This lacemaker was owned by Kallista woman, Beryl Collett (1925-2018) who was a skilled lacemaker from her youth and who used this lacemaker most of her life. It may have first belonged to her mother (Hettie Collett nee Thorn) who was a very talented milliner and from whom Beryl first learnt her handicraft skills. This lacemaker is part of a large and varied range of objects relating to Beryl which has been donated to the Museum. The Dandenongs have been the chosen home of many creative people who, like Beryl, have found inspiration in the natural beauty of the area. Much of Beryl's own handiwork held by the Museum was created by her following her retirement from her accountancy job in 1980 and so epitomises the potential of the retirement phase of people's lives.This hand operated lacemaker enabled women like Beryl and her mother to create beautiful lacework.This lacemaker consists of twelve bobbins which are a tool for carrying the thread which gradually uncoils from the bobbin as it is handled and is then interlocked manually with surrounding threads to create a lacy structure. The bobbins are thin wooden cylinders. At their top, the shaft has been carved away to leave an even thinner cylinder where thread can be stored to be gradually unwound.Inside bodice opening, hand-written: 'H. Collett' which has had a line struck through it. Underneath that inscription is hand-written 'Thorn' beryl collett, 1900s, hettie collett, lacemaker

This lacemaker instruction booklet together with the lacemaker was owned by Kallista woman, Beryl Collett (1925-2018) who was a skilled lacemaker from her youth and who used the lacemaker (and presumably this booklet) most of her life. Both of these may have first belonged to her mother (Hettie Collett nee Thorn) who was a very talented milliner and from whom Beryl first learnt her handicraft skills. This lacemaker and accompanying booklet are part of a large and varied range of objects relating to Beryl which has been donated to the Museum. The Dandenongs have been the chosen home of many creative people who, like Beryl, have found inspiration in the natural beauty of the area. Much of Beryl's own handiwork held by the Museum was created by her following her retirement from her accountancy job in 1980 and so epitomises the potential of the retirement phase of people's lives.This lacemaker and manual enabled women like Beryl and her mother before her to create beautiful lacework.This booklet has a maroon-color soft cover. Inside is mainly text with some black and white drawn illustrations.On front cover printed: 'Vol. 1 / The / Duchess / Lace Maker / Published by / The Duchess Torchon Lace Co. / 22 Royal Arcade / Melbourne' On back cover in bottom right corner: 'Wilke, Mitchell & Co. / Printers / 7 Flinders Court / Melbourne' beryl collett, 1900s, hettie collett, lacemaker, instruction booklet

These bobbins were given to donor by her aunt and were part of the set on which the donor learned to make Nine Pin edging when she was 8 years old. (approx 1911) 2 wooden lacemaker bobbins, decorated on ends with coloured glass beads attached with wire. Bobbin one has 4 red beads, 4 clear beads, 2 black beads and 1 white bead with green and red colour band. Bobbin two has 2 brown beads, 2 blue beads, 1 black bead and 1 clear bead. Bobbins have shaped and turned shafts. bobbins lace, wood turning, hand craft

The swift winder together with lace pieces was bought in Europe by Nan Warner, who was a retired school teacher and together with her husband Max travelled to Europe and China after they retired. Nan joined a lace making group in the late 1970s who until well into the 1980s and 1990s the group met in each others homes once a month in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne around the Vermont and Ringwood area. The group later became part of the Australian Lace Guild. The donor was also a lacemaker in the group. Hand turned spindle winders and swifts are also used by weavers and spinners.Hand turned wooden wool winder and swift and spindles. It has a wooden base with drawers with a vertical wheel, spindle with winder on an arm with rotating thread holders.spindles, winder, swift, yarn, spinners

