28/09/2026
🧵 THE LAST MANUAL LACE CARD PUNCHER?
We’re incredibly lucky to have Ian Emm volunteering at Nottingham Industrial Museum - believed to be the last person in the UK, and possibly the world, still working as a manual lace card puncher.
Ian has worked for Cluny Lace, Nottingham’s last lace maker, for more than 60 years, and his knowledge of Nottingham’s lace industry is second to none.
Manual lace card punching is a traditional, highly skilled process. Ian takes the lace design from the figure sheets and translates it by punching and pedalling across strips of cardboard known as Jacquard cards.
The cards are then tied together and fed into the lace machines. They are, in effect, the “computerisation” of the pattern, telling the machine exactly how to make the lace. 🧵⚙️
Ian has worked on hundreds of designs during his career, including this beautiful English rose and oak leaf design which was used on Catherine, Princess of Wales’s wedding dress in 2011.
We’re incredibly fortunate that Ian now shares his expertise with us as a volunteer. His knowledge of Nottingham’s lace-making industry and its history is unsurpassed.
When Ian is at the museum, you’ll usually find him in the Lace Gallery. Ask nicely and he might just show you his lace card punching, demonstrate one of our historic lace machines in action, and even show you our samples of the lace made for the Princess’s wedding dress!
See Ian skills on show in this fantastic WSJ clip showing manual lace card punching in action: https://youtu.be/XD2nh75Yz8E
This isn’t just history on display — it’s a rare skill being kept alive. ❤️
📍 Nottingham Industrial Museum, Wollaton Park
🕚 Open Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundays, 11am–4pm
