What Is Tape Lace?

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What Is Tape Lace?

Tape lace is a type of lace making using a machine made straight tape braid of various sizes and styles. Probably one of the more known names of lace using this type of tape is Battenburg. Let's follow through an example of Battenburg to give you an idea of how it was done. To begin the design pattern was stenciled on to cloth. Probably some stenciling was done by hand but most that I have seen has been commerically produced . Usually these stenciled patterns would also give the size of tape & amount of yardage to be used for completing the project. The lady would then pick the appropriate size of tape. Following the stenciled pattern she would baste stitch the tape to the pattern. After completing the pattern with the tape braid she would then fill between the tape with many interesting needle lace stitches & fillings including buttonhole stitch. When all work was completed the finished project was removed from the stenciled pattern. Pictured below is a lovely dress front featuring this type of lace.

Looking closely one can see the tape braid overlapping with circles & scrolls to make the design. Fancy stitches are then used to fill between the braid.

McCall Style News, April 1937 Advertising Booklet

Visit The Gatherings, to see all of the beautiful antique and vintage textiles I have ~ antique clothing, hats, accessories, children's clothing, vintage bed and table linens, antique children's toys, vintage sewing notions, quilts and so much more!

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I found this interesting booklet printed by the McCall Pattern Corp. Titled "McCall Style News, April 1937". A space at the bottom on the front & back cover is provided for local advertising. This particular one is printed with The Parsons Faulkner Co., Ashland, Kentucky. This booklet was probably distributed to their local patrons. The quotation on the front is stated to say it all "Insist on a McCall Pattern - It's The Short Cut To Paris Style. I must admit there is a lot of style packed in the pages of this booklet. With this "style news" here is another way the McCall Pattern Corp gained a following of loyal customers.

A Short Note....

Visit The Gatherings, to see all of the beautiful antique and vintage textiles I have ~ antique clothing, hats, accessories, children's clothing, vintage bed and table linens, antique children's toys, vintage sewing notions, quilts and so much more!

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It has been a busy day getting new merchandise photographed for listing in my store so my post will be short tonight. But I wanted to take this moment to say "thank you" for reading my pass and present post and I hope you will continue to find my blog a rewarding experience.

Follow-up on Ladies Wire Framed Bonnets / Hats

We are only the care-takers of these chosen things that we proudly display and it is our duty to care and pass along to the ones coming behind us. Giving them the knowledge and care to appreciate. These are truly my feelings about antique and collectible collecting. Love is in the "hunt", perseverance of that "hunt", caring for and learning about the treasures I hold so dear.

Textiles in all eras were in part, "a labor of love". Some of course being about sheer necessity. I look with admiration of the beauty & precise handiwork ladies of yesteryear stored away in cupboards, chests etc. only to be discovered again... No matter how small or minute the treasure is, it is my feeling it should be held in high esteem to honor the person who so carefully created it.

As a follow-up to the posting of the ladies wire framed bonnets or hats I thought a photo would be helpful

As you can see, the wire frame is visible under the black netted lace. Attached & stitched to the lace & framework is curlicues & loops of straw. This bonnet is in remarkably good shape for being early and of a fragile nature.

Lady's Civil War Era Wire Framed Bonnet

We are only the care-takers of these chosen things that we proudly display and it is our duty to care and pass along to the ones coming behind us. Giving them the knowledge and care to appreciate. These are truly my feelings about antique and collectible collecting. Love is in the "hunt", perseverance of that "hunt", caring for and learning about the treasures I hold so dear.

Textiles in all eras were in part, "a labor of love". Some of course being about sheer necessity. I look with admiration of the beauty & precise handiwork ladies of yesteryear stored away in cupboards, chests etc. only to be discovered again... No matter how small or minute the treasure is, it is my feeling it should be held in high esteem to honor the person who so carefully created it.

A question from a friend regarding if a lady from the Victorian era did indeed wear bonnets/hats made of a wire frame & how uncomfortable it might have been. This question did make me ponder this thought. Some ladies bonnets or hats were made on wire frames over many decades. The one she was questioning is from the Civil War era with the wire covered in netted black lace with curlicues and loops of straw applied in a decorative way. This hat is smallish in size and would have set on the back of the head.

