Pattern play can be magic – with the right strategies, original designs can flow easily and never again need we be short of exciting new projects to keep us busy.

Why not join me in France at Le Vieux Monastère in 2010 for a relaxing but stimulating week of lace design and interesting adventures around the lovely countryside and fascinating towns of the Charente Maritime, and let that magic work for you?

Having spent the past 20 years encouraging lacemakers to enjoy experimenting with
 

design, I have tested many different routes into creative play. I might have a vague idea to start with, but it only takes a short time for a practical project to crystalise. The project shown below demonstrates how things can develop.

The inspiration for pattern design is all around us, and we are also programmed to respond to symmetry and pattern. It can be thrilling to know that the design on our pillow is totally original and personal, and perhaps we conjured it out of thin air..

More...   (Review of 2009 Course)
 

I’d bought a jacket in the Spring, printed with an ethnic design, and fancied making a scarf to go with it. But as I worked on it extra avenues just kept presenting themselves.

The scarf idea worked fine, allowing me to create a black silk lattice with russet chenille motifs working through it – but could I do more? Could I develop it while still keeping simple control over colour effects?
 

First I spaced the lattice out into connecting diamonds, then spread these further, trying them in shades of colour, then drawing a wavy grid so that the design took on new possibilities. One design became more than a dozen, including table linen and café curtains. I must also find time to make the original scarf!