When poverty overcame Ireland in the early to mid-1800s, the delicate craft of lace making was born. During that difficult time Irish lace became a source of income for young, poor Irishwomen, especially after the potato famine swept Ireland between 1845 and 1851.
Irish Crochet lace workers were very careful in keeping their patterns secret and jealously guarded them from other lace makers. When visitors came, these workers would hold them at the front door until unfinished lace could be hidden from sight for fear of the theft of their designs. It was a common practice in that time for each person to become skilled in making one thing and one thing only, such as a leaf or a flower. Another person would then crochet the different pieces together using a background mesh.
The popularity of Irish Lace grew significantly during the late 1800s and into the early 1900s, but began to wane as fashions changed. It is almost died out when lace-makers could not compete with machine-made lace in the late 19th century, and in the mid 20th century the Irish Crochet Lace making almost disappeared. .
Traditional Irish Crochet lace is worked with three different thread weights: a fine thread for the crocheted motifs; a slightly heavier thread is used as a foundation cord; and even finer thread is used for the background - netting. Irish lace pattern pieces are crocheted individually, using several basic crochet stitches over the heavier foundation thread, to form rings, leaves, flowers. After all the pieces are finished, they are arranged and sewn onto heavy paper or cloth and the spaces in between them are filled in with different netting using the finest crochet hook and thread. Once the entire work is finished, it is removed from the paper or cloth.
The true Irish Lace is rare and deeply valued even today.
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