Lace Machines and Machine Laces

The rise to dominance of machine laces resulted from the ability to manufacture a product which was attractive to wear and relatively inexpensive. The laces had an immediate appeal to the millions of ‘working class women hither-to beyond that pale which enclosed the world of fashion. This pioneer work is based on first-hand observations of thousands of lace examples, on a study of the machines in action and on examination of the numerous patents registered for machine nets and laces from the 1760’s to the present day.
Pat Earnshaw traces here the history, structure and techniques of major lace machines and correlates the appearance of machine laces with the workings of the machines which made them, so that their origins can be identified. The laces are considered in groups according to the way they are made — by knitting, twisting, embroidering or weaving. Each chapter has a brief history of a machine’s development, an exploration of its structure and method of working and a full account of the laces it produces, their designs and identification.
This book contains over 400 illustrations to complement the explanations of the various lace machines, stitches and techniques. A glossary and reading list are included to help the reader to become familiar with the specialized terminology of lace.