Honoring Lace
International Lace Day 2026 is a wonderful opportunity to share your passion for making lace. On June 21st, Lace enthusiasts, makers, and collectors will gather to honor centuries-old textile traditions and show the world that lacemaking is alive and well. Whether it’s bobbin lace, needle lace, or crocheted, knitted, or tatted, lacework continues to inspire our creativity and instill in us a wonder and appreciation.
Perhaps what makes lace so compelling isn’t just its intricacy, it’s the way lace turns absence into design. The empty spaces matter as much as the thread. There is a lesson in that. Creativity isn’t only about what we add; it’s also about what we choose to leave open.
Ava T. Coleman’s stunning knitted lace doily featured in the May/June 2011 issue of PieceWork. Photo by Joe Coca
A Guide to Celebrating
Communities around the world are hosting demonstrations and social gatherings where participants can make lace together and maybe just show off a bit! You can join lacemakers worldwide by visiting the participant map (close to a thousand locations) on the International Lace Day Facebook Group.
This weekend, celebrate the makers. Celebrate the traditions that refuse to disappear. And if you’ve ever been curious about any aspect of lace, now is the perfect moment to pick up a thread and see where it leads.
Bart Elwell's yap lace edging in crochet and needle lace from the July/August 2014 issue of PieceWork. Photo by Joe Coca
Of course, PieceWork is the perfect resource for all things lace. You can visit the PieceWork Library to discover patterns and projects for a variety of lacemaking techniques. We’ve just republished a Free lace Ebook The Lacework Collection: 7 Classic Knitting Projects from PieceWork and added new knitted lace patterns, like Anne Carroll Gilmour’s Osprey Shetland Lace Cloud Stole. Watch our newest Free Tatting 101 Video for help getting started on that unique lacemaking tradition and listen to this delightful Long Thread Podcast with lacemaker and historian Elena Kanagy-Loux.
This International Lace Day, take a moment to admire the intricate beauty of lace and celebrate the talented artisans who keep this remarkable craft alive. As always, we want to hear from you! Write to us at [email protected] to let us know how you celebrated, what you learned, or what lace beauty you made.
Enjoy your day,
Karen