Borris Lace is a Braid lace. Machine made braid is sewn onto the pattern incorporating stylized designs using continuous flowing lines. Spaces are filled with needle lace filling stitches and a net ground.

Suitable for all levels of experience.

Students will work a small coaster which incorporates all the main techniques. Most students will be close to completion after the 2 day class. The pattern is an original design from The Collection at Borris House. A second design will be offered for students to further practice the skills learnt in the class.

Complete kits will be provided at a cost of $10 each and will include the working pad, braid, needles and thread. Bring your usual sewing kit, including pins, small embroidery scissors, thimble, white tacking thread, notebook and pen.

Bucks lace is one of the most beautiful of the English laces, part of the wider family of Point Ground lace.

In this workshop, the basics of Bucks will be covered, including how to start so as to facilitate an invisible join later; also shaped headsides, a variety of interesting stitches, and a foolproof method of doing tallies. Bucks lace is particularly well suited to handkerchiefs, and these all include Pat’s simplified method of doing corners without having to add extra pairs. For those with more experience, there will be patterns with more advanced features, such as gimp loops, cucumber foot, large circles, and vertical bars.

This workshop is an introduction to the very ancient craft of netting. As a form of lace, netting can be used to create beautiful doilies, collars and other items, or it can be used to make the net employed in filet lace. In this workshop students will learn how to make diamond netting, square netting, and circular netting. Once these basics have been mastered, students will then net a small circular mat.

Being one of the oldest forms of lace and having been made in many different countries over the centuries, filet lace includes a number of different styles and regional variations. In this workshop these differences will be discussed and then a Sardinian style mat will be worked. Sardinian filet is characterised by the inclusion of traditional motifs, such as stylised birds, flowers and various figures. The mat will be worked on a 6 hole per inch net, and a choice of designs will be available.

Students will be introduced to this lace using 4 ply knitting cotton to make and attach a simple edging for a hand towel. Bookmark/s made with fine cotton and fine needles. Methods of casting on and off, blocking lace, and elements of design will be taught. Various threads will be used. Discussion on design of edges and bookmark. Opportunity to design own bookmark.

Methods for casting on for ovals, circles and rectangles will be shown and tried. Methods for finishing the edges, and blocking the lace will be shown and tried. Making a small circular mat, an oval mat or a rectangular mat. There will be several designs to select from.

Challenge yourself to Tat 'outside the square'. In this four day workshop you will use shuttles, a tapestry needle and beeds to produce a 3D wired corsage employing mock rings and various techniques of inverted tatting.

You will need a sound understanding of rings, chains, picots and tension and be able to manipulate two shuttles.

The frame of an old evening bag has been languishing in my family memorabillia for years, awaiting resurrection, and I have created a panel which will be inserted into the fabric of the evening bag. The shape of the panel can be changed to suit your own old frame or bag, but it can also be used as an insert into a box top, book cover etc if bags are not your thing.

Beginners will be guided through all stages and work to their own level using more simplified stitches and techniques. The more experienced will be able to add more techniques and innovative ideas to their repertoire. The end result will be a highly embellished lush piece of textile made of silk and metalic threads, beeds, tassels and the wide range of techniques which create richness and texture. For the absolutely terrified, an alternative design is offered.