Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1890 — Lace Making. [ARTICLE]

Lace Making.

The lace trade of Devonshire, England, has- recently come in for some attention at the hands of certain ladies of the county, and an attempt is to b« made, says the St. James Gazette, to instill new life into the industry. Honiton lace, like other delicate productions, is made chiefly in cottages, and One of' the chief features in its manufacture, says the Drapers’ Record, lies in’ the fact that in no one piece is a whole design produced. Different families will work the separate portions oi a design, and the work passes from band to hand until the pattern is complete Owing to its extreme fineness the production of Honiton lace is slow and laborious, and consequently its price is high; and one of the proposals which the organization to which we refer have in view is that patterns should be introducee suitable for coarser thread than is at present used. By thiß means it is hoped to avert a further decline In thi9 ancient industry. Honiton lace is what it is because of its exquisite fineness; if this, it! chief characteristic, is to be removed by the introduction of materials which will necessitate the production of « coarser lace, it is not quite clear is what manner this interesting industry is to be preserved.