Cattern Lace

Supporting people to take their first steps in lacemaking is one of my favourite things to do and the learners at my two recent workshops have blown me away with their progress. Seeing the moment the penny drops and the stitches start to make sense and hearing them being able to self-critique by the end of the session (‘I forgot to cover the pin there, didn’t I?’) when they’d previously known none of the techniques or terminology always makes me feel so proud.

In April I ran a workshop at Ferens Art Gallery in Hull with 12 learners (including one who had previously made lace and wanted a refresher). They worked a sampler strip in pastel rainbow colours with some progressing to a Torchon ground sampler and Alexandra Stillwell’s iconic fish.

There was also a small selection of lace from the gallery and museum’s collection available to view including some works-in-progress still on their pillows.

The group I taught at yesterday’s workshop at the Bronte Parsonage also completed the same pieces, but this time in colours to tie in with the latest Wuthering Heights film. The sampler was worked in red, black and white- the palette used for Cathy’s costumes- and the Torchon ground strip in colours similar to the hairwork bracelet which is in the museum’s collection and which was recreated for Margot Robbie to wear at the film’s premier.

At both workshops there was an interest in continuing to make lace and I was able to signpost them to local groups and classes from the Lace Guild’s magazine. I might not see where their lace journey ends but it has been a privilege to see it start.