The black (now turned a dark shade of green) is probably the fast dye invented by William Elliot of Nottingham in the mid 18th century. The white tops and toes show that the black will not run into the white. The stocking has a lace clock with…

His size was so great that he found it impossible to find hose to fit so had them made specially. These were made by the knotting method patented in the 1770s by William Horton - this produced a mock ribbed effect and, as it was worked lengthways on…

The earliest machine-made lace was made on the stocking-frame by transferring stitches to make a net. These two borders have a simple geometric pattern in plain knitting, net in transfer stitches and outlines put in by hand. They are part of a…

Called 'double pressed point net' this net had the appearance of hand made net and was much firmer than 'single pressed point net'. It was invented in about 1784. Both sorts of net were embroidered by machine to imitate handmade lace. This piece…

Originally from John Dovey's workshop in Calverton, Nottinghamshire. This wide frame was capable of producing a single piece of fabric for cut-up work or the manufacture of shirts. The machine has had three owners who each stamped their own mark on…

The label which accompanied these socks to the Great Exhibition in 1851 described them as "Gaiters, Made about the year 1812, cotton spun by Mr R Arkwright". A print of 1816 shows similar socks being worn by a woman between the shoe and the…

Trimming cut from an evening dress of about 1827 when this bright yellow, known as 'Bird of Paradise yellow' was fashionable. The net is single-press point net, made on the stocking frame. After 1786 single-press point net was largely superseded by…

Women's stocking knitted in very fine white cotton with worked clocks. Knitted into the welt is a crown above NATIONAL EXHIBITION 1851 WARD & CO MANUFACTURERS. This is probably Ward, Sturt, Sharp & Ward of Belper, whose entry in the…

Stockings knitted on the stocking frame in thick white cotton to demonstrate the probable quality of hose knitted on William Lee's original stocking frame of 1589. They are 12 gauge. A moderately fine stocking would be between 30 and 40…

Each handframe had its own mould for casting the needles into leads. The inside of the mould was blackened with soot from a buring candle prior to a mixture of molten lead and tin being poured in. Needles were placed into the molten metal. The leads…