Description

Worn by queens, popes, and fashion icons across the globe, Limerick Lace represents the absolute pinnacle of traditional Irish textile art. In Limerick Lace: A Social History and a Maker’s Manual, celebrated craft historian Dr. Nellie Ó Cléirigh preserves the legacy of this exquisite art form, which provided vital employment for working-class women from the 1820s onward.

The first half of the book maps out a fascinating social history—detailing the factory systems, the philanthropic efforts that sustained the craft through the Famine years, and the international design awards won by Limerick lacemakers. The second half pivots into a brilliant, instructional manual, offering clear technical diagrams, historic pattern templates, and stitch guides designed to help modern textile artists keep this beautiful, delicate tradition alive today.

Dual features for history buffs and crafters:

• Comprehensive Historic Archive: Tells the vital story of the working-class women and charities who built a globally recognized fashion craft.

• Hands-On Maker’s Manual: Contains step-by-step technical pattern charts and traditional stitch guides for modern textile artists.

• Vintage Illustrations: Packed with gorgeous historical photographs showcasing authentic heirloom lace designs.