Show Workshop Report No 1: Carrickmacross

OK, its less than perfect, but not bad for a first attempt

At the Knitting and Stitching show last weekend, I joined a couple of workshops for some new techniques. The second one I went to (but the first piece I finished) was for Carrickmacross Lace, which comes from the town of the same name in County Monaghan.

This is a cutowork needlelace, with two layers - cotton organdie over net. Originally this would have been a cotton net, but these days nylon is mostly used (cotton net being very expensive). The main techniche involves couching a fine crochet thread with regualr cotton to create the outlines, and then twirled around the edge. The organdie gets cut away from the net (in my case badly - i have a few holes in the net) to reveal the design.

I enjoyed the technique and think it looks lovely, but I'm not sure I'll ever be terribly good at it - i can do the stitches easily enough, but I'm oddly cack-handed with a pair of scissors in my hand.