Needlelace Self-Help

Our Lace Days at Linwood Hall welcomes many artists, designers and makers of lace.

Needlelace (also referred to as needlepoint lace, needle made lace and needle lace) uses a needle and thread to create lace. The very basic requirements are:

• Ball-point needle or tapestry needle
• Sharp needle
• Scissors (good quality with a fine point)
• Cardboard for backing and attaching a suitable design
• Plastic adhesive
• Cotton sewing thread
• Threads (of your choice for the needlelace).

And of course, in some cultures a pillow may be used as well. You will also notice that the detached-buttonhole is predominately used decoratively in this lace.

On Lace Days every first Sunday of every second month at Linwood, the Needlelace Self-Help group has been super inspiring and helpful. Margaret Stephens mentors and assists anyone who is interested in learning this art and craft.

Lisa attempts her first coloured needlelace using Margaret’s fuchsia design with fine silk threads.

You will also see an almost completed lace motif with honeycombs and a bee. She was also working on a pink compass motif of Aemilia Ars, which is a form of needlelace renown for its geometric style and worked with a strong framework of buttonhole stitches.​

Margaret also showed some amazing progress on her reticella pieces in ecru and colour.

Reticella is an embroidered lace where the threads are drawn out and then filled back-in with bars of buttonholing, weaving and wrapping stitches.

We are happy and thankful that Margaret shares her skills and passion with us! 


Sources
A Guide to Embroidered Lace by Margaret Stephens (2014)
Geometrical Needlelace in the Style of Aemilia Ars by Margaret Stephens (2016)
Starting Needlepoint Lace A Course for Beginners by Valerie Grimwood (Reprinted 2000)