Yak lace refers to a coarse
bobbin lace in the
guipure manner, typically made from wool.
[Definition of yak lace at the Embroiderer's Guild website](_blank)
Accessed 8 June 2012 It was mainly made in
Oxfordshire,
Buckinghamshire and
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire (; abbreviated Northants.) is a county in the East Midlands of England. In 2015, it had a population of 723,000. The county is administered by
two unitary authorities: North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire. It is ...
in imitation of
Maltese and
Greek laces.
While the name suggests the lace is made using
yak hair, it can be made of any wool or
worsted
Worsted ( or ) is a high-quality type of wool yarn, the fabric made from this yarn, and a yarn weight category. The name derives from Worstead, a village in the English county of Norfolk. That village, together with North Walsham and Aylsham ...
yarn.
[Makovicky, Dr. Nicolette]
Beds Maltese and 'Yak' lace
The Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford. Accessed 8 June 2012
Although woollen laces had been made since the 17th century, it was not until the mid 19th century that "yak lace" became popular.[ Despite the difficulty of working with naturally elastic woollen yarn which meant that the lace instantly shrank to two thirds of its size once unpinned from the ]pillow
A pillow is a support of the body at rest for comfort, therapy, or decoration. Pillows are used in different variations by many species, including humans. Some types of pillows include throw pillows, body pillows, decorative pillows, and man ...
, it was inexpensive, quick and easy to make and became popular and widely used.[ Yak lace could be produced in various weights, ranging from lightweight trimmings for children's dresses and underwear, to heavier, upholstery-weight lace suitable for curtains.][ Black yak lace was also widely used for ]mourning
Mourning is the expression of an experience that is the consequence of an event in life involving loss, causing grief, occurring as a result of someone's death, specifically someone who was loved although loss from death is not exclusively ...
dress.[ The popularity of woollen lace was boosted by the nineteenth century hygienist Gustav Jäger's promotion of wool fabrics.][
]
References
CATEGORY:Bobbin lace
CATEGORY:Textile arts of England
Woolen clothing
{{textile-arts-stub