Virtual Education
All virtual education will take place via Zoom unless otherwise noted.
Resources for Successful Online Learning: We have a page describing the second camera/electronic device(s) you may need to participate online. You may also find a guide for participating in lace workshops over Zoom helpful. These guides were created by Jean Leader a lace teacher from Scotland and can be found at https://www.jeanleader.net/teaching/resources.html, scroll down to ZoomStudents.pdf.
Registration: Click the specific workshop’s registration link below to register via Google forms. When you finish the form, you will be presented with a link to go to Shopify to purchase the workshop. If the workshop is sold out when you try to check out, your registration with the form has automatically entered you on the waiting list.
Education Policies: Please review our policies regarding student participation, recordings, cancellations and refunds. These can be found on this page.
Future Sessions: The Lace Museum keeps an interest list for all past workshops and classes, as well as taking suggestions for new offerings. Please fill out our form here .
Past Sessions: To view a gallery of images from our past workshops , please click here.
If you are a higher education student and cannot afford the registration fee, please apply for a grant.
Mme. Hardouin’s Irish Crochet Motifs
Instructor: Laura Czegledi
Course Description: This class is for intermediate Clones Lace students. We’re continuing with more of Laura’s translations and interpretations of Mme. Hardouin’s Irish Lace patterns with six new flowers.
- September 12: 47 – Marrons avec feuilles (Chestnut with leaf)
- September 26: 51 – Tulipe avec ses feuilles (Tulip with its leaves)
- October 10: 64 – La Jonquille (Daffodil / Jonquil)
- October 24: 66 – La Jacinthe (Hyacinth)
- November 14: 71 – Le Nénuphar (Water Lily)
- November 28: 73 – Iris avec feuilles et bouton (Iris with leaves and bud)
Level: Intermediate
Prerequisite: Prior classes in intermediate Clones Lace (such as those with Máire Treanor)
Dates: 6 Tuesdays – September 12, 26; October 10, 24; November 14, 28
Time: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm PDT/PST
Registration Fee: $120
Students Must Provide: 6-cord thread such as Lizbeth or DMC in size 20 or 40, crochet hook
Second Camera: Not required
Intermediate Shuttle Tatting: Beyond Rings, Chains, and Joins
Instructor: Kelli Slack
Course Description: This class will focus on creating a bracelet and charms using advanced shuttle tatting techniques such as: beading, self-closing mock rings, split rings, Josephine knots, dot picots, double picots, 2-shuttle work, continuous thread method, shoe-lace trick, and lock joins. Add to your tatting arsenal and end the class with a lovely bracelet.
Level: Continuing Beginner, Intermediate
Prerequisite: Students should know basic shuttle tatting skills such as rings, chains, picots, and joins.
Dates: 2 Wednesdays – September 13 and 20, 2023
Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am PDT
Registration Fee: $55
Kit: $8
Kit Description: Intermediate tatting booklet
Students Must Provide: Supply list (pdf)
Second Camera: Recommended
Beginning Flanders
Instructor: Kathy Kauffmann
Course Description: Experience for the first time or continue your studies of Belgian laces. Flanders is a Belgian lace with a unique 5 hole ground. It provides an excellent base for any other Belgian lace, especially Binche. Binche is a unique lace that uses elements of Flanders, Paris and Valenciennes. It is known for the beautiful snowflake ground and flowing elements.
Level: Intermediate
Prerequisite: A very good knowledge of Torchon
Dates: 4 Thursdays – September 14, 21, 28; October 5, 2023
Time: 9 am – 12 pm PDT
Registration Fee: $120
Students Must Provide: Supply List (pdf)
Second Camera: Required
Understanding Lace
Instructor: Elizabeth Kurella
Course Description: This free, one-hour class is an introduction to Elizabeth’s upcoming season of studies in antique lace – Basics of Handmade Lace.
