Lace-making, as the name suggests, is the craft of making lace. Defined as an openwork 
fabric, lace has patterns of open holes and made either by hand or by machine. The holes are being produced through the removal of cloth or threads from a formerly woven fabric. However, it is a common practice that open spaces are formed to become part of the lace fabric.
A true lace comes to creation when a certain thread is looped, braided or twisted to the other threads separately from the backing fabric. Originally, silk, linen, silver or gold threads were in use. Today, lace is generally made with cotton thread or manufactured using synthetic fiber. There are even some modern artists who make lace by employing a fine silver or copper wire in lieu of thread.
History
There are no known records of the primeval Romans engaging in the craft of lace-making, although there are objects, specifically from the Roman remains, that were unearthed to resemble lace bobbins. It was probably in the early 14th century that such craft started in Flanders, that area that is now bordering between Belgium and France.
True lace was actually made in the late 15th century and used as part of the vestments of the Catholic Church clergy in various religious ceremonies. It came into widespread use in the 16th century when the cottage industry intended for lace-making extended throughout Europe, covering most of the European countries.
Those particular countries that have been noted to possess their own distinctive artistic legacy expressed through lace are as follows: France, Belgium, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Spain, England, Slovenia, Malta, Russia, Czech Republic and Turkey.
It was in the 19th century that lace-making finally came to North America when missionaries introduced the craft to certain Native American tribes.
Known as the Patron Saint of the lace-making craft, St. John Francis Regis introduced it to most country girls in order to keep them away from the urban areas. He successfully established them in the trade of lace-making and embroidery.
Lace was traditionally used in making tablecloths and doilies, as well as in the clothing of both men and women.
Types Of Lace
There are numerous types of lace and they are as follows:
- Bobbin Lace (example is the Chantilly lace)
- Needle Lace
- Cutwork or Whitework
- Knotted Lace (includes macramé and tatting)
- Tape Lace
- Knitted Lace
- Crocheted Lace (includes Irish crochet, filet crochet and pineapple crochet)
- Machine-Made
- Guipure
This video is a little hard to hear but it has a lot of historical information about the scandalous side of lace. Worth watching if you like to know unique information.