Over the course of years I have own & sold many such bonnets from the Civil War through the early part of the 1900's. Some of the earlier bonnets were of Chantilly lace over net which covered the wire. Many decorated with silk & satin ribbons. Some were of white lace and most others of back lace. During the Edwardian era wire framed hats were of a larger brimmed variety covered in white or light colored cotton, some of eyelets and, again, decorated in lace & ribbons. This type of hat might be referred to as a mop cap. Children's hat and bonnets were not left out of this realm either.

The construction of the bonnet consisted of a wire frame in the gauge the thickness of a coat hanger. It was rigid enough to support the shape but not so thick to be cumbersome. Over this framework was stretched & stitched the desired fabric or lace choice. Decorations of lace ruffles, ribbons etc were then added.

A trip Down Memory Lane

We are only the care-takers of these chosen things that we proudly display and it is our duty to care and pass along to the ones coming behind us. Giving them the knowledge and care to appreciate. These are truly my feelings about antique and collectible collecting. Love is in the "hunt", perseverance of that "hunt", caring for and learning about the treasures I hold so dear.

Textiles in all eras were in part, "a labor of love". Some of course being about sheer necessity. I look with admiration of the beauty & precise handiwork ladies of yesteryear stored away in cupboards, chests etc. only to be discovered again... No matter how small or minute the treasure is, it is my feeling it should be held in high esteem to honor the person who so carefully created it.

Recently I had purchased some McCall magazines from the 1930's partially because of the beauty of the covers but also for the wonderful pages of the most-of-to-date fashions of the day presented by McCall patterns. Each of these stylist garments listed the pattern number underneath so the exact pattern could be purchased at participating stores. As I was looking through these magazines somewhere in my recollections I remembered my grandmother having a couple of large pattern books filled with pages of women, men, & children's clothing as well as useful items for decorative sewing for the home. Again, the pattern # was listed below the item so the pattern could be purchased easily. These books were the size of wallpaper books of today. My sister and I would spend hours (it seemed) looking at these wonderful creations that was "only a pattern away". How my grandmother came in possession of these pattern books I don't know or don't remember. I am sure they would have sooner or later be abandoned for yet a newer look of fashion. Perhaps they were given to her by a store when they were discarding the books.

Reflections of the Heart Show

We are only the care-takers of these chosen things that we proudly display and it is our duty to care and pass along to the ones coming behind us. Giving them the knowledge and care to appreciate. These are truly my feelings about antique and collectible collecting. Love is in the "hunt", perseverance of that "hunt", caring for and learning about the treasures I hold so dear.

Textiles in all eras were in part, "a labor of love". Some of course being about sheer necessity. I look with admiration of the beauty & precise handiwork ladies of yesteryear stored away in cupboards, chests etc. only to be discovered again... No matter how small or minute the treasure is, it is my feeling it should be held in high esteem to honor the person who so carefully created it.

My passion is textiles from eras gone by & although I do stock many items from the later years (1930 - 1950's) it is the earlier periods that tantalize me the most.

Just returning from the "Heart of Country" Antique show in Nashville last week I, again revisited a "more gentle time". Textiles were in abundance this time from the worn out praire clothing to fancy garments of silk & satins. If you like quilts there certainly were some outstanding examples. And just when you think you have seen it all something more dazzling comes to light. My purchases were numerous and am quite excited to be offering some outstanding textiles.

One More Time Another Test Post

We are only the care-takers of these chosen things that we proudly display and it is our duty to care and pass along to the ones coming behind us. Giving them the knowledge and care to appreciate. These are truly my feelings about antique and collectible collecting. Love is in the "hunt", perseverance of that "hunt", caring for and learning about the treasures I hold so dear.

Textiles in all eras were in part, "a labor of love". Some of course being about sheer necessity. I look with admiration of the beauty & precise handiwork ladies of yesteryear stored away in cupboards, chests etc. only to be discovered again... No matter how small or minute the treasure is, it is my feeling it should be held in high esteem to honor the person who so carefully created it.

test post went thru fine.