Lace is a magical substance that is a window on humanity through time and societal changes, and that highlights astonishing human endeavor and achievement. Lace consists of designs created with lines and spaces, contrasting dense and open areas. It is distinctive: designs are laid down thread by thread, line by line, with unique thread manipulations. Understanding the essence of those thread manipulations and how they were combined is essential to learning to identify it and appreciate all the stories each piece has to tell.
Level: Beginner
Prerequisite: None
Date: Saturday, September 16, 2023
Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 am PDT
Registration Fee: Free
Gros Point de Venise
Instructor: Loretta Holzberger
Course Description: Learn about the elements that make Gros Point de Venise needle lace unique and different. Heavy padding of outlines, diamond grids worked in cloth stitch, pea stitch, and extra frills added to the heavy padding are some of the techniques that will be included. Students will work on a sampler in class, and can also start applying their knowledge to a trefoil or butterfly design at the same time. Both patterns are included in 3 sizes for 3 different weights of thread.
Level: Intermediate
Prerequisite: Comfortable with basic needle lace techniques and controlling tension
Dates: 5 Tuesdays – September 19, 26; October 3, 10, and 17, 2023
Time: 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm PDT
Registration Fee: $90
Students Must Provide: Supply list (pdf)
Second Camera: Not required
Milanese Beginners Braids
Instructor: Claire Bonito
Course Description: Take your first steps into Milanese Lace with this Milanese beginners level course. Over the three sessions you will learn how to start with a false footing and how to work 3 to 4 different decorative braids that progress in complexity and include a range of skills particular to this type of lace. We will discuss the different families of braids and the considerations for working and tensioning them.
Level: Beginner
Prerequisite: You should be able to confidently work cloth stitch, half stitch, and cloth stitch and twist.
Dates:
3 Tuesdays – September 19, 26, and October 3, 2023 Register
OR
3 Wednesdays – September 20, 27, and October 4, 2023 Register
Time: 9:00 am -11:00 am PDT
Registration Fee: $75
Kit: $7
Kit Description: A pattern pack with instructions, working diagrams, and prickings in 2 sizes pre-printed onto card will be sent via mail.
Students Must Provide: Supply list (pdf)
Second Camera: Required
Beginning Bedfordshire Bobbin Lace
Instructor: Elizabeth Peterson
Course Description: This class is designed for those wanting to learn the basics of Beds Lace. You will learn plaits, picots, 9-pin edge, trails, bouncing plaits/leaves off the trail, windmill crossing and the Beds leaf. This lace has a lot of techniques and is a fun addition to your lacing skills. You’ll love leaves when you leave.
Level: Continuing Beginner
Prerequisite: Basic bobbin lace skills
Dates: 3 Thursdays – September 28, October 5 and 12, 2023
Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am PDT
Registration Fee: $75
Students Must Provide: Supply list (pdf)
Second Camera: Required
Basics of Handmade Lace
Instructor: Elizabeth Kurella
Course Description: This course will provide a system to study and recognize the key thread manipulations that are the basis for identifying lace in the field. It provides a foundation for upcoming classes in learning to read the stories in lace pieces. Examples of lace from early centuries to today will be explored and discussed in detail.
Registration Fee: 1 to 3 topics $25 each or 4 or more topics $20 each. Discount appears at checkout.
October 2: Drawnwork and Other Whitework. Taking woven fabrics and turning them into lace by removing threads, deflecting threads, and re-embroidering over the surface has been popular for centuries. Explore the boundaries between lace and embroidery in a wide range of creativity, innovation, and design.
October 16: Filet. A seemingly simple technique popular even today – and often found in stashes of old lace. Explore decorative techniques and details that have been used over the centuries.
October 30: Crochet. Ubiquitous – that’s crochet. Learn to recognize the basic elements of a lace type guaranteed to be in everyone’s grandmother’s stash of old lace, and how to separate especially interesting and valuable crochet – an essential tool for anyone interested in lace.
