New Ulm review., 1913-03-26
State Art Society EDdeavors
To Arouse Interest In
Hand Made LAces.
Five New Ulm Women Win
Prizes Given for Products
OF Industry.

Americs, for In two pisces in this
state, New UIm and Sleepy Eye, women
are making lace by hand In just the
same wsy 40 the interested tourist msy
find them making it In the oourty srds
OF Venice, the converts Of Belgium or
the cottages Of Englsnd.
The directors of the Stste Art
Society have been interesting them
selves In the hsndiwork OF The lace
makers for the past several years and
both last year and this year lace that
was made by New Ulm women has
been on exhibit at the State Art
Exhibit which is held in three or four
cities Of the state each year. At the
present time the exhlbit IL beng held
ut the Public Library in Minneapolis
and prizes have been awarded to New
UIm exhibitors as follows: Mrs. Karl
Wiedl, IS OO: Mrs. Jno. Wildt, Is CO.:
Mrs. Peter Prokosch, 95.C0; Mrs,
Frank Schobert, e5. 90; Mrs. Anton
Groebner, Is 90.
In writing of the lace work the
Minneapolis Journal says in the
summer there 10 very little lace
making, for the women are busy in
their small gardens, but when the
winter comes and they arc shut up il
the houses, they work diligently.
Some whose eyesiRht 10 poor, must
make simple patterns, some lack
training and produce poor work,
others are highly skilled and make
beautiful lace. One woman living far
out in the country beyond Sleepy Eye,
brings in each spring about sixty
yards of the same exquisite pattern TO
exchange for groceries. This lace
seems to comprise ber winter's work..
The underlying principles Of lace
making have not changed in several
centuries. although patterns may be
different, or threads may be cosrser
or iner. The lace made In New Vim
and Sleepy Eye 10 called bobbin or.
pillow lace for it Is made on 8 pillow
like the one In the illustration. The
pattern Is pricked on a piece of paper
attached 10 the pillow, and then In
these tiny holes pins are placed to
hold the threads securely and to form
the pattern. The thread is fastened
TO little wooden bobbins. which the
!acemaker naDipulates with incredible
swiftness, throwing them over and
under each other. Last year at the
exhibition OF the State Art society
there was laceworker, and again in
Thomas window during MADE in
Minneapolis Week." and always q
captivated audience gathered shout
watching her deft fingers handling the
innumerable bobbins.
The lacemskers OF New Ulm and
Sleepy Eye are mostly Bobemisns,
and have learned to make lsce In the
old country. Some when only 4 years
old were taught to mako tiny pattern.
Their daughters have not appreciated
the qualities Of handmade lace.
thinking 1t old.fashioned. Also tho
compensation, the bit Of trading Ct
the store In return for the lace, has
not appealed to the girls.
One OF the aims OF the State Art
society in regard to the hsndisrsft OF
lace. making in the state 10 70 en-.
courage the young girls to learn the
craft from their mothers, for Otherwise
II 10 10 danger Of passing out.
On q recent visit OF member, of the
State Art society to New Uln Il Was
suggested to the lacemakers that II the
lace we're better made linen thread
used instead of cotton, and handsomer
patterns selected. that the e0mpensa.
ion would increase naturally. One
astute lacemaker, when asked II her
laughter would learn II she felt she
could earn more money BY waking
ace than was now possible, rensrked
hat in case more money was 70 be
earned it would be best for the
laughter to do the housework while
he devoted herself entirely TO making
ace.
There are few states in the union
vhere there are women familiar with
his craft, and the object Of the Stste
Art society is to foster such . cr.l
o prevail upon the women 70 improve
be quality Of the lace, TO persuade the
tContinued on Last Psge)