On Oct 22, 2008, at 0:44, Adele Shaak wrote (in response to Brian):
Judging from this website:
http://wmboothdraper.com/TapeLace/tapelace.htm
it seems to be a kind of twill tape with a chevron pattern, used for
binding the edges of uniforms, etc.
It doesn't seem to be something worth strutting about, and certainly
isn't what we would call lace.
Not "lace" as we understand it (a fabric full of holes arranged in a
pattern); "lace" in the sense of "tape" or "cord". As in "shoe lace",
for example. Bodices were "laced" -- tied with *a* lace, threaded back
and forth. A cord, arranged in patterns and used to ornament uniforms
(passementerie) was also sometimes called "lace". You might have seen
such "lace" outlining the buttonholes, making the "closure "frogs" etc,
which is what I think might be meant here.
"Worsted" can refer either to woven fabric or to the thread from which
the fabric was woven. As far as *wools* go, it might be something to
brag about, actually. It's very smooth and very strong (long staple);
very long-wearing. I doubt, however, that a footman's uniform decorated
with worsted lace (or laces) would have been more strut-worthy than one
decorated with silk or metal ones...
--
Tamara P Duvall http://t-n-lace.net/
Lexington, Virginia, USA (Formerly of Warsaw, Poland)
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