Pudsey Lace Fair 2025

On the Saturday after we got back from holiday we went to Pudsey Lace Fair for a trip out. Pudsey is near Leeds so not too far from our house at all. I drove us there and Lee drove us back I think. When we got there, we didn't have enough cash for both of us so I went in and Lee went to get more cash and some petrol and then joined me later. He might not have needed to come in, really, but I wanted a couple of things for presents for me for Christmas or my birthday so I needed him to agree to them. 

I can't remember if I blogged it before but I used to make bobbin lace as a child and teenager but then gave it up when I got a Saturday job. I kept all my supplies, though, and in about 2012 I pulled them out again and made some little bits of lace, but nothing too exciting. Then earlier this year a friend at craft club inherited the bobbin lace supplies from her mother in law, and expressed an interest in learning to make lace. So I said I could help and pulled all my supplies out again. I have made a few pieces and really need to get my supplies in some sort of order as I have bought some bits off eBay. I still know how to make the stitches themselves, but the starting off of each piece needs some work. I've got plenty of books, though, so I need to choose one of those and start off at the beginning I think and learn my fundamentals. 

But in the meantime, beautiful supplies! I have heard of the lace fair for years and am so glad I went! I will go next year, too! There were people selling bobbins, tools, spangles (those are the beaded decorations on the bottom of the wooden bobbins), patterns, threads, kits, lace pillows, and every other piece of equipment you could hope for. There were people from different lace guilds and groups, including one which meets in Wakefield so I really ought to try to go along to one of their days. There were also some other crafts on display like quilts, crochet, cross stitch and so on. 

I bought a couple of small things to start off with and a tool for Catherine that she wanted. Lee joined me and we got some lunch in the hall's bar. They had a vegan sausage roll which was exciting for me! Then Lee and I went back around and I picked up some things that he and my mum had agreed to buy for me. So in my photo there are some things that I don't have yet, but will look forward to getting!

We got home and just relaxed for the rest of the day, but I did get a picture of my dress, which was an apothecary print dress from Carolina Dress Room I think, although I bought it second hand from a friend. I got a couple of compliments on it at the fair! 

This was a lovely display of crafts in the hall including lace making, of course, but a lot of other stuff too

Here's what I got. I bought the spangles and the ballet dancer dress kit for myself, but the rest is all presents for me so I have to be patient. The pouch top right is a bobbin holder, it has little section inside to hold bobbins that have threads wound on to them. I love the pattern! 

And here I am when we got home