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.
Workshop Registeration: 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 registration if a seat is available and any accompanying kit.
Class Registration: Email lacemuseum@gmail.com
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.
Clones Lace – Fall Figures
Instructor: Máire Treanor
Course Description: This fall we will focus on figures and animals. We will study several of Maire’s original designs, Mdme Hardouin’s butterfly and two other surprise guest designers.
Level: Improver
Prerequisite: Clones Lace – Beginner
Dates: 7 Tuesdays – Sep. 13, 27, Oct. 11, 25, Nov. 8, 29 and Dec. 13, 2022
Times: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm Pacific
Week 1: September 13th – Bee and butterfly
Week 2: September 27th – Hardouin butterflies
Week 3: October 11th – Dragonflies
Week 4: October 25th – Turtle
Week 5: November 8th – Frog
Week 6: November 29th – Lizard
Week 7: December 13th – Angel 2
Registration Fee: $140
Students Must Provide: 10 or 20 6 cord thread such as Lizbeth or DMC and crochet hook
Second Camera: Not required
Now What?!
Instructor: Josée Poupart
Course Description: You’ve got a good basis in Torchon or guipure (such as Cluny or Bedfordshire) lace, and you want to embark on a new piece. Now what?! This class is structured around supporting your journey through your new lace piece. You identify the pattern to work on, and we will discuss how to start, how to finish, and various tips related to the project itself. The class size is small to allow enough time for discussion and creating your own specific notes. The first three sessions are weekly and the last three biweekly to give you a chance to progress between classes. This class is a new format for the Lace Museum; we look forward to seeing what you think.
The teacher is fluent in both English and French. La professeure parle couramment le français et l’anglais.
Level: Intermediate
Prerequisite: Have a good basis in Torchon or guipure (such as Cluny or Bedfordshire) lace. Be comfortable creating your own notes; there are no handouts. (If you have been taking our Torchon classes, you would need to have completed many of the skill-building classes.)
Dates: Fridays, September 23, 30, October 7, 21, November 4, and 18, 2022 (three weekly, then biweekly)
Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm PDT (PST for last)
Registration Fee: $120
Students Must Provide:
- A pattern you want to work on: Torchon or guipure (such as Cluny or Bedfordshire) lace
- Thread you want to use
- Usual lacemaking material
- Access to the following reference books would be beneficial
- “The Beginning of the End,” by Ulrike Löhr
- “Invisible,” by Martina Wolter-Kampmann
Second Camera: A suspended camera is good, but the ability to email the teacher images of your work during class is preferable.
The Bedfordshire Butterfly: an Interdisciplinary Adventure in Three Lace Techniques
Instructor: Holly Van Sciver
Course Description: Made in five separate pieces, students will learn elements of 3 different lace techniques in one pattern that include Honiton, Bedfordshire and Cluny laces….a three for one! The body of the Butterfly uses Honiton techniques including starting at a point, working up the edge, the four-pin bud, working with and crossing the coarse thread, making a divided trail and ending at a point. The lower and upper wings use techniques from Bedfordshire and Cluny lace that include the Bedfordshire and Cluny joins, crossing trails, Bedfordshire circles, adding and deleting pairs, leaves, picots, cloth stitch trails and footside techniques, plus pattern interpretation, design, and the use of color. A bonus discussion on how to use this pricking with Honiton Fillings will also be discussed. The pattern was redrafted by Holly Van Sciver from a traditional pattern published by Pamela Nottingham.
Level: Intermediate
Prerequisite: This class is ideal, but not limited to, continuing students of Bedfordshire or Cluny. No prior Honiton experience is necessary, just sound bobbin lace fundamentals.
Dates: 8 Thursdays – September 29, October 6, 13, 20, 27, November 3, 10, and 17, 2022 (24 hours of class time)
Time: 9:30 am – 12:30 pm Pacific
Registration Fee: $280
Kit Description: A 16-page booklet including the pattern and describing and diagramming the techniques used will be available for purchase for $14 directly from Holly at https://www.vansciverbobbinlace.com/.
Students Must Provide: Supply List (pdf)
Second Camera: Not required. Students will be offered the opportunity to send close-up photographs of their work to be critiqued between classes.
