This is my 1850s Limerick lace day cap which I’ve embroidered myself.

I used unbleached cotton bobbinet tulle and non-mercerized white cotton thread, which was so difficult to get: Almost all embroidery thread are mercerized today. Mercerization was invented in 1844, however, antique Victorian Limerick lace is usually embroidered with non-mercerized thread. Here’s an antique 19th century Irish Limerick lace day cap and close-ups of an 1840-50 needlerun Limerick lace fragment.

I’ve only embroidered motifs which I’ve seen on antique mid-Victorian Limerick lace. Here are close-ups of a 19th century tambour Limerick lace veil – the bellflower and small flowers of my lace are based on this lace veil – and close-ups of an 1850-60 tambour Limerick lace flounce. And here you’ll find instructions on how to make needle-run lace.

Related: How To Make Limerick Lace

It was so much fun to make this dainty lace and – apart from the research – it didn’t take long at all.