The Nativity

Its origin is from the 16th century in Italy. Bobbin lace or pillow lace is woven by using multiple bobbins varying from 20 to 1200 depending on the skill of the lace maker and the intricacy of the design. Since it is labour intensive, it is expensive and considered as a collector’s item.

A pillow stuffed with straw is spread over the pillow and the design pinned down with multiple pins. The pattern is woven using the thread in the bobbins. It could almost take 3 hours to make an inch of lace up to weeks and months depending on the pattern.

The woven lace is later attached to linen or cotton material by hand.

These are woven by skilled artisans and is a dying craft.