Lace Making

The aim is to show like minded people interested in the craft, the basic stitches of Torchon Lace using bobbins which are wound with thread and then laid over a pattern attached to a hard pillow or roll.

Having mastered the stitches and being able to follow a pattern, members can produce fairly straight forward things like bookmarks, handkerchief edgings and small mats.

Lace making is not something you can learn in just a short time. The group has been going two years now and we do have a few finished items to show for this. I have been making lace for over twenty years and am still learning new things.

There is some outlay required by anyone taking up this craft: bobbins (these are used in pairs), a pillow, lace pins, threads, pin pricker and pin lifter. We do have one set of these belonging to the group which is at present being used by our latest member. There are 5 beginners in the group all at various stages of learning, but they haven’t as yet gained the confidence to be able to read a pattern and know what comes next.

I feel it would be too difficult to take on any more new beginners in this group. However, this is an ideal opportunity should the need arise, for one of the more experienced members to start another beginners’ group.

Group Leader is Irene Angood.