November 13: Bobbin Lace. Imagine cutting the warp threads on a loom and letting them travel in any direction at any time – weaving, twisting and braiding with each other. Explore bobbin lace through centuries of evolution and through countless variations in style, techniques, and quality levels.
November 27: Needle Lace. A needle and a single thread have formed unimaginable designs in lace through centuries of evolution and through countless variations in style, techniques, and quality levels. Come explore that world.
Level: Beginner
Prerequisite: None
Dates: Mondays, October 2, 16, 30, November 13, and 27, 2023
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 noon PDT/PST
Second Camera: Not Required
Register (On the form, please check the boxes for the topics you want to attend.)
Milanese Continuing Beginners Flame
Instructor: Claire Bonito
Course Description: This is a follow-on course to the Beginners Braids course and will guide you through some of the most commonly used Milanese lace techniques. This piece starts with a false footing. You will then learn to add pairs under the worker, working and understanding a scroll turn, and working a sharp corner turn. Then you will work the decorative braid Orchid 1, (that builds on the braid knowledge learned in the previous course) using a diagram and/or written instructions, reduce pairs from the center of the braid, finish at a point to then roll back around the edges of the piece using the Withof roll technique.
Level: Continuing Beginner
Prerequisite: You should be able to confidently work cloth stitch, half stitch, and cloth stitch and twist. It is recommended that you will have completed the Milanese Beginners Braids course or equivalent.
Dates:
3 Tuesdays – October 10, 17, and 24, 2023 Register
OR
3 Thursdays October 12, 19, and 26, 2023 Register
Time: 9:00 am – 12 noon PDT
Registration Fee: $100
Kit: $7
Kit Description: A pattern pack with instructions, working diagrams, and prickings in 2 sizes pre-printed onto card will be sent via mail.
Students Must Provide: Supply list (pdf)
Second Camera: Required
3D Carrickmacross Lace – Ornate Music Clef
Instructor: Theresa Kelly
Course Description: Award winning lace maker and designer Theresa Kelly is presenting a new original design for The Lace Museum. Techniques covered include appliqué, guipure (bars and thorns), loops, pops, the open cobweb and the Catherine Wheel.
Level: Intermediate, Advanced
Prerequisite: This is not a beginning Carrickmacross class. You must have prior experience with appliqué, loops and some guipure.
Dates: 4 Wednesdays – October 25, November 1, 8, and 15, 2023
Time: 9:00 am – 11:30 am PDT/PST
Registration Fee: $100
Kit: $30
Kit Description: Kit includes:
- tracing and sewing threads
- size 10 good quality sewing needles
- cotton organdy and nylon net
- tracing paper, tissue paper, straight pins
Students Must Provide: Scissors, a good light source
Second Camera: Recommended
Bedfordshire Daisy Bookmark
Instructor: Louise West
Course Description: This daisy bookmark is designed for practice at adding and throwing out pairs of bobbins, and also includes techniques of starting a trail in both directions, plaits, picots, cloth stitch areas starting on a horizontal line of pins, cloth stitch with vertical and horizontal veins, and a few leaf tallies. It is a pattern that gently gives you practice at these techniques, which are particularly useful to build experience when starting with floral techniques.
Level: Intermediate
Prerequisite: Lacemakers must be confident in geometric Beds lace and ready to start floral with adding/throwing of pairs.
Dates: 3 Wednesdays – October 25, November 1, and 8, 2023
Times:
Oct. 25: 9:00 am – 11:30 am PDT
Nov. 1: 10:00 am – 12:30 pm PDT
Nov. 8: 9:00 am – 11:30 am PST
Registration Fee: $90
Kit: $14
Kit Description: The kit is a laser-cut, ready-to-work pricking with the pattern sheet, photographs, some instructions and a postcard of the finished lace.
