The next Edinburgh Lace Course will be held from

20th to 24th July 2026

in the James Watt Centre at Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh.

The tutors will be Frances Bell, Diana Blackburn, Claire Bonito, Kitty Mason and Carole Smith.

Go to Course Information for more details.

 

The 2026 course is now full and a waiting list has been created

 

 

 

For 2026 the theme for the challenge will be ‘LACE TO WEAR’.

We are intrigued to see what you come up with. It is an opportunity to get your lace out of the folder and use it.
Have you made a collar, or decorated a t-shirt? What about a fascinator or corsage to wear at a wedding? Have you created a piece of jewellery; a bracelet, necklace or brooch? Or a bag? Or a hat band…….. the list goes on!

We would love to see all the different ways you can use lace.

This could be any technique and any size, it could be your own design or someone else’s. We will have an area to display these pieces of lace.

The challenge is open to all – if you are not attending the course, please make sure we have your entry by 5pm on Monday 20th July so it can be incorporated into the display.

In 2025 we are increasing the number of tutors for the course. Last year, we had such a good response to the course, we have asked Diana Blackburn to join us this year to be our fifth tutor.

We are keen to encourage beginners, lacemakers in their early years and those returning after a break to come to the course. All the tutors will be delighted to help students start or continue their lacemaking journey.

We have also updated the application process to ensure it is fair for all. Information about the course will be sent to everyone on our mailing list on 14th February. If you wish to attend, please reply to the message. You will then be sent an application form. Once this is returned and the deposit paid, your place will be confirmed.

Full information is on the Contact page.

 

Image from the 2024 HEATWAVE challenge.

For a second year, we were delighted with the number of entries for our challenge in 2024. For 2025 the theme will be MARINE. When you think about ‘marine’, what springs to mind – deep sea, underwater, coastlines, sea creatures or simply the colour?

We would love to see what you create. It can be any size or technique and can be your own design or someone else’s.

If you are not able to attend the course but would like to participate, please have your piece submitted to us by Monday 21st July.

There will be two People’s Choice awards: one for Favourite overall piece and one for Most Original Idea.

Sarah, Hazel and Carole would like to thank everyone who attended the Edinburgh Lace Course in July. We had a wonderful time with 56 students and 12 untutored lacemakers all working hard and producing amazing results.

On Tuesday evening Frances shared with us some of her collection of antique lace, giving hints on how to recognise different styles of lace. This was so useful as there were many different types of lace being made at the course including Torchon, Milanese, Flander, Binche, Honiton, Bucks and Beds. On Thursday evening it was Kitty’s turn to show us some of her contemporary lace, giving inspiration and ideas. Some of the materials she used makes us ask questions like, ‘what am I going to do with the reel of wire left after the workmen left?’ or ‘Why do I have such a large collection of plastic bags? There must be something I can do with them’.

The display of lace on the theme of ‘Space’ was beautiful. The winners of the public vote were so inspired and well executed – congratulations to Sarah and Elaine. You can see pictures of the winning entries in our gallery.

Thank you also to Pam and Martin from Roseground Lace Supplies who tempted us with a beautiful selection of threads, patterns and equipment.

So, same again next year? We have provisional dates in the diary, Monday 21st to Friday 25th July 2025 and the theme for the display will be ‘MARINE’. Information will be sent out in February.

 

See you in 2025.

At the end of the course in 2023, we challenged everyone to return with a piece of lace created on the theme of ‘Space’. These were displayed during the course and attendees were able to vote in two categories: their overall favourite and the most original idea.

The winners were Sarah, who won the overall favourite and Elaine, who won the most original idea for her solar system.

There were many new faces at the course this year and the lacemakers who had been before welcomed them into the ‘course family’. Friendships were formed and old acquaintances rekindled as we spent a week together doing something we all enjoyed.

The 62 lacemakers attending the course were making a wide variety of types of lace from complete beginners to more experienced lacemakers. The techniques included Torchon (see image below) and Milanese, Binche, Flanders, and Brugge, Bucks, Idrija, Duchesse and Florentine lace. We had some designers too – both on paper and on the lace pillow. I look forward to seeing Joan’s completed Cosmos flower (see image below).

We were able to display the finished pieces of lace which had been started at last year’s course. Thank you to everyone who brought them back.

A huge ‘thank you’ also goes to everyone who submitted an entry into the Heatwave challenge. The creativity and imagination behind each entry was great to see.

This was the first time that Harlequin Lace Supplies had been to the course and from the number of lacemakers going home with extra luggage, they had a successful trip!