Historical information
The sample of crochet lace is an example of a handmade item that would have been used to decorative purpose around the home. It may have been used to edge curtains, a table runner or a mantlepiece. Smaller pieces were used to edge towels. The shape of this piece suggests a possible use as a ladies collar however no tie or buttons have been attached at the ends.
Significance
The item is significant socially to show the use of textile crafts, such as handmade crocheted lace, to decorate regular domestic objects or create pieces of clothing.
Physical description
A wide length of handmade crochet lace with an open pattern at the top and a pointed edged pattern underneath. For the open pattern mercerised white crochet thread has been used to crochet a double row of a repeat pattern of 'three circles and stems'. Underneath double crochet (US) / treble crochet (UK) is used to create the points which have been edged with the 'three circles and stems' pattern from above.
Subjects
References
- Free Vintage Crochet Pattern 'Many uses edging pattern' showing a smaller version of the double crochet (US) / treble crochet (UK) pattern of the handmade lace. The pattern comes from a book 'Star Book of 100 edgings' from the 1940s.
- Edges and Corners, Book F - Emma Farnes A crochet book from the 1915s. At the bottom of p14 is a pattern similar to the 'three circles and stem' double pattern along the top of the handmade lace sample.
