| There was wool stitching with colorful wools from | | | | of the many varieties, but only the barest outline |
| famous paintings and on Biblical subjects in the | | | | is attempted; the names of the many patterns |
| nineteenth. And there were beadworks as well | | | | and the stitches employed would alone fill a book. |
| which is an allied to embroidery and very popular | | | | Hand-made lace is divided into two distinct types: |
| in the seventeenth century during the reign of | | | | that made with the needle, known as needlepoint; |
| Queen Victoria. And lace was one the subject of | | | | and that made with bobbins on a cushion, known |
| interest in the earlier days. | | | | as pillow. Basically, needlepoint lace is made from |
| In the nineteenth century there was a fashion for | | | | one single continuous thread, and pillow lace from |
| working brilliantly colored pictures in wool; many | | | | a number. In the latter, each thread is wound |
| were after famous paintings, but the greater | | | | conveniently on a bobbin made of wood or bone, |
| numbers were of Biblical subjects. They are | | | | often the subject of 'folk' decoration, and many |
| known as Berlin woodwork, for both patterns and | | | | are hung at one end with a bunch of colored glass |
| materials were prepared and exported from | | | | beads. |
| Prussia. They were sewn with thick wool and in | | | | In the sixteenth century lace making was a |
| big stitches; many were of large size and must | | | | flourishing art, pattern books began to appear, |
| have taken a considerable time to finish. | | | | and both Venice and Flanders were early seats of |
| Beadwork is allied to embroidery, and was used | | | | activity. Stimulus was provided by fashion |
| on its own as well as in conjunction with work in | | | | decreeing that lace should be worn by both |
| wool and silk. It was widely popular in the | | | | sexes, and contemporary paintings prove its |
| seventeenth century, and revived during the reign | | | | popularity. |
| of Queen Victoria when it was used often for | | | | The most renowned needlepoint laces were made |
| making banners for fire screens and panels for | | | | at Alencon and Argentan, and at Brussels. It is |
| covering footstools. | | | | stated that the net forming the background in |
| In other parts of Europe styles similar to those of | | | | some of the finer Alencon pieces was composed |
| England were followed, but with local variations in | | | | of hexagons with sides one-tenth of an inch long, |
| both designs and materials. Similarly, in America | | | | these sides being 'overcast with some nine or ten |
| the inhabitants followed the styles that they, or | | | | buttonhole stitches'. |
| their forbears, had followed before they reached | | | | Pillow lace was made also in Venice and Flanders, |
| that land. Much of the work is indistinguishable | | | | and in other countries. In England, imports from |
| from European, but samplers exist with names of | | | | Europe threatened the native industry, and |
| individuals and cities that make their identification | | | | prohibition of foreign work was followed by the |
| certain. | | | | immigration of some of the workers themselves. |
| Chinese embroiderers favored silk, which they had | | | | English pillow lace was produced in several places, |
| in the first place introduced into the West, of | | | | Honiton in Devonshire being the most famous. |
| which the production was pursued with zeal. Fine | | | | Other centres of lesser importance were: |
| embroidery was used on robes, in many instances | | | | Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, |
| on both sides of the fabric with the thread-ends | | | | Wiltshire, Dorset and Suffolk. Lace was made also |
| care- fully concealed. It was used also with great | | | | in Ireland, principally in the nineteenth century. |
| effect in the form of pictures. The Japanese did | | | | More than the lace there was more interest |
| similar work. | | | | shown on the materials use in its making. The |
| Lace | | | | two types of lace such needlepoint and pillow are |
| Lace was once studied eagerly and extensively, | | | | made with the same types of threads but one |
| but today only comparatively few collectors take | | | | with hands and the other bobbin made of wood |
| notice of it. There is probably more interest | | | | or bone. This lace ahs traveled a long way in |
| shown in the equipment used in its making | | | | making decorative works of our clothes and other |
| (pillow-lace bobbins, in particular) than in the | | | | dress materials, etc. |
| finished material. A brief mention is made of some | | | | |