Barnet Lace Club Revives Endangered Craft Among Young Londoners

A craft once at risk of disappearing is being revived in Barnet and across London by a group of young lacemakers. Bobbin lacemaking, which involves twisting and crossing dozens of threads by hand to create intricate patterns, was added to the UK’s Red List of Endangered Crafts last year. Heritage Crafts, the charity that compiles the list, reported a 30% decline in skilled practitioners since 2017.

The London Lace Club, founded in 2023 by Lauren White and Amelia Watson, has become a focal point for the revival. The club runs fortnightly sessions at venues across the capital, including in Barnet, where members pay a small attendance fee. The money is used to buy equipment for beginners, ensuring the craft remains accessible. Most members are under 30, a demographic that had previously shown little interest in the tradition.

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Social Media Drives Interest

White told the BBC that social media has been central to the club’s growth. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok have allowed the group to reach younger audiences who might not otherwise encounter the craft. "It’s meant that we’ve got loads of people doing a 16th-century craft, which is kind of funny," she said. The club’s online presence has also attracted international attention, with members connecting with lacemakers worldwide.

Florian Barrows, a member of the London Lace Club, has played a significant role in bringing the craft to new audiences. His lacemaking videos on TikTok and Instagram have received over 1.5m likes and millions of views. Barrows, who learned the craft as a child and returned to it in 2024, described lacemaking as a mental challenge that provides a break from digital distractions. "You physically can’t doomscroll when using your hands to weave lace," he said. "It’s like doing a Sudoku more than it is like doing a craft."

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I thought since it’s an endangered craft, it’s nice to try and get it back out there. So many people have messaged me saying they’ve just started lace, or they used to do it when they were a kid and wanted to pick it back up.

Florian Barrows, London Lace Club member

Modern Twists on a Traditional Craft

Members of the London Lace Club are not just preserving tradition; they are reimagining it. Some have used 3D-printed tools to create more complex designs, while others have experimented with colour and beads to produce modern patterns. Hannah, a club member, told the BBC that the group provides both community and practical support. "If you get good enough at it, you can start creating your own patterns and come up with some really strange stuff that’s maybe a little less traditional," she said.

Jingyi Li, a textile artist, believes the future of bobbin lacemaking depends on pushing creative boundaries. Li incorporates lace into her artwork and sees the process as a form of self-expression. "Making lace, the process of it, is almost like diary writing," she said. "As a human being, you put a huge amount of your own time and also your own life into one physical piece."

Jane Atkinson, a contemporary lace artist with over 50 years of experience, has also contributed to the craft’s revival. Her 12-foot-wide lace installation was displayed at the 2024 World Lace Festival in Slovakia, where she was a guest of honour. Atkinson now runs online tutorials and virtual sessions, teaching people lace from scratch and building an online community around the craft.

What Happens Next

The London Lace Club continues to hold fortnightly sessions across London, including in Barnet. Residents interested in learning the craft can attend these workshops or follow online tutorials provided by artists like Atkinson. The club’s founders hope to expand their reach, using social media to attract even more young people to the tradition. Heritage Crafts has not yet indicated whether bobbin lacemaking will remain on the Red List, but the revival in London suggests the craft may yet avoid extinction.