Historical information

This is a section of a machine made embroidered eyelet insertion piece. The holes are made for the insertion of ribbon and it would have been a pretty addition to a petticoat, bed linen or nightwear. The embroidered design is an indicator that perhaps this is later than the 19th century with the use of satin stitch. The edging is a type of fagoting where stitches are used to join two pieces of fabric together or threads are drawn and the gap created is decorated using a strong embroidery thread usually in a herringbone pattern but in a straight pattern in this case. In its most traditional form fagoting was done by removing weft threads and decorating the gap. When a plain linen chemise was your nightwear, it was an easy method for all classes of society to decorate their undergarment.

Significance

The Amess family owned Churchill Island from 1872 to 1929. This lace collection was owned and contributed to by four generations of Amess women.

Physical description

Length of machine made embroidered eyelet insertion piece.