bone, wood or ivory, thus becoming known as Bobbin Lace. There popular types of Bobbin Lace include Flemish, Milanese and Venetian. But there are dozens of different types, many which are imitations of other more popular ones.

Machine made lace soon became the third most popular type of lace to be found. In machinery existed that was able to create lace; it was just not used until the s. Then, many industries began churning out machine-made lace. Soon, lace could be obtained at very affordable prices, making it yet another item to quickly become the norm in society.