Cattern Lace

Last Saturday (13th September) was National Lacemaking Day in the UK and my whole day was happily spent in lacemaking – the morning recording another video for #40lacestitches and the afternoon running an introductory workshop at Juice Studios in Hull.

It was the first time I’d had eight people who were all pretty much brand new to lacemaking rather than a mix of skill levels but everyone took to it so well and after we’d covered the basics together, they all worked at their own pace. 

I’d designed a wave shape (to reflect Juice’s proximity to the River Humber) using Cotton Perle 8 and incorporating half stitch, whole stitch, and whole stitch + twist.

Everyone had similar colours but different configurations which led to unique finished pieces.

Learning something new is always a bit daunting and can be frustrating but everyone persevered when they made mistakes – at times even remembering left from right was a challenge!

A few of the learners were interested in continuing to learn lace, which is fantastic, so I’m now making plans. I also got some lovely feedback, including from a mum and daughter who’d been to the workshop for some much needed time together after a difficult time. The email they sent reinforced to me the power and value of engaging with crafts and making 💕