The free exhibit, “A Living Legacy of Lace…The Tradition Continues,” runs through Aug. 7 and features approximately 30 historic and modern examples of knippling, a traditional form of bobbin lacemaking brought from Bohemia by German-Bohemian immigrants in the mid-19th century.

Olivia Norquist, marketing and programming coordinator at The Grand and a member of the Tuesday lace group, said the exhibit highlights a craft that remains active in New Ulm.

“It really is a core part of our history as a town and something that makes us really special and unique,” Norquist said.

In 1893, local lacemaker Mary Dauer (Zeug,) a non-english speaking immigrant from Bohemia, represented Minnesota at the Chicago World’s Fair. 

A display with lace patterns and a collar. An example of the work that will be on display during The Grand latest gallery exhibit. Photo by Olivia Norquist)

She demonstrated knippling for six months in the craft building. 

The exposure led to commissions from across the country and overseas.

Mary Lou Bonnifield has practiced knippling for over 12 years and unofficially leads the group that meets at 1 p.m. Tuesdays on the fiction level of the New Ulm Public Library. 

She learned the craft from Delores Haas, a master lacemaker who taught more than 200 people in the area.

Some of the equipment they use include white linen thread, hooded bobbins, and knipple sacks.

Delores Haas’ knipplesack with bobbins. (Photo by Olivia Norquist)

Knipple sacks are round pillows stuffed with sand and sawdust, like giant pincushions that hold the pattern and pins. 

Bonnifield said the process of knippling is focused. While a project might involve up to 48 bobbins on a cookie pillow, a flat, round cushion used for larger pieces, the artisan is always only actively manipulating two pairs, or four bobbins, at any given time. 

The rhythmic movement of the bobbins is similar to weaving.

Her granddaughter, watching her work, once described it simply as “just string art.”

The group, which started about three years ago, has a core of about six regular members. 

It is free and open to newcomers. Olivia Norquist is the youngest participant.

“You have to have a lot of patience,” Bonnifield said about learning to knipple..

The exhibit includes side-by-side samplers by Ronda Flor and her mother Doris Glaser-Hilbert, a ribbon-winning angel by Carmen Reinhart Calbick, and several pieces by Bonnifield. 

A “try-me” pillow will be available for visitors, and group members plan to demonstrate  knippling during the opening reception.

Bonnifield is also preserving older patterns. 

She received nine antique knippling pillows from Marilyn Vogel and is creating graphed patterns with step-by-step directions.

Norquist, who graduated with an art history degree from Gustavus Adolphus College, said the craft translates heritage into a visual language.

“On Friday, we’ll be demonstrating,” Bonnifield said. “I believe all of us that knipple will be there. If anybody has questions, they can ask any one of us and we’ll be happy to answer them.”

The group will offer a workshop on Saturday, Aug. 1, from 1 to 3 p.m. 

Nancy Wellington of the Minnesota Lace Society will teach participants to make a lace heart. The $15 class includes materials. Advance signup is required.

Special thanks in the creation of this exhibit go to Mary Lou Bonnifield and Marilyn Hesse for their role in planning the exhibit.

Daniel Hoisington of Edinburgh Productions for providing the video that will be playing in the gallery.

The German Bohemian Heritage Society.

Lacemakers Ronda Flor, Carmen Reinhart Calbick, Marilyn Hesse, Karen Sellner, Joanne Gribel, and Maggie Bauer for keeping the tradition alive, and John Kellen for assistance in building frames for the historic pieces.

Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call The Grand at 507-359-9222 or email marketing@thegrandnewulm.org.