Welcome to the Lace Guild
Home of both Traditional Craft and Textile Innovation
The Lace Guild is the largest lace organisation in the United Kingdom and is an accredited museum with a large collection of lace and associated artefacts. The Guild produces two quarterly magazines, Lace and Early Days in Lacemaking, and publishes books of lace techniques and patterns.​ Our aims are to:
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To provide information about the craft of lacemaking, its history and use.
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To promote a high standard of lacemaking.
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To encourage the design, development and professional presentation of lace.
Our Magazines
We offer two quarterly magazines to members of the Guild, published at the end of July, October, January and April.
Lace is the main magazine, 64 pages of articles, community news and patterns.
Early Days In Lacemaking is aimed at novice lacemakers, and contains around 30 pages of mostly easy patterns.
Our Museum and Library
Our Shop
We sell our own books, bobbins and accessories, as well as second hand books and lace equipment and back issues of the magazines.
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Shop with us online, by phone, or in person at The Hollies.
Correction to Lace issue 193 (Winter 2024)
Harlequin Lace will not be present at the Lace Exchange Suppliers Fair in April as stated on the Booking Form. We apologise for this mistake.
Current Exhibition at The Hollies
25 November 2023 - 16 March 2024 "Machine Laces"
Although the main aim of our museum is to collect and protect handmade laces we have a great many interesting and beautiful machine laces which are a wonderful inspiration for design. As the mechanical capabilities of lace making machines developed during the 19th century, so did the quality and virtuosity of the lace designs. From just copying the handmade lace designs in the first half of the 19th century to the creation of ‘all over lace fabrics’ which enabled lace dresses and blouses to be an affordable option. Including the fashions for Art Nouveau and Art Deco lace designs, as the 20th century progressed.