#122 Tools of the Trade (Theme #332)

My son and I went to the Bledsoe's Fort Colonial Fair on Friday afternoon. There, we met a French lace merchant (who came to our country to escape the French Revolution--only to find that there were no lace makers here--so he was having to teach lace making so that he would have lace to sell). He showed us the tools of the trade and demonstrated and explained the process of lace making. He said a child of three--if they knew left and right and could count to four--could do it.

Even though this particular piece of lace required 160 bobbins, he only worked with four at a time. A piece of felt covered the bobbins he was not using so they wouldn't get in the way. The lace pattern is on the roll in the center of the pillow. As the strands of thread are twisted, pins are placed into the blue paper on the roll to keep the holes in the lace open. As the lace is made, the roll is turned and the pattern repeats. He explained that the ability to make lace was desirable for a woman as it made her a more desirable marriage prospect since she could bring in some money for the family.

It was a very interesting demonstration.