Students Must Provide: Approximately 60 pairs of bobbins (finca 60 or equivalent). Because of the putting in and throwing out, bobbins should be wound with more thread on one of each pair, enabling the reuse of bobbins more quickly.
Second Camera: Required
Beginning Needle Lace Star
Instructor: Loretta Holzberger
Course Description: Make a Christmas star for your tree while learning the basic stitches and techniques of needle lace.
Level: Beginner
Prerequisite: None
Dates: 3 Tuesdays – October 31, November 7, and 14, 2023
Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 am PDT (1st class), 10:00 am – 11:30 am PST (2nd and 3rd classes)
Registration Fee: $55
Kit: $6
Kit Description: Instructions, pattern, thread, and needle
Students Must Provide: All supplies provided in the kit.
Second Camera: Optional
Milanese Continuing Beginners Swirly Heart
Instructor: Claire Bonito
Course Description: This is a follow-on course to the Beginners Braids and the Milanese Flame courses. In this piece you will learn how to start at a point and add new pairs to the center of the braid. You will then work a more advanced Braid (Figure of Eight), learning how to manipulate the braid to work it around a curve, and how to work and tension a braid that uses turning stitches. You will then finish at a point and roll back with a Withof roll, learning how to work a tapered roll in order to use pairs in the next section. You will then work a different braid, learning how to manage curves using blind pins. You will also learn the difference between top/bar and side/edge sewings and work a ten stick/rib too.
Level: Continuing Beginner
Prerequisite: You should be able to confidently work cloth stitch, half stitch, and cloth stitch and twist. It is recommended that you will have completed the Beginners Braids and the Flame courses.
Dates:
3 Tuesdays – October 31, November 7, and 14, 2023 Register
OR
3 Thursdays – November 2, 9, and16, 2023 Register
Time: 9 am – 12 noon Pacific (PDT before November 5, PST after November 5)
Registration Fee: $100
Kit: $7
Kit Description: A pattern pack with instructions, working diagrams, and prickings in 2 sizes pre-printed onto card will be sent via mail.
Students Must Provide: Supply list (pdf)
Second Camera: Required
Bedfordshire Bobbin Lace – Continuing 1
Instructor: Elizabeth Peterson
Course Description: This continuing Beds class follows “Beginning Bedfordshire Bobbin Lace” and will include more patterns with additional techniques. Invisible add and discard pairs in a trail, starting a new trail from a trail and cluny crossings are some of them. Patterns will be sent for the pieces you will be making. Learn more tricks to include in your lacemaking skills.
Level: Intermediate
Dates: 4 Thursdays – November 16, 30, December 7 and 14, 2023
Times: 9:00 am – 11:00 am PST
Registration Fee: $100
Students Must Provide: Supply list and patterns will be sent after registration.
Second Camera: Required
Bobbin Lace Christmas Ball
Instructor: Joan Brash
Course Description: This airy bobbin lace ball was designed by Vibeke Ervo in 1994. I first found it in the New England Lace Group’s newsletter in 2000 and taught it to my guild in 2001. With credit to Vibeka and thanks to the NELG for permission to use their newsletter page, let’s make some fun little (2 1/2″) baubles. The pattern is sized for Gold Rush metallic thread, Pearl Cotton 8 (a little finer) or Pearl Cotton 5 (a little heavier). It is worked flat, starched on the pillow, then sewn together with clear nylon thread. (And if you’re careful it comes out pretty close to spherical.)
Level: Continuing Beginner
Prerequisite: Basic Torchon skills
Dates:
Saturday, November 18, 2023 Register
OR
Monday, November 20, 2023 Register
Time: 9:00 am – 12 noon PST
Registration Fee: $45
Students Must Provide: Supply list coming soon
Second Camera: Required
Milanese Continuing Beginners Little Bud
Instructor: Claire Bonito
Course Description: This is a follow-on course to the Milanese Flame and Milanese Swirly Heart courses. This pattern starts with a scroll and continues with a Meander braid, new techniques for working around a curve, blind pins and joining sections at an angle. There’s even a little Withof hole.
