Hairpin Lace: fun and versatile

Using today's novelty yarns and a crochet hook, the Riverbend Fiber Arts Guild members learned a Victorian era needleart technique to create fun and frilly neck scarves.

Traditionally, hairpin lace was made using women's hairpins. Today, hairpin lace forks (or looms) are made of various materials and come in a variety of sizes and styles. Or, you can make your own loom using simple, commonplace materials (coat hangers, stitch holders, knitting needles and, yes, even flip-flops).

To begin, the yarn is joined to the loom with a slip knot. The hairpin lace is formed by a series of loops as the yarn or thread is wrapped around the upright prongs of the loom.

A crochet hook is used to connect and secure the loops. The width of the lace strand is determined by the width of the loom. Many hairpin lace looms are adjustable and can accommodate widths from 1/2 inch to 4 inches.

If you can master a single crochet stitch, you are well on your way to a fancy new hairpin lace creation! Give this fun and versatile technique a try. Here are some online patterns and references.

The Guild Show and Tell consisted of hand and machine quilted quilts, knitted garments and scarves, woven towels, and hand-dyed and hand spun yarns.

The friendship quilt, called "Fiber Fiesta," is complete...
including the label.