How is Honiton Lace made ?
Bobbin lace making such as in Honiton Lace is a miniature form of weaving. A pattern is drawn onto and then pricked into heavy waxed card which is then pinned onto a tightly packed barley straw pillow. Very fine pins are inserted into the holes of this pattern or “pricking” and threads woven back and forth between the pins to build up the lace. Using a variety of different “weaving” techniques different patterns are built up within the lace to give it a very intricate patterned structure. Finally the finished lace motif has its pins removed and is joined to other motifs using similar techniques to create a larger finished item such as a collar, handkerchief or wedding veil.