Bedfordshire Lace Angel “Sue”
Instructor: Louise West
Course Description: This angel is an intermediate level that includes techniques such as putting in and throwing out bobbins as cloth stitch requires, Bedfordshire circles (with holes in the middle), working on a curve, starting at a point, techniques for finishing and lots of practice of leaf tallies on the wings! The 5 week course will spend 3 weeks working on the body and then 2 weeks working on the wings, but there is also flexibility to answer questions arising from working on the angel between classes. It would be appropriate for Elizabeth Peterson’s students who have completed her Continuing Beds 2 class.
Level: Intermediate
Prerequisite: Intermediate experience with Bedfordshire lace.
Dates: 5 Wednesdays – November 9, 16, (not 23), 30, December 7, 14, 2022
Time: 9:00 am – 11:30 am PST
Registration Fee: $125
Kit: $35
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. A lampwork glass bead for the angel’s head is also included.
Students Must Provide: Thread and bobbin requirements will be provided soon. A kit that includes the laser-cut pricking is required for this class.
Second Camera: Required
Invisible Starts and Finishes 1
Instructor: Martina Wolter-Kampmann
Course Description: Invisible starts and finishes: a theme in every piece we make, whether for joining or freely finishing bobbin lace. In this workshop I give an introduction with different solutions for different situations. You will learn to use magic threads, knots and extra stitches to secure threads invisibly. You will learn when to use which technique best. You can practice on small pieces to be able to use it later in your lace. I have been working on this subject for over 15 years and you will learn brand new tricks in small, manageable exercises. I will show you clearly in videos what is important.
Level: Intermediate, Advanced
Prerequisite: Experience with basic Torchon techniques, footside and headside, joining with a crochet hook. Though the requirements are basic, note that intermediate experience is recommended for students in this class.
Dates: 2 Saturdays and 2 Sundays, November 12,13, and 19, 20, 2022
Time: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm PST, with a 20-minute break
Registration Fee: $175
Students Must Provide: Supply list (pdf)
Second Camera: Not required to be suspended over work, but please have one available to photograph your work and send it to the teacher via WhatsApp.
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: Beginner
Prerequisite: Basic bobbin lace skills
Dates: 3 Mondays – November 28 and December 5 and 12, 2022
Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am Pacific
Registration Fee: $75
Students Must Provide: Supply list (pdf)
Second Camera: Required
Beginning Zwirnknöpf Button Ornaments
Instructor: Karen Smock
Course Description: Use Zwirnknöpf button techniques to make these two delightful ornaments, celebrating snowflakes and peppermint candy canes. Both are made on 3″ wooden rings using shimmery and interesting threads, and they are easier than they look – what we all need this time of year. Zwirnknöpf buttons have been made in Eastern Europe for hundreds of years, and you can build on the basic techniques to make exquisite designs.
Level: Beginner
Prerequisite: None
Date: Tuesday, November 29, 2022
Time: 9:00 am – 12 noon PST
Registration Fee: $45
Kit: $13
Kit Description: The kit contains two rings, thread, and a tapestry needle. The instructions will be emailed to you the week before the class. Please print them before class starts.
Students Must Provide: Scissors, pencil
Second Camera: Not required
Dorset Button Christmas Tree Worked with Four Buttons
Instructor: Anna McDowell
Course Description: Anna has designed this Christmas tree using two techniques not covered in previous workshops. The tree is worked using four different sized rings. The upper two layers are a 19mm and 28mm ring worked using the Cartwheel design and finished with a double over stitch to reflect a star shape. The last two rings are worked on 34mm and a 40mm rings, both with gold-colored beads. The tree is finished with a Czech pressed glass star bead.
Level: Intermediate
Prerequisite: Experience with a traditional Dorset Cartwheel button. Students will need to prepare some rings by Casting (blanket stitching) around them before class.
Date: Thursday, December 1, 2022
Time: 9:00 am -12 noon pm PST
Registration Fee: $45
Kit: $20
Kit Description: The kit includes thread, rings, beads and everything you need.
Students Must Provide: Scissors
Second Camera: Recommended
Teneriffe Snowflakes
Instructor: Joan Brash
Course Description: Crystal Snowflake, on Saturday, is a good beginning Teneriffe project where you will learn the basics steps of warping the loom, weaving and knotting. A crisp, icy snowflake made with Lizbeth #40 thread.
