The earliest machine-made lace was made on the stocking-frame by transferring stitches to make a net. These two borders have a simple geometric pattern in plain knitting, net in transfer stitches and outlines put in by hand. They are part of 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…

Women's stocking knitted in black silk lace stitch with additional hand embroidery. Repair to the welt has partially obscured the initials ME. ID Number: L-C-582-1961-18

Pair of white knitted lace mittens with torchon lace(a type of bobbin lace) frill over the knuckles. ID Number: L-C-144-1977-1

ID Number: L-C-582-1961-116

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…

White cotton knitted on a hand frame in a lace pattern. ID Number: L-C-569-1977

The lace pattern is made by a combination of hand transferred stitches and the use of a jack machine. The coloured silk embroidery of roses, oak leaves, acorns and violets is done by hand. Marked 'A...A' below the welt for the short lived…

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.…