About the project In June 2001 Leicester City Museums Service and its partners successfully gained a grant from the New Opportunities Fund to develop a website celebrating the history of the East Midlands knitting industry.  The Knitting Together…

The black (now turned a dark shade of green) is probably the fast dye invented by William Elliot of Nottingham in the mid 18th century. The white tops and toes show that the black will not run into the white. The stocking has a lace clock with…

The barely visible decoration at the ankles is done by transfer stitches. According to a label of 1851 they are "5 thread, 34 gauge hose, made in the year 1790, cotton spun by Sir R Arkwright." Sir Richard Arkwright (1732 - 1792) invented a…

Called 'double pressed point net' this net had the appearance of hand made net and was much firmer than 'single pressed point net'. It was invented in about 1784. Both sorts of net were embroidered by machine to imitate handmade lace. This piece…

This piece of lace, made by Robert Frost in about 1769, is one of the claimants for the earliest surviving piece of machine-made lace. Robert Frost used a carved roller to motivate the ticklers which transferred loops to one side or the other to…

Originally from John Dovey's workshop in Calverton, Nottinghamshire. This wide frame was capable of producing a single piece of fabric for cut-up work or the manufacture of shirts. The machine has had three owners who each stamped their own mark on…

Trimming cut from an evening dress of about 1827 when this bright yellow, known as 'Bird of Paradise yellow' was fashionable. The net is single-press point net, made on the stocking frame. After 1786 single-press point net was largely superseded by…

Made of fine white cotton on a 60 gauge stocking frame. The heel, toe and English foot are made of thicker cotton. The barely noticeable clocks are of transfer stitch lozenges within a narrow inverted V of dashes with another lozenge at the point.…

Stockings of fine white silk made on a 48 gauge stocking frame. The heels, toes and English feet are made of thicker silk. Maker's mark 'M' below welt for I & R Morley. These were buried with other stockings, gloves, a purse and lace under the…

A pair of cotton stockinet long drawers in which each leg is made in one piece fashioned to the leg and with an inside leg seam. The waist is faced with silk taffeta which has cords sloping to the centre front and fastens with five buttons and…