Cosy Snowflake, on Sunday, is also a good beginning Teneriffe project, just a bit trickier than Crystal. How is a snowflake “cosy?” It’s made with soft pearl cotton instead of Lizbeth, and feels like a soft blanket of snow or a warm sweater.
Choose either day or both.
Level: Beginner, Continuing Beginner
Prerequisite: None
Dates: Saturday, December 3 and/or Sunday, December 4, 2022
Time: 9:00 am – 12 noon PST
Registration Fee: One day $45, Two days $75
Kit: Either single $10, Kit for both $18
Kit Description: The kit includes custom looms, thread, a needle and instructions.
Students Must Provide: The student will need to provide the following, which are not included in the kit: Tape measure/ruler, sharp scissors, a piece of tape (any kind), optional needle threader.
Second Camera: Recommended
Oya Holly and Berries
Instructor: Victoria Ong
Course Description: We will start by working in the round to create a sphere for a berry. We will then learn to add a border to a basic shape to make a leaf. Make additional leaves and berries after class to make a brooch, decoration, or an entire branch of holly.
Level: Intermediate
Prerequisite: Must have taken a beginner’s course on Turkish needle lace or already have skills with the basic techniques.
Dates: Monday, December 5, 2022
Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 noon PST
Registration Fee: $50
Students Must Provide: Sharp scissors, #18 tapestry needle, Lizbeth thread (or similar crochet cotton) size 10 in red and green shades of your choice. A small bit of red yarn to stuff the berries.
Second Camera: Recommended
Zwirnknöpf Button Christmas Tree Ornament
Instructor: Karen Smock
Course Description: Start with a 3-color Zwirnknöpf button using some festive threads, and add an embroidered, beaded tree. Made on a 3″ wooden ring, this ornament is a step towards ever more intricate thread buttons that works up surprisingly quickly.
Level: Continuing Beginner, Intermediate
Prerequisite: Some experience making Zwirnknöpf buttons. Best if this is not your first one.
Dates: Tuesday, December 6, 2022
Time: 9:00 am – 12 noon PST
Registration Fee: $45
Kit: $9
Kit Description: The kit will contain a ring, thread, and a tapestry needle. The instructions will be emailed to you the week before the class. Please print them before class starts.
Students Must Provide: Scissors, pencil
Second Camera: Not required
Star and Coronet Fans Bauble
Course Description: “Star and Coronet Fans Bauble” can be used as an ornament, a pendant, or earrings. You will learn how to start in a point with passive pairs along the edge, Coronet Fans, Star Spider, Dieppe ground, and a new way of finishing in a point. You will need 16 pairs of bobbins wound with DMC Perle 8 or similar size thread in 1 to 16 colors (2-4 colors are recommended). A pattern will also be given for earrings using 12 pairs of tatting thread or equivalent.
Prerequisites: “A 12-hour Introduction to Bobbin Lace” plus “Just Beyond the Basics” classes OR grounds, spiders, and basic fans.
Date: Friday, December 9, 2022 Register
Date: Saturday, December 10, 2022 Register
Time: 9:00 am – 12:15 pm Pacific
Registration Fee: $45
Second Camera: Required
A Taste of Needle Lace – Holiday Edition
Instructor: Linda Kay Benning
Course Description: Looking for a handmade holiday gift? Join Linda Kay to make a quick needle lace ornament. Needle lace has been made for centuries using thread so fine you need magnification to examine it. That is not an easy way to understand the basics of this lace technique that is done primarily with a buttonhole stitch. “A Taste of Needle Lace” will introduce you to two fundamental stitches using size 5 Perle Cotton in a holiday color or white. The stitches are single corded Brussels stitch and double corded Brussels stitch. Once mastered, the techniques can be applied to other fiber work.
Level: Beginner
Dates: Monday, December 12, and Thursday, December 15, 2022
Times: 9:00 am – 11:00 am Pacific
Registration: $55
Kit: $15, including shipping.
Kit Description: The kit contains perle cotton #5 in red and white, a needle and three rings. Shipping is included and the kit will be sent by the instructor.
