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Group Christmas Lacemaking Activity

For our Christmas 2023 meeting we planned a more interactive lacemaking evening. We asked everyone to bring along an empty pillow, together with their pins, cloths and stitch holders (for the homeward journey). We supplied 5 pairs of bobbins per person, (ready wound with sparkly thread in a choice of colours) and a gold or silver coloured bangle. We also supplied the ready-pricked pattern and instruction sheet with diagrams to create their own colourful Christmas decorations. The pattern came from Christine Springett’s book, ‘Lace for Children of all Ages’.

When we had finished our mulled wine and mince pies, several lacemakers had finished their decoration during the evening, and those that hadn’t took theirs home to complete. It was a lovely friendly evening and everyone enjoyed making lace together.

I am so grateful to Jane Fullman for setting the 2021 Lace challenge and by doing so for introducing me to so many wonderful lacemakers and of course, to Instagram.

It was not easy at first but I have learn a little more each day. Having a granddaughter to suggest which app to use for my photos was a great help.

I have gained so much by taking part in the challenge and hope that I have also added something to it with my regular posts. Seeing what some of the worlds most eminent crafts people have posted for each word, was inspirational. I have met up with old friends and now follow other new friends across the world, hearing about their lace projects past and present. It has been amazing to see what paths some lacemakers are following and how others make their living from lace, but always with the same shared passion.  Jenny Davies

I wish each and every one of you happy lacemaking in 2021.

#jane.fullman_bobbinandwire

#jenniferannette50

#lacechallenge_2021

We are are happy to say that we have received an invitation to put on a display of Lace at Living Crafts, Hatfield, on behalf of the Alban Lacemakers. Please put Thursday 7th to Sunday the 10th of May in your diaries. We will have members and friends demonstrating throughout the four days of the fair. If you come you will find us in the Maple tent, please say hello and mention this website. The theme for this year will be ‘circular lace’ and following on from the popularity of last year, we shall have two ‘have a go pillows’ on our stand, for those who wish to try their hand at lacemaking. 

Tricia Thompson gave a wonderful talk in September, illustrated with slides, and took us back to Roman times to show us how footwear had changed (or not) over the years. We laughed at the colourful shoes the men were wearing and some members said they would be happy to wear them now, as I would the leather sandals. We heard of many superstitions associated with shoes, where you keep them and which you should put on first, making several members worried about their underbid storage. A definite no-no. We saw for ourselves that very fashion comes back in it’s own time and that shoes have always been a sign of status. I just wish I had realised this before I went to the meeting in my trainers.

We were so happy to see all our members and their friends at the first meeting we held after the summer break. The museum brought along a variety of things to sell from their shop to compliment the wonderful talk they gave on the history of the museum. We heard about the flax used to make the lace from Marion Swindells and how disease had wiped out the finer strains of the plant. Marion told of lace tokens and why they were minted and the lace tells the lacemakers would chant to pass the time. We learnt that an Ell was not the same measurement in Scotland as it was in England or France and that William Cowley made parchment for the lacemakers back in the 1860s and that they are still producing parchment in Olney today for various of uses.  All of this while Marion showed us slides, telling us many things about the social history of the lacemaker in Buckinghamshire. Chairman Paul Collins followed by giving us a quick jaunt through some photos of staff in period costume and of the A list celebrities visiting the museum. It was a very popular talk and went down well with our members.

When Sara Impey came to talk to us about Coggeshall Tambour Lacehttp://www.coggeshallmuseum.org.uk last year and mentioned that she also did a talk on quilting I never imagined the amazing quilts she would bring to show us this month. 

Sara originally trained as a newspaper journalist and every inch of her quilts echoes her love of words. The quilts were imaginative, amusing and so well stitched, many with social comments written in the lettering. Sara, a textile artist, produces such modern interesting pieces of work which were appreciated by everyone present at our evening meeting.

Jane and Alan Lewis brought a selection of their turned wooden items for us to buy to mount our lace. With spangles, decorated pins and many other wooden tools to choose from, which made for a pleasant evening.