Lace in the seventeenth century was a luxuary item. the technique commonly used was pillow lace, although needle lace was also made. Pillow lace can be complicated to make and so took a long time to complete. As a result lace was an expensive item.

Lace was worn by the upper classes. most of it was worn by men, in the form of collars, cuffs and tops of socks worn in bucket top boots. Ladies also wore lace as decoration on their bodies. The lower classes would not have been able to afford lace.