The Point d'Alencon technique

Since the 17th century, traditional lace making by hand in Alencon has been so specialised and labour intensive that it requires one craftswoman for each of the different aspects involved. There are ten specific stages in the creation of Point d'Alencon, yet all that is needed are a needle, some linen thread and a piece of vellum or parchment backing.

The lace is made as follows :

• There are three preparatory stages of tracing, pin pricking and outlining before tackling the mesh backing.

• The pattern is then created using three different filling stitches for shading, with different buttonhole stitches for the motifs.

• The "brode" then creates a relief to the pattern, following the outline of the pattern.

• The final stages of lifting off, cutting and tidying up mean that the lace can then be detached from its temporary backing.

   

This process results in a small medallion of lace, to which others may be added using tiny joining stitches in order to create a larger piece of lacework.

Even today, the top design houses are still inspired by our lace, borne out by their interest in our biennial exhibitions at the Fine Art and Lace Museum.

National Lace Workshop

The purpose of this 'Atelier National du Point d'Alencon' (not open to the public), overseen by the Ministry of Culture, is to uphold lace needlepoint traditions. There is only a handful of experienced craftswoman with the expertise to keep alive this unique skill, in a bid to retain our national heritage. It takes eight years of training to master the Point d'Alencon technique and it takes 25 hours of handiwork to produce a finished piece of lace the size of a postage stamp.

UNESCO

The craftsmanship of Alençon needle lace-making is inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

www.museedentelle-alencon.fr