Level: Continuing Beginner
Prerequisite: You should be able to confidently work cloth stitch, half stitch, and cloth stitch and twist. It is recommended that you will have completed the Milanese Flame and Swirly Heart courses.
Dates:
3 Tuesdays – November 28, December 5, and 12, 2023 Register
Or
3 Thursdays – November 30, December 7, and 14, 2023 Register
Time: 9:00 am – 12 noon PST
Registration Fee: $100
Kit: $7
Kit Description: A pattern pack with instructions, working diagrams, and prickings in 2 sizes pre-printed onto card will be sent via mail. For students in the UK or Europe, please email VirtualWorkshops@thelacemuseum.org to coordinate purchasing the pack directly from Claire.
Students Must Provide: Supply list (pdf)
Second Camera: Required
Bedfordshire Christmas Baubles
Instructor: Louise West
Course Description: This brand new set of 4 different baubles has been designed as small fun pieces for Christmas. The workshop over 3 weeks will give you the opportunity to work one or more over the sessions (the more experienced might manage one a week!). The two teardrop designs (top left and bottom right) are the easiest designs, both incorporating 4mm sequins. The star with lots of leaf tallies is more challenging since it is worked with adding pairs and throwing out on each point. The landscape with the little house is for the more experienced lacemaker. Lots of fun can be had playing with the placement of color and sequins.
Level: Continuing Beginner, Intermediate
Prerequisite: For two teardrop patterns, basic knowledge of Beds lace is sufficient. The star is slightly harder, with adding and throwing pairs, and the landscape is a bit more advanced yet.
Dates: 3 Wednesdays – November 29, December 6, and 13, 2023
Time: 9:00 am – 11:30 am PST
Registration Fee: $90
Kit: $22
Kit Description: The kit is a laser-cut, ready-to-work pricking with the pattern sheet, photographs and some instructions.
Students Must Provide: Supply List (pdf)
Second Camera: Required
Lacy Sprang Ornaments
Instructor: Carol James
Course Description: Learn to use sprang lace patterns to create a lacy piece that is just large enough to cover a Styrofoam ball or blown-out egg. We will start with a warp long enough to make two ornament covers simultaneously, with instructions provided so you can start this piece before class. Carol will show how to lay in the cinch line at the bottom of the cover, and how to cover the ornament. We will then set on a short warp to make a tiny piece of sprang for one ornament cover and Carol will share an idea to make it easier to work in the limited space for the last few rows. Finally, there is flat warp, circular warp … and then there is tubular warp. The 2nd part of this class will focus on tubular warp sprang, an excellent idea when you don’t want to fiddle with a side seam.
Level: Intermediate, not for beginners
Prerequisite: Must be comfortable with warping the frame, making basic sprang stitches, and making sprang lace stitches.
Dates: 2 Thursdays – November 30, December 7, 2023
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 noon PST
Registration Fee: $55
Students Must Provide: Supply List (pdf). Some prework will be required,
Second Camera: Not required
Quick Candy Cane
Instructor: Karen Thompson
Course Description: Do you need a quick holiday gift for friends that’s easier than it looks? At your service. This charming candy cane uses only eight pairs of bobbins and works up quickly. For anyone comfortable with basic bobbin lace stitches. You’ll use what you know and will learn a new, clean way to end your piece, the “Swedish closing.” Plus, there’s a bonus pattern for earrings!
Level: Beginner
Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of Cross and Twist and the 3 stitches in bobbin lace
Sessions:
Date: Friday, December 1, 2023 Register
Time: 9:00 am – 10:30 am PST
Date: Friday, December 1, 2023 Register
Time: 12:00 noon – 1:30 pm PST
Date: Saturday, December 2, 2023 Register
Time: 9:00 am – 10:30 am PST
Date: Saturday, December 2, 2023 Register
Time: 12:00 noon – 1:30 pm PST
Registration Fee: $25
Students Must Provide: Pearl cotton #8 thread, usual bobbin lace supplies.
