Lace Making

Lace making was, at one time, a very important industry in Brugges. It utilized the impoverished and orphans to make the very intricate designs. Then the Industrial Age came and the intricate work was replaced mostly by machines.

Here in Brugges the tradition continues (lace making, not the exploitation of the poor). So interesting to know that there are two types of lace making , bobbin lace making and needle lace making. For bobbin, there are patterns and with the use of pins the thread is braided to create the design. Needle is more like crochet and making loops.