Our Committee

Elaine

Secretary

I have been making lace for nearly 30 years. After two years of shorthand at college, I announced to the friend I had made there that I wanted to make lace and, lo and behold, she was a member of Glevum Lace Group in Gloucestershire. She took me along and I was hooked. I became a member of the Group, which held a Weekend Workshop once a year and they usually had four or five tutors in different laces. Initially, I attended the Torchon Class under Bridget Cook. In 2001, I decided to try Needlelace under the tutorage of Catherine Barley and continued her annual workshops at Glevum for a number of years. I then decided to have a go at Milanese Lace under the tutorage of Jennifer MacPherson and did workshops in 2011 and 2012.

In 1997, I tried to improve my skills by attending ‘The Skills of Bobbin Lace Making’ at Bristol Faculty of Art, Media and Design, under the guidance of Gill Simms. Unfortunately, I only managed the first year (Torchon Module) as, being a single mum with two young daughters, I found it very difficult to manage the time required to complete the course work – but, I found my passion for Torchon Lace, which is still my favourite.

I became a member of Edinburgh Lace Club in 2022 when I moved up to Scotland and I am also a member of Ceres Lace Group in Fife. I am currently the Club Secretary.

Evelyn

Treasurer

I became Treasurer in November 2024.

Lorraine

Course Co-ordinator

Lorraine is a newcomer to Bobbin Lace, winding her first bobbins with Carole Smith at the Edinburgh Lace Club weekend course in May 2024.

Her new interest follows a life time interest in all sorts of stitching, including embroidery (stumpwork, tambour and goldwork), patchwork and quilting and, in the last few years, dressmaking and pattern drafting.

Now retired, she had a career in biomedical science, firstly as a research scientist, then in patent management and, most recently, clinical trial management.

Lorraine has now taken on the role of Course Co-ordinator for the Club (November 2025).

Heather

SHG Organiser

Heather has become the Self Help Group Organiser (November 2025).

Roanna

Chair Person

I started making lace when I was 11 through my local Young Lacemakers’ Group, after seeing their ‘Have A Go Pillow’ at a craft fair. I moved to Edinburgh in 2011 and was happy to find and join the Edinburgh Lace Club. I have mostly done English Laces, especially Bucks Point. I am currently working on a scarf which I will still be working on no matter when you are reading this!

I joined the Committee in November 2021 as Course Co-ordinator and am now the Chair Person (November 2025).