Students Must Supply: Scissors, measuring tape
Second Camera: Recommended
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 – January 19, 26, February 2, 9, 2023
Times: 9:00 am – 11:00 am Pacific
Registration Fee: $100
Students Must Provide: Supply list and patterns will be sent after registration.
Second Camera: Required
Introduction to Sprang
Instructor: Carol James
Course Description: This class will teach you the basic skills of sprang. We will cover the basic interlinking stitch, several finishing techniques, how to warp your loom for flat warp and also for circular warp, as well as a variety of surface design techniques.
Level: Beginner
Prerequisite: None
Dates: 6 Wednesdays – February 22, March 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, 2023
Time: 10 am – 12 noon PST/PDT
Registration Fee: $120
Kit: Options – Full Kit $105; Partial Kits $55 to $80. Kit prices include shipping.
Kit Description: The kit is required and includes a frame, book and DVD. The frame will come pre-warped for the first project and includes yarn for the second project. If you already own the book “Sprang Unsprung” and/or DVD “Introduction to Sprang,” note there are options to purchase only the items you need. Also please indicate on the registration form whether you would like a right-handed or left-handed frame.
Students Must Provide: Pencil, paper, and scissors. Yarn for the first two projects is provided in the kit, but yarn for later sessions must be supplied by the student. It will be discussed in the first class.
Second Camera: Not required
Sprang Lace Techniques
Instructor: Carol James
Course Description: We will explore several lace stitches, including edge stitches, ropes, and doubles. Class time will be divided between theory and supported practice. Pattern reading and pattern writing will be presented as tools to facilitate planning and to record structures. Carol will share with you the method for writing sprang lace patterns that she developed, indicating the position of each thread. We will work from these patterns to create some basic designs. We will also look at images of historic sprang lace pieces and Carol will take you through the steps she would follow to derive the pattern for these pieces.
Level: Continuing Beginner, Intermediate
Prerequisite: Must be comfortable with warping the frame and making basic sprang stitches.
Dates: 3 Wednesdays – April 5, 12, and 19, 2023
Time: 10:00 am – 12 noon PDT
Registration Fee: $75
Students Must Provide: Pencil, paper, and scissors, yarn. A sprang frame from previous experience is required.
Second Camera: Not required
Studies in Antique Lace with Elizabeth Kurella
Elizabeth Kurella is offering two series of monthly classes covering a wide variety of topics in antique lace. Classes are interactive and often Elizabeth invites students to send photos from their collections ahead of time so they can be included in the class discussion
Series 1: The Many Faces of Lace: Elizabeth will discuss a different well-known lace each month, focusing on its evolutions and revolutions in style and technique. Some stories span 40 years and others 400 years. The next several topics are Point de Gaze Needle Lace, Rosaline Bobbin Lace, Crochet and Alençon Needle Lace.
Series 2: Exploring Antique Lace: Elizabeth will share the history, details, stories, and sometimes intrigues of a variety of lace topics. Delve into How Machines Made Lace, Normandy Lace – Preserving Memories with Bits of Lace, Labels on Old Lace – Believe It or Not and Mending Antique Lace.
Duration: One session of two hours per topic.
Registration Fee: $25 per class or four for $80
Detailed Descriptions, Dates, Times and Registration: Click Here
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 Sundays – October 30, November 6, 13, and 20, 2022
Workshop Time: 9:30 am – 12:45 pm PDT / PST
Practice for this session: Sunday, October 23, 2022 from 9:30 am – 10:30 am PDT
Register
Workshop Dates: 4 Wednesdays – November 2, 9, 16, and 30, 2022 (skip Thanksgiving week)
Workshop Time: 9:00 am – 12:15 pm PDT / PST
Practice for this session: Wednesday, October 26, 2022 from 9:00 am – 10:00 am PDT
Register
Workshop Dates: 4 Thursdays – March 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2023
Workshop Time: 9:00 am – 12:15 pm PST / PDT
Practice for this session: Thursday, February 23 from 9:00 am – 10:00 am PST
Register
Workshop Dates: 4 Sundays – March 5, 12, 19, and 26, 2023
Workshop Time: 9:30 am – 12:45 pm PST / PDT
Practice for this session: Sunday, February 26 from 9:30 am – 10:30 am PST
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