Tutored since the age of 12 in the art of ruff-making by her late father, she used her extensive needlework skills to create ruffs stiffened with starch taken from a secret recipe which used as its main agent the bluebell plant. Soon her new ‘clear’ starch was in great demand as it did not clog-up the loose weave of delicate muslins and other fabrics with unsightly granules, giving her ruffs a much-desired crisp finish.
