A short magazine article surveying the history of needlework and lace from biblical and ancient times through the nineteenth century. It describes how needle lace and pillow (bobbin) lace are made, defines lace terms such as ground, toile, footing and pearl, and compares the main lace types (Brussels, Mechlin, Valenciennes, Alençon, Honiton). It closes with notes on lace manufacture in France, Belgium and England and the development of bobbin-net machines at Nottingham.