Lacemaking at Stitching Kitchen

Bobbin lace has a strong association with the Brackley area.    Northamptonshire was a significant area for lacemaking, along with Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, which were central to the industry for several centuries.

The Paisley Pear

The Paisley Pear is an important example of Buckingham point lace made within Northamptonshire. It was made by Betsy Gibbings outside her cottage in Pudding Bag Lane, Paulerspury around 1901. Coming in at length of 174cm it is decorated in a repetitive pattern of a paisley shaped head filled with honeycomb point stitching.

Lacemaking was a significant home-based cottage industry that provided employment for many people, particularly women.   Each area had its own stitches and designs that were passed down the generations

By the late 18th century, the profitability of lacemaking was so high that in some areas, people would refuse agricultural work to make lace

Bobbin Lace is made by twisting, braiding and pinning threads together in an intricate pattern.  In Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire point lace was used to edge undergarments or baby clothes, particularly christening gowns and was known locally as 'baby lace’.  More generally it was used for collars, cuffs, bonnet veils, with edgings in a variety of widths.

In the second half of the 20th century, there was a revival of interest in making lace, including bobbin lace. 

Today, bobbin lacemaking is still practiced, but it is considered an endangered craft, with people now making it for the pure enjoyment of the tradition rather than for sale. 

We’re very lucky in Brackley to have some enthusiastic lacemakers who are keen to continue this heritage craft one of whom is Lindsay Freeman.  Lindsay teaches regularly at Stitching Kitchen teaching a beginners and improver session where she’ll introduce the basics of bobbin lacemaking.  

She also hosts group sessions where you can continue the craft at the library on a Wednesday lunchtime and at Stitching Kitchen on a Thursday evening twice a month. Drop us a message and we will forward your enquiry onto Lindsay.