Dear Arachnids My answer to students who look at my lace and say they cannot do as well it 'When you have been making lace as long as I have, you will. I agree with Cathy Barley about designing. My first attempt was at a 2-day course on Macrame (before it became popular). At the end of the first day we were toled to go away and design something. What me? I thought. As a maths/science teacher I assumed that my ability to design was about as much as the top 1/4 inch of my little finger. I scoured the library and foun the only book on macrame in the Essex library service and proceeded to try to copy one of the pieces. The thread was the wrong thickness and much softer than the original and after fudging to try to imitate the original I came up with something looking so different you could not trace its parentage. Then I undersood what is meant by your own design; if you cannot recognise its origin it's yours. I have continued to practice designing and I can assure all lacemakers that it is a right side of the brain activity. The reasons you think you cannot design are 1. when you think about it you get no answer, 2 like riding a bike, you have to practice to make it develop, 3. it takes courage and determination to try something when you are not sure if you can do it and it may all be a waste of time. Just have a go, you will probably be surprised.
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