Dictionary

Batik

A technique to colour fabrics by covering with a wax layer the side of fabric that one want to be rough.

Batiste

A thin framework used for handkerchiefs and shirts. The term comes from Batiste who was the first manufacturer of this type of fabric.

Billantè or Sablè

A clear-finish fabric wide in the warp, weft or both. 

Bleaching

A special treatment to get fabrics whitish by chemicals:  sulphur dioxide, ammonia, chlorine, hydrogen dioxide, or others.   

Bobbin

A little tool, usually made of wood or bone, on which the thread is twisted to work lace on a lace-pillow. 

Bobbin lace

See Bobbin working

Bobbin working

The manufacturing of lace by bobbin was introduced in Italy during XVI century by the Benedictine nuns coming from France. It is made on a pillow called lace-pillow, with some pins and many bobbins which are used to plait the threads that make up this lace.

Botch

A piece of embroidery made by a beginner to practise, usually on a fabric with a wide weft

Brocade

A light brocade similar to the damask fabric. 

Brocade

Fabric with raised shapes or designs on the plain part. The effect is obtained by supplementary elements of  warp and weft which made the final raised effect.

Broderie Anglaise

It is also called Madera stitch  because it took origin in that island. The broderie anglaise is a simple twist made with regular stitches.

Bullion knot

It is mostly used to embroidery baby gowns. You can easily made little raised roses or flowers of immediate effect.

Burano lace

It was already well-known during XVI century as a precious lace completely worked with a needle. It nearly disappeared with the falling  of Serenissima at the end of XVIII but during the XIX it was created a school of lace in the island so there began a lace working of great importance. The difficulty of  stitches often required the participation of more embroiderers to carry out a single piece that because each one is specialised in a particular stitch.

Buttonhole stitch

A stitch used for the cutwork embroidery or the Venetian stitch, or to trim clothes with scallops.

Byssus

Linen fabric, thin and strong for embroidered linen. This thinnest linen, from India and Egypt, was used for quality clothes by  Greeks and Romans. Or a silken yarn obtained from the manufacturing of filaments secreted by a mollusc.