LACE FROM LEAVES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue XIX, 30 October 1897, Page 607

LACE FROM LEAVES.

The beautiful lace knowna.* Fayai lace imade from the hl*re* in the leaves of th** buter-aloes—grown in the A»»rv »»r Western Islands -a ndalive of lite common century-plant. Tins lace is manufactured by women, l»ut the ne»-e*'reirx skill i* -♦ rare’’, attained that there are bat twenty h»e on the island* who can make it Caterpillar* have been m «ie to -.pin lace veils from the leave* •»f plant* hy the in genious contrivance »»f a gentleman of Munich He make* a paste «»f the plant which i* the u*ua! ’•••t of the caterpillar, and s it I - dip|»?d in oh*** oil he draw* u|«on the oat ing of |<A*t»- the pattern he wishes th* insert to feaie ••»«en. Tbre »tc. •• lirin-.: placed in an im-!;n*w| iMwsitioti. th*- caterpillar* ar- placed at the ami the animal* eat and *;»in tlwir way up to the top. carefuliy avoiding every j«art touctie.l by the oil. Git drt«Hiring thr re*t the plant. A con*i«iera>dc tpiantity of lace »a* formerly made from the hl»n* of the ah*- by the |»ea.*ant* of Al«i*eola. either of it* natural • r*-am rokmr »»r dyed Idack. Thi* lace would m»t. however. *iand washing. Iwdng delicate in it* nature.