Second Camera: Required
Bedfordshire Christmas Ornament
Instructor: Elizabeth Peterson
Course Description: A Bedfordshire motif adapted to use for a Christmas ornament. Metallic threads and beads add sparkle and bling. Multiple Beds techniques are used including a 9-pin edge, trail crossings, adding and removing pairs invisibly in a trail, removing and returning pairs in a trail, a Beds “kiss”, and multiple crossing in the center flower. This is fun little piece to add to your Bedfordshire-making skills.
Level: Continuing Beginner, Intermediate
Prerequisite: Elizabeth’s Beginning Bedfordshire class (or a bit more)
Dates: 2 Mondays – December 4 and 11, 2023
Time: 9:00 am – 12 noon PST
Registration Fee: $75
Students Must Provide: Supply List (pdf)
Second Camera: Required
Cluny de Brioude
Instructor: Josée Poupart
Course Description: Learn the basics of the colorful Cluny de Brioude lace. We will follow the Bobbin Lacee project handbook for France, while emphasizing the logic and methodology behind their instructions. I will also propose alternative techniques, some traditional, and some more modern invisible finishes.
Level: Intermediate, Advanced
Prerequisite: Basic Cluny or Bedfordshire laces. Good mastery of leaves and tallies.
Sessions:
Dates: Fridays, September 22 through December 15, excluding November 24, 2023 Sold Out
Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm PDT/PST
Or
Dates: Saturdays, January 13 through April 6, excluding March 30, 2024 Register
Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am PST/PDT
Registration Fee: $250
Students Must Provide: To be provided later
A 12-Hour Introduction to Bobbin Lace
Instructor: Karen Thompson
Assistant: Linda Kay Benning
Course Description: An introduction to bobbin lace basics from winding the bobbins and learning the basic movements to making 4 samples, each building on the skills already learned. Each session is preceded by a 45-60 minute practice session that covers 2-camera setup, kit contents and how to wind bobbins before class.
Level: Beginner
Prerequisites: None
Registration Fee: $75
Kit: $75 All supplies are available in a kit OR you can use your own bobbin lace tools.
Note: If current sessions are full, please fill out this form.
Workshop Dates: 4 Mondays – September 11, 18; October 2, and 9, 2023
Workshop Time: 9:00 am – 12 noon PDT
Practice for this session: Tuesday, September 5 from 9:00 am – 10:00 am PDT
Register
Workshop Dates: 4 Saturdays – October 21, 28; November 4, and 11, 2023
Workshop Time: 9:00 am – 12:noon PDT
Practice for this session: Saturday, October 14 from 9:00 am – 10:00 am PDT
Instructor for this session: Kim Davis
Register
Workshop Dates: 4 Sundays – November 5, 12, 19, December 3, 2023
Workshop Time: 9:30 am – 12:30 pm PST
Practice for this session: Sunday, October 29 from 9:30 am – 10:30 am PDT
Register
If you have the time but not the funds to pursue the heritage art of making your own lace with bobbins and threads, here is a solution.
The Lace Museum is offering one scholarship for supplies per Introduction to Bobbin Lace online workshop session. To apply for the scholarship, write a paragraph (250 words or less) explaining why you would like to learn this skill and email it to lacemuseum@gmail.com.
Internet connection is necessary for the workshop.
Skill Building Workshops for Bobbin Lace
Instructor: Karen Thompson
Course Description: A 2-session Just Beyond the Basics class and eight or more mostly 1-session Skill Building classes in Torchon lace follow the 12-Hour Introduction to Bobbin Lace. Different skills or different combinations of techniques are taught in each class.
Level: Continuing Beginner
Detailed Descriptions and Currently Available Dates: Click Here