The Australian Lace Guild is the national organisation that supports lace makers nationwide, working in conjunction with state bodies. Membership in the Guild automatically includes membership in the corresponding state body, which organises various activities such as meetings, workshops, newsletters, demonstrations, and displays.

The Australian Lace Guild, founded in 1979 in NSW, was created to unite Australian lace makers. Initially, its National Administrative Committee rotated among the states every three years, with the incoming committee acting as apprentices and organising upcoming conferences and workshops. However, as fewer members could commit to six years of service, changes were made. In 2019, the Queensland committee proposed amending the Articles of Association to end the rotation system, allowing members of the National Executive Committee to come from any state. This change was approved in 2020, and in 2021, the first truly National Committee was formed.

The Lace Guild: Inspiring Creativity and Connection

At the Lace Guild, our mission goes beyond lace-making. We aim to:

• Inspire a love for lacemaking across Australia, celebrating its beauty and heritage.
• Connect lace makers and enthusiasts in a vibrant, inclusive community where creativity thrives.
• Empower beginners with resources, guidance, and encouragement to start their lace-making journey with confidence.
• Preserve and promote the rich traditions of lace, while embracing innovation and modern techniques.
• Foster creativity and craftsmanship, sharing knowledge and skills across generations.

Our members create lace for personal enjoyment and use. Lace-making is a satisfying and rewarding craft, though often challenging and time-consuming. It has not been made commercially in Australia for many years, as the time required makes it costly. For instance, creating just one square centimetre of lace can take over an hour.