Mountmellick does not, unlike most other forms of whitework, feature holes or open spaces. Instead, it relies on creating a three-dimensional effect, with stitches planned so as to lie on the fabric’s surface with as little thread as possible on the underside. To balance this textured embroidery, the edges were traditionally finished with a heavy fringe, creating a sturdy fabric that could be used as bedspread or tablecloth. One of the few needlework techniques native to Ireland, Mountmellick is named after the town in County Laois where it is said to have been developed, around 1825, by Johanna Carter, the headmistress of a school that taught poor women sewing skills. Although Mountmellick was taken up across Ireland, by the mid-19th century it declined in popularity, and failed to be much championed thereafter, despite a brief revival in the 1970s.