Our speaker for March was Karen Quickfall, who came to speak to us about Ruskin Lace. She took us through the history of this textile, and how John Ruskin’s housekeeper, Marion Twelves, started a cottage industry based on Sicilian and Greek embroidery, developing the form of linen embroidery that Ruskin lends his name to. Karen explained the techniques of making the lace, which is worked within the fabric rather than as an edging, and uses a set of basic designs which are worked into larger projects. This was accompanied by several examples of the lace for the members to take a closer look at.