CD2000
ABC of Laces (6)
Tape Lace
Tape-based
laces originate from the 17th century when they were known as mezzo punto
half stitches and half tape. The mid-19th century saw a revival
of the technique, when the lace was known as Point Lace.
Branscombe Point is a tape lace which gets its name from the village
in East Devon. The Tucker family were selling this lace in 1860 and are
reputed to have introduced it to the UK. During the second half of
the 19th century it gained recognition and did very well. It was made with
machine-made tape brought over from France, although there are samples
of the lace being made with a cord. The design was drawn on brown paper
and the tape stitched to it, the inside edge of the design is then whipped
flat. There are about 14 traditional filling stitches which were used to
fill the spaces and the edge was finished off with a purl over sewn with
buttonhole stitches.
Battenberg is a simllar type of lace, also made with a tape, but
with simpler fillings.
Tatting
Tatting is a knotted lace that appeared in the early 1800s. A unique
shuttle having closed tips is often used in execution. A half hitch is
first knotted around a foundation thread, then, by tightening the knotting
thread the half hitch transfers or 'flips' to the foundation thread and
creates the tatting knot. A left- and right-handed tatting knot combine
to form the well known double stitch. These knots are made into rings and
bridging chains and are held together at picots left between tatting knots.
There are several simulated tatting forms. Crocheted tatting is crochet
worked to look like tatted rings and chains. Crochet tatting casts
half hitches onto a crochet hook, which draws a thread through them (Takashima
'Needle' Tatting). Morin 'Jiffy' Needle Tatting casts half hitches on a
needle which draws a thread through them. These variations don't use the
tatting knot, but are easily learnt and popular.
Torchon Lace
In
French 'torchon' means 'duster' or 'rag'. However it is believed
that the name Torchon derives from the way the lace is made half
stitch, pin, half stitch, ie with one twist at each stitch. The French
word for twist is 'torsion', which was distorted by the 'Auvergnat' accent
as 'torchon' and remained that way. Auvergne is the central
area of France where the lacemaking cities of Clermont-Ferrand, Le
Puy-en-Velay, Brioude, Craponne are to be found.
Torchon lace was originally made on the Continent and Scandinavia,
and being cheap and easy to make, was used for trimming linen and underwear.
It is a simple geometric lace and was not introduced into England
until the end of the 19th century. It is made on a pillow using East Midland
bobbins which are spangled to give the thread tension.
In recent years more colour has been introduced modern lace
makers use many different threads and make contemporary and exciting items.
Torchon lace is perhaps the most commonly made lace in the UK, and
the majority of the entries to the CD2000 project are examples of Torchon
lace.
ABC(5) Rosaline Perlée, Russian Lace,
Tambour
Lace what is lace?
CD2000
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