Lace fabric is beautiful. The delicate material is feminine, frilly, doll like and gorgeous. For a fancy fabric that mixes elegance and innocence, lace is a sure hit.
Lace is a delicate fabric made of yarn or thread in an open weblike pattern, made by machine or hand. Originally linen, silk, gold or silver threads were used. Now lace is often made with cotton thread, although linen and silk threads are still available. Manufactured lace may be made of synthetic fibers, and a few modern artists make lace with a fine copper or silver wire instead of thread.
Lace Fun Fact: The word lace is from Middle English, from Old French las, noose, strin, from Latin laceum, akin to lacere, meaning to entice or ensnare.
The origin of lace is disputed by historians. An Italian claim is a will of 1493 by the Milanese Sforza family. A Flemish claim is lace on the alb or a worshiping priest in a painting about 1485 by Hans Memling. Since lace evolved from other techniques, it is impossible to say that the enticing fabric originated in any one place.
Win the fashion race…dress head to toe in lovely lace!
The late 16th century marked a rapid development of lace, both needle lace and bobbin lace became dominant in both fashion and home décor. For enhancing the beauty of collars and cuffs, needle lace was embroidered with loops and picots.
Lace fabric was used by clergy of the early Catholic Church as part of vestments in religious ceremonies, but didn’t come into widespread use until the 16th century in the northwestern part of the European continent. The popularity of lace increased rapidly and the cottage industry of lace making spread throughout Europe.
Vintage lace equals great fashion taste!
Popular Types of Lace:
- Bobbin Lace: Lace made with bobbins and a pillow.
- Chemical Lace: The stitching area is stitched with embroidery threads that form a continuous motif.
- Crocheted Lace: Includes Irish crochet, pineapple crochet and filet crochet.
- Cutwork (Whitework) Lace: Lace constructed by removing threads from a woven background, and the remaining threads wrapped or filled with embroidery.
- Knitted Lace: Includes Shetland lace, such as the ‘wedding ring shawl’, a lace shawl so fine it can be pulled through a wedding ring.
- Knotted Lace: Includes macramé and tatting. Tatted lace is made with a shuttle or a tatting needle.
- Machine Made Lace: Any style of lace created or replicated using mechanical means.
- Needle Lace: Lace made using a needle and thread. This is the most flexible of the lace making arts.
- Tape Lace: This lace makes the tape in the lace as it is worked, or uses a machine or hand made textile strip formed into a design, then joined and embellished with needle or bobbin lace.
Spring to the store at a quick pace to buy glorious, gorgeous garments made of chic, lavish lace!
Lace Fun Fact: In North America in the 19th century, missionaries spread the knowledge of lace making to the Native American tribes. Saint John Francis Regis helped many country girls stay away from the cities by establishing them in lace making and embroidery trade, which is why he became the Patron Saint of lace making.
The English diarist Samuel Pepys often wrote about the lace used for his, his wife’s and his acquaintances’ clothing, and on May 10, 1669, noted that he intended to remove the gold lace from the sleeves of his coat “as it is fit he should”, in order to avoid charges of ostentatious living.
Live in the lap of luxury that lace creates. All fine fashion divas deserve a ‘grand life’ taste!
Popular Lace Makers:
- Giovanna Dandolo
- Rosa Elena Egipciaco Contemporary Lace Maker
- Morosina Morosini 1545-1614
- Frederico de Vinciolo 16th Century
- Barbara Uthmann 1514-1575
To date, inspiring journalists, guilds and foundations show that old techniques with a new twist can challenge young people to create works that can definitely be classified as art.
Show your style, creativity and fashion flair through the elegant, feminine, soft lace that you wear!
Items Associated with Lace:
- Anglo Scotian Mills
- Doily
- Lippitt Mill
- Lacebark
- Ribbons
- Scranton Lace Company
- See-through Clothing
Always a hit, never a miss, when dressed in luscious lace!
“Your girly girl clothing suits you well, so lovely to the eyes.”
“When you want to dress doll like and fancy, selecting lace fabric is wise.”
“You must have exciting plans to be wearing a dress so fine and fair.”
“I’m a true fashion diva…whether I attend the opera or pump gas I find great clothes to wear.”
“I give your clothing selection today an ultra strong A plus!”
“IÂ request you dress in lovely lace. It’s not a suggestion…it’s a must!”
Lace clothing: A girl never looked so girly and gorgeous!
Watch for Nancy’s next book in her award winning murder mystery series, Deadly Decisions – A Natalie North Novel, coming to online and retail bookstores on February 24, 2017!
Nancy Mangano is an American fashion journalist and author of the Natalie North murder mystery book series, A Passion for Prying and Murder Can Be Messy. Visit Nancy on her author website http://www.nancymangano.com, Twitter @https://twitter.com/nancymangano, her fashion magazine Strutting in Style! at https://nancymariemangano.com, and her Facebook fan page Nancy Mangano https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nancy-Mangano/362187023895846
