The Romance of Lace
Perhaps it's the touch of romance it adds. Or the way light filters through it, suffused and softened. For others, it reminds them of the home of a beloved grandmother or a gentler time.
The delicate threads, twisted and knotted, become a work of art, whether they are draped over a table or hanging in a window.
In its broadest definition, lace actually refers to any openwork techniques that could include weaving, crochet or knitting. However, there are some needlework techniques that create only openwork. These are needle lace and bobbin lace. Needle lace is a single thread worked by looping, twisting and knotting.
Bobbin lace is created by multiple threads wound on a hand-held bobbin and affixed to a pillow with pins. (This is also referred to as pillow lace by some.) Bobbin lace is more like weaving while needle lace is more like sewing.
'There has always been an interest in lace but in the past few years, it has gained popularity,'; said Judy Tackett, owner and manager of Attic Delights, an Orange-based antique shop that specializes in vintage lace and linens.
Today, Tackett sees laces for a variety of uses: doilies, tablecloths, pillow cases, collars, gloves.
'People are once again beginning to appreciate the intricacy and workmanship of lace,'; said Tackett.
The ways lace is used today might surprise some of its creators. Lace hankies are used as curtains hanging from a ribbon or clothesline. Or they're used as decorative elements on pillows…or sewed together to form quilts or coverlets. Some use them to trim cabinets, adding a touch or elegance or softness.
Even items of clothing, particularly baby clothes, have found a second life as design elements.
'A lot of people like baby clothes to hang in nurseries or to add a touch of softness or whimsy to a room,'; Tackett said. 'There's something comforting about a delicate gown or bonnet hanging near a window or on a hook.';
In one instance, a woman came into Tackett's shop and spotted a pinafore that was almost an exact copy of a dress her sister had worn as a child. The woman bought it and displayed it in a shadow box along with an old snapshot taken of her sister wearing the pinafore.
Unfortunately, lace making may quite possibly become a lost art.
'It's a very exacting and time-consuming process,'; said Tackett. 'Unfortunately, many of us don't have the time or patience.';
Fortunately, there are still many pieces of fine quality lace available.
Since the beginning of the 19th century, bridal fashion has undergone a process of revision and transformation. There were still no hard and fast rules as to how wedding dresses should be look. For a while, cream, silver, yellow were popular in the early century. Dark colors were practical for a bride from the middle and lower classes. Since the wedding of Queen Victoria in 1840, the white wedding had been growing in popularity. Businesses began to offer special bridal goods and services.
Use specific examples of garments drawn from primary sources such as clothing from the University teaching collection and garments from other valid museum websites. (e.g. V&A, London; Metropolitan Museum, New York; Kyoto Institute, Japan and Platt Hall Gallery of Costume, Manchester; L.C.F. Paper Pattern collection)
I found many of these quilts to carry the thought of love with them. They all represent people who are missed. One of the quilts that I observed had many meanings to it. It had pictures that meant believing in Jesus. They had a picture of a broken heart.
The evolution of clothing has been drastically changed through the course of history, from the style to how they’re made. Women and men’s clothing changed at different rates. The way clothes are made reflect the style. Clothing always has been an important aspect of one’s culture as well as a representation of a time period. Overtime clothing has changed just as the people it clothes.
velvet tapestries as blood flowing from the ceiling and walls to the floor. The relationship
Although there are many types of quilting, there are three common types identified as whole cloth, piecing, and appliqué. The whole cloth technique uses only one piece of white fabric for the top of the quilt – usually, to show off the quilter’s fine stitching (Wilson 9-10). Piecing refers to sewing pieces of cloth together to make the quilt top. At first the pieces were sewn together haphazardly, but as collections of scraps grew, quilters began piecing colorful patterns together to form an accurately perfect square. Some of these had as many as 1600 small patches in a single quilt (Hechtlinger 61-62). Appliqué is the sewing of small cutout fabric shapes onto a background of another fabric laid down in a decorative design. This technique, often used to depict stories and ideas, has been used for hundreds – if not thousands – of years (Wilson 10-11). The oldest known appliquéd piece of quilted material was discovered in Asia. The floor of a Scythian chieftain’s tomb, found between 100 B.C. – A.D. 200, contained a quilted material that included finely detailed appliquéd animals. Therefore, the techniques used today in quilting are at least 2000 years old, with some of the patterns and designs being ...
Quilts viewed from an artistic point began in the early 20th century. The-back-to-the-land movement focused on handcrafted traditions as a part of the return of pre-industrial lifestyle. During the
The 18th century fashion for men and women was influenced by the royal court and Puritans. Women’s fashion was very elegant and colorful, more so than the men’s fashion. The shoes worn by the women of the 18th century were made of silks and satin. They were decorated in laces and had a square or round shape. They also began to wear shoes of different and vibrant colors with higher heels. A majority of the time their shoes were not shown because of their extravagant skirts and petticoats. Lace was a stylish detail to women’s fashion during that time. They wore lace gloves and their petticoats were trimmed in lace. Men wore knee high boots that were either high-heeled or flat along with their knee length trousers. Their shoes were often neutral colors dark brown, light ...
Metaphorically and spiritually, the cloth may be seen as the little boy’s soul. Another metaphorical representation of the little boys soul
Weaving is a common thread among cultures around the world. Weaving is a way of producing cloth or textile. Today we have machines that weave large-scale textiles at cheap prices. Production of cloth by hand is rarely engaged in today’s Westernized societies. Not many people are thinking about how the fibers are actually constructed to make their clothes. However, in other cultures across the world the tradition of weaving still exists. By comparing three cultures that continue weaving as a part of their tradition we can see similarities and the differences between them. The reasons that each culture still weaves vary, as do the methods and materials. The desired characteristics of the cloth also vary around the world as each culture values different aesthetics.
Cunninton, Phillis and Buck, Ann Children’s Costume in England W&J Mackay & Co. Ltd, Chatham Kent: 1965
No one is quite sure when and where crochet got started. The word comes from croc, or croche, the Middle French word for hook, and the Old Norse word for hook is krokr. The author says, “crocheting that we know now was first seen in the 16th century in france. It was then known by “crochet lace”. But of course there isn't a real source as to who was the first to pick up a hook and some thread and actually crochet anything. In that time period the wealthy would always dress themselves in expensive lace gowns, jackets, headpieces so the poor would try and imitate them by crocheting the “rich man's lace”. (Marks) Moving forward to around 1837 – 1901, crochet patterns were available for flowerpot holders, bird cage covers, lamp mats and shades, tablecloths, purses, men's caps and waistcoats, even a rug with footwarmers to be placed under the card table for card players.From the years 1900 until 1930 women were crocheting afghans, car rugs and other things. From 1960s and 1970s crochet took off and can be seen today as three-dimensional sculptures, clothing, or rugs and tapestries that depict abstract and realistic designs and
(Rhodes, 2008, p. 6) Each vintage piece has a story attached to it. Fashion today is the development of vintage styles from different eras. Some of the sixties' style has stood the test of time and are still in fashion today. When buying vintage you need to ensure that what you are getting is vintage and not a forgery. You should look after your purchases and treat them with the respect they deserve. After all, they have been around long before you, and if handled with love and care, you will be helping to maintain a history of fashion. Decades come and go but vintage pieces if looked after can last longer than a lifetime. (Kennedy, 2008; Taylor
Fletcher, Ben C. "What Your Clothes Might Be Saying About You." Psychology Today. Sussex Directories, Inc., 20 Apr. 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013. .
So, yes, the fashion trends throughout the generations in my family have been recycled and have faded