The lace makers who developed punto in aria devised a linen and parchment base for their work. The parchment carried the pattern. The layers were roughly sewn together, after which the lace was worked and fastened to the base. When the lace was finished, the linen and parchment base was removed.
Punto in aria is mentioned in Giovanni Antonio Tagliente's pattern book (1527).
Compare Aemilia Ars needlepoint lace, and the schematic survey of needle made lace types.
Digital source of illustration (retrieved 14 September 2016).
WV