The latest digitised item from our Ayrshire Collection is The Knitted Lace Pattern Book: Simple and Correct Instructions by C. & W. Thomson. It was published by Thomson Brothers, 29 King Street, Kilmarnock and printed by Smith Brothers, Bank Street. It contains lots of lace patterns, instructions and illustrations. The book is regularly referenced on vintage needlecraft websites (often dated as 1850 but this seems unlikely).
Thomson Brothers are listed as Drapers in the 1846-47 Post Office Directory, at 19 King Street ( ’one stair up’). By 1868 they are at 29 King Street and by 1879 they are listed as ‘Haberdashers, hosiers, and Berlin wool merchants’. By the 1890s the business appears to have been taken on by M. & C. Laughland at the same address.
Click on the image below and zoom in to see the lace pattern detail.