Carrickmacross lace is a type of needle lace

Needle lace

Needle lace is a type of lace created using a needle and thread to stitch up hundreds of small stitches to form the lace itself....

. Originating in Carrickmacross

Carrickmacross

Carrickmacross or Carrickmacros is a town in County Monaghan, Ireland. The town and environs had a population of 4,387 according to the 2006 census, making it the second largest town in the county. The town won the prestigious European Entente Florale Silver Medal Award. It is a market town which...

, Ireland

Ireland

Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...

 in the early 19th century, it is still practised today.

The lace is worked by tacking fine muslin

Muslin

Muslin |sewing patterns]], such as for clothing, curtains, or upholstery. Because air moves easily through muslin, muslin clothing is suitable for hot, dry climates.- Etymology and history :...

 onto machine netting

Net (textile)

Net or netting is any textile in which the warp and weft yarns are looped or knotted at their intersections, resulting in a fabric with large open spaces between the yarns....

. The design is outlined, the unwanted muslin is then cut away and the open areas are filled in with needle lace.

The wedding dress pattern of Catherine Middleton was fashioned from Carrickmacross Lace. The production and marketing of Carrickmacross lace received a boost when this became known.

External links

• Carrickmacross Lace - Virtual Museum of Textile Arts
• {http://www.carrickmacrosslace.ie Carrickamacross Lace Gallery in the home of Carirckmacross Lace, Carrickmacross, co. Monaghan, Ireland.}