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Canvas Lacework, a technique for background filling patterns, was seen in Victorian needlework starting around  1850.  Canvas Lacework is a repeating patterned design intended to give texture to a piece by mimicking the appearance of lace.  Lacework patterns are most often seen on perforated paper, also called punched card, needlework.

There are two ways to achieve a lacework pattern:
- by stitching the pattern on the paper
- by carefully cutting away parts of the paper

Because they are fragile, many paper pieces with cut patterning did not survive.  Most surviving Canvas Lacework pieces have their filling patterns stitched, often with black silk or a dark color of thread.

These are original examples of Canvas Lacework, worked on perforated paper, from my collection.