This nightgown was owned by Kallista woman, Beryl Collett (1925-2018) who was a skilled lacemaker from her youth. It first belonged to her mother (Hettie Collett nee Thorn) who was a very talented milliner and from whom Beryl learnt handicraft skills as a young person. The nightgown is part of a large and varied range of objects relating to Beryl which has been donated to the Museum. The Dandenongs have been the chosen home of many creative people who, like Beryl, have found inspiration in the natural beauty of the area. Much of Beryl's own handiwork was created by her following her retirement from her accountancy job in 1980 and so epitomises the potential of the retirement phase of people's lives.This nightgown is a lovely example of women's sleepwear in the early 20th century.Long, white cotton nightgown. Empire line with round neckline, lace inserts in bodice and 4 concealed buttons at bodice. Buttons have been covered with white fabric. Three-quarter length sleeves with lace cuffs. Made with a sewing machine.Inside bodice opening, hand-written: 'H. Collett' which has had a line struck through it. Underneath that first inscription is hand-written 'Thorn' beryl collett, clothing, 1900s

The Fashion & Design collection of Kew Historical Society includes examples of textiles dating from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Some of the textiles, were used as items of clothing, others as items of household decoration, or simply as travel souvenirs. These textiles were created both domestically and internationally. Predictably with the growth of an ethnically and culturally more diverse community in Kew after the Second World War, textiles, clothing and objects in the collection inevitably reflected this diversity. This form of bobbin lace is made in Malta. It is a guipure style of lace. Maltese lace is worked as a continuous width tape lace on a tall, thin, upright lace pillow called a "Trajbu" and the Bobbins are called "Combini" . Bigger pieces are made of two or more parts sewn together. Lace made in Malta was originally needle lace, from the 16th to the 19th century, when the economic depression in the islands nearly led to the extinction of lacemaking there. But in the mid 1800s, Lady Hamilton Chichester sent lacemakers from Genoa to Malta. They used the old needle lace patterns and turned them into bobbin lace, which was quicker. It was not long after its introduction that the Maltese lace developed its own style from Genoese lace. Maltese lace was shown at The Great Exhibition of 1851 and it became popular in Britain. The style was copied by lacemakers in the English Midlands, and it was one of the sources for Bedfordshire lace. Characteristics of Maltese lace. Maltese lace usually has the following characteristics which are useful for identification. It is usually made from cream silk. There is often the 8 pointed Maltese cross as part of the pattern, worked in whole or cloth stitch.The pattern may also have closely worked leaves known as “wheat ears” or “oats”. These are plump and rounded in shape, rather than the long narrow leaves of other types of bobbin lace. Camisole, made of silk thread Maltese bobbin lace that is constructed of lengths of lace forming two rectangles with a hole for the neck. Shows the characteristic Maltese cross and wheat ears. Fabric is made of tape lace joined togethercamisoles, maltese lace, bodices

The Fashion & Design collection of Kew Historical Society includes examples of textiles dating from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Some of the textiles, were used as items of clothing, others as items of household decoration, or simply as travel souvenirs. These textiles were created both domestically and internationally. Predictably with the growth of an ethnically and culturally more diverse community in Kew after the Second World War, textiles, clothing and objects in the collection inevitably reflected this diversity. This form of bobbin lace is made in Malta. It is a guipure style of lace. Maltese lace is worked as a continuous width tape lace on a tall, thin, upright lace pillow called a "Trajbu" and the Bobbins are called "Combini" . Bigger pieces are made of two or more parts sewn together. Lace made in Malta was originally needle lace, from the 16th to the 19th century, when the economic depression in the islands nearly led to the extinction of lacemaking there. But in the mid 1800s, Lady Hamilton Chichester sent lacemakers from Genoa to Malta. They used the old needle lace patterns and turned them into bobbin lace, which was quicker. It was not long after its introduction that the Maltese lace developed its own style from Genoese lace. Maltese lace was shown at The Great Exhibition of 1851 and it became popular in Britain. The style was copied by lacemakers in the English Midlands, and it was one of the sources for Bedfordshire lace. Maltese lace usually has the following characteristics which are useful for identification: It is usually made from cream silk. There is often the 8 pointed Maltese cross as part of the pattern, worked in whole or cloth stitch.The pattern may also have closely worked leaves known as “wheat ears” or “oats”. These are plump and rounded in shape, rather than the long narrow leaves of other types of bobbin lace. Maltese lace edging. It shows the Wheat ears, characteristic of Maltese lacelace, maltese lace, lace tape