What is the International Old Lacers Guild? The International Old Lacers Guild produces a publication full of patterns and travel opportunities to find teachers and resources. It is the national guild for...
It is the national guild for lace makers, and there are local chapters as well. It produces a publication called The Bulletin of the International Old Lacers, which has information on lace making events around the country like classes, lace days, and suppliers. There are patterns and ideas in it as well. It's just a really neat publication for keeping you in the loop about what's going on. Their website is www.internationaloldlacers.org, and is a good place to find a teacher or resources. It will also help you to locate a local chapter.
How does one become a member?
You just sign up by contacting ILOY for a membership application. You don't have to know how to make lace or anything like that. It's just an organization of people who are interested in lace. Some are more interested in lace history, lace care, or identification. You don't have to qualify or anything just become a member. Annual membership fees for the U.S. are $30. Being a member also gives us an opportunity to travel. There are a lot of opportunities for studies in the U.S., but there are also a lot in Europe. Many people go to Belgium. No matter what kind of lace you study, it's a life long lesson. There are so many regional types that we haven't even covered, but once you learn the two basic stitches for bobbin lace which apply to all European countries, you can spend the rest of your life learning beautiful regional patterns to apply those stitches to.
