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A Short History of Lace making
Earliest records show a kind of knotted fringing used
as decoration in the wrappings of ancient Egyptian mummies
and also on the statues of classical Greece and Rome.
This fringing is, however, more akin to macramé
than to lace as we know it.
Lace making developed from drawn thread work, the stitches
becoming more and more divorced from the backing material,
as the designs got more complicated. The ultimate beauty
was considered to be the Venetian Gros Point which reached
its peak at around the time of the Renaissance. As demand
changed from heavy ecclesiastical usage to the lesser
requirements of personal adornment so the character
of the lace was changed.
As lace spread from Italy through France and the Low
Countries, it became possible to spin much finer threads
in the cooler and damper atmosphere. The techniques
employed were developed in different ways in different
areas, and thus the laces came to be known by their
place of manufacture.
It is not certain just when or by whom lace was introduced
into this country, but tradition has it that Queen Catherine
of Aragon brought a lace maker with her in 1531. Some
credence was given to this idea by the fact that there
is a type of lace called "Queen Catherine"
lace and there is also a stitch called "Kat"
stitch. In addition, lace makers kept St. Catherine's
day as a holiday - calling it Cattens. Another theory
has it that lace was brought into Britain by Flemish
immigrants. There is, however, no conclusive proof to
support either theory and modern historians tend to
think that lace making just evolved through trade and
contact with other countries. There are a number of
references in the late 16th Century to 'bone' lace.
This could be either that the bobbins were made of ox
bone, or that, along the coast, fish bones were used
as pins. In Shakespeare's play 'Twelfth Night' there
is a mention of the 'free maids that weave their thread
with bone', which suggests that his audiences would
understand the allusion.
The period of greatest prosperity was during the Napoleonic
wars, when no foreign laces could be imported. There
was, however, a decline in the second half of the last
century when machine made laces took over. The industry
never recovered from this blow and now lace making is
a non-commercial hobby, which is once again proving
very popular.
The Craven Guild of Lace makers
The beautiful art of lace making has enjoyed something
of a revival over the past few years and an increasing
number of people are finding it to be an absorbing hobby.
Craft classes run by colleges have declined markedly
due to a number of reasons and many teachers have turned
to the private sector. This has advantages in that classes
can be kept lower, and also prices less.
In March 1986 a group of lace makers decided to form
a self- help group to take in lace makers from Skipton
and the surrounding areas. Since then, numbers have
continued to grow. The aims of the group are:
• To promote the making of lace
• To organise exhibitions and displays of lace
• To meet on a regular basis for a social day
• To invite speakers and tutor group meetings
• To further our knowledge and experience of lace
making
They organise various coach trips throughout the year
to Lace Days and to exhibitions, and many members attend
courses around the country that deal with the making
of different types of lace.
Lace making encompasses many different styles.
Besides working with the bobbins, there is needle lace,
knitted lace, netting, crochet and tatting. All are
forms of lace making.
So, if you are interested in any of these crafts, please
contact them, they are always willing to take on new
members.
Fees are £5 per annum with an attendance fee of
£1 per session.
The group meets on the third Wednesday of each month
in the Reading Room of the Rest Centre, Swadford Street,
Skipton - between 10am and 4pm. Refreshments are available
at reasonable rates.
With grateful thanks to Liz Fryers and the Craven Lace
Makers Guild
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