How is lace made?

Lace making is a very complicated process. It is made of silk thread or yarn according to a certain pattern, unlike some traditional laces in China, which are hemming or embroidery. When making it, thread the silk thread on small shuttles, each of which is only the size of a thumb. Less complicated patterns need dozens or hundreds of such shuttles, while larger patterns need hundreds of shuttles.

When making, the pattern is placed at the bottom, and different weaving, knotting and winding methods are adopted according to the pattern. A less complicated pattern takes a skilled woman worker a month or more to finish. Because the weaving techniques vary from person to person, lace works are generally done by one person independently, so each lace is unique.

The flower-shaped structure of lace was not obtained by knitting or weaving before, but by twisting. In Europe in the 16 and 17 centuries, weaving lace with thread cores became the source of income for individual craftsmen and a means for aristocratic women to kill time. At that time, there was a great demand for lace, and lace workers were very tired. They often work in the moldy basement, and the light is very weak, and only the rotating wheels can be seen.