I know a little about Carrickmacross lace. It’s all book learning, not hands-on experience. When Robert and I published fiber art books in the late 1970s we put out a title by Mary Doyle with instructions for making the embroidered lace. Some of her Carrickmacross lace pieces were placed in my hands when she brought her manuscript and examples to our office. Her book told of her experience learning to make the lace at the Convent of St. Louis, Carrickmacross, Ireland. She said the technique originated in 1820 and was still being made there.
The world saw a beautiful example of this delicate art at the royal wedding on Friday. The bodice and sleeves of Kate’s dress were done in Carrickmacross lace with motifs including a rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock to represent England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The lace work was done at the studios of the Royal School of Needlework (RSN) at Hampton Court Palace. Carrickmacross is done by appliquéing organdy shapes on netting with decorative stitching. It was reported that the needleworkers for Kate’s gown were required to wash their hands every 30 minutes.
I know a little about Carrickmacross lace. It’s all book learning, not hands-on experience. When Robert and I published fiber art books in the late 1970s we put out a title by Mary Doyle with instructions for making the embroidered lace. Some of her Carrickmacross lace pieces were placed in my hands when she brought her manuscript and examples to our office. Her book told of her experience learning to make the lace at the Convent of St. Louis, Carrickmacross, Ireland. She said the technique originated in 1820 and was still being made there.
The world saw a beautiful example of this delicate art at the royal wedding on Friday. The bodice and sleeves of Kate’s dress were done in Carrickmacross lace with motifs including a rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock to represent England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The lace work was done at the studios of the Royal School of Needlework (RSN) at Hampton Court Palace. Carrickmacross is done by appliquéing organdy shapes on netting with decorative stitching. It was reported that the needleworkers for Kate’s gown were required to wash their hands every 30 minutes.
Interesting information - I had no idea how it was made. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThe nuns at school used to make lace by "tatting". What is that? Was the lace on the wedding dress done with needles?
ReplyDeleteTatting is not the same as Carrickmacross lace.
DeleteThis information is so much more interesting than the TV commentary. I hadn't really looked at the detail of the lace before reading your information. Thanks, Christine.
ReplyDeleteTatting is a whole 'nother ball of string. Tatted lace is just manipulated thread, while Carrickmacross applies organdy cloth shapes onto netting. I believe the organdy and the netting were made of silk on Kate's dress.
ReplyDeleteTatting is a technique for lace constructed by a series of knots and loops. Look up tatting on Google and see some pictures. It is pretty and has distinctive loops. You will recognize it.
I did admire Kate's dress. Very romantic, and the lace was the crowing glory. I have some handmade lace, made by a resonably 'modern' lacemaker. However, it is not Carrickmacross.
ReplyDeleteForgive my spelling mistakes! ie, 'crowning', and then 'reasonably'.
ReplyDeleteIt is late here, & I am off to bed!
I have to agree with Maggie. I have taken Carrickmacross Lace Classes from Mary Shields of Ireland. Mary Shields has a couple books published on the making of Carrickmacross Lace. I did see somewhere that they used some of hte techniques of Carrickmacross Lace to make the Lace but it is not Carrickmacross Lace. The motifs are actually made in the process of Carrickmacross Lace. They are not motifs cut from a panel of Lace which was made in France on a Lace machine that came from England.
ReplyDeleteI also know about tatting. I have a blog and website that has tatting and bobbin lace. You can go and check them out.
http://celticdreamweave.blogspot.com/
and
http://celticdreamweaver.com/
Enjoy!