Set of baby clothes

This baby's cap has an inscription worked in needle lace. It reads 'Thos Fry agedd 1 year 1776 Wroham Kent'. Professional lacemakers produced little needle lace in England in the 18th century. The technique was still popular with amateurs however. This type of needle lace is known as hollie stitch or hollie point. It is a knotted buttonhole technique in which the pattern appeared in the form of openings between the stitches. Women used hollie stitch for decorative panels, which they inserted into linen, in particular on baby clothes.