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FREEFORM
Freeform is being shown in 2026 at Forge Mill Needle Museum, Redditch (14 October 2026 to 22nd November 2026) , and will transfer in 2027 Farnham, Hampshire. Dates and further information can be on the News page.
Measurements are in centimetres (HxWxD or diameter if stated).
 Rhubarb Leaf Variations, detail 1by Ann Collier Having made one leaf into a fan, Ann made three more inspired by an old rhubarb leaf. Bobbin lace 33x29 Mixed threads |  Rhubarb Leaf Variations, detail 2by Ann Collier Having made one leaf into a fan, Ann made three more inspired by an old rhubarb leaf. Bobbin lace 33x29 |  Rhubarb Leaf Variations, detail 3by Ann Collier Having made one leaf into a fan, Ann made three more inspired by an old rhubarb leaf. Bobbin lace 33x29 |
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 Rhubarb Leaf Fan, detailby Ann Collier An old rhubarb leaf, full of holes, gave Ann the idea for another fan, the last of hundreds she has made over many years. Bobbin lace Mixed threads, wood 40x30 |  Rabbit Warren, detailby Gil Dye A lacemaking friend often accuses Gil of sending her down rabbit holes. The comment inspired Gil and led to seven needlelace rabbits in a bobbin lace warren. Needlelace and bobbin lace Natural and synthetic yarns, including Gil’s own hair 24x42x6 |  Whispers in the Wind, detailby Janet Evans A photograph called ‘Magical Gardens’ was the starting point. A painted feather was used to produce grass like wisps and the flowing lines of grasses blowing in the wind. Bobbin lace Linen thread 24x11x11 |
 Doodle, detailby Pat Brunsdon Pat began with a pencil doodle. In several places tear drop shapes appeared from which a face evolved. The red thread depicts the path the pencil took. Bobbin lace Cotton thread 30x24 |  Dancing Free, detailby Pamela Layzell Willy Lenski’s study for a painting showed a form dancing free from her background. Interpreting Freeform as lace for free, Pamela bought no new materials to make her lace for this exhibition. Needlelace Cotton thread, wire, wooden base 23x18x13 |  Organised Chaos, detailby Pamela Layzell After scribbling with her eyes shut, Pamela picked out a circular section and this design evolved. Like her other pieces here, the lace was ‘free’, made with materials she already had. Needlelace Cotton and linen thread, wire 66x14 |
 Random Waves, detailby Pamela Layzell Curves were randomly generated by throwing a dice and recording the results successively on graph paper. The initial curves were then repeated and stretched to form this design. Bobbin lace Cotton thread 37x16 |  Life Form, detailby Robina Melville The design started with an image of a cell structure which was freely redrawn. Colours and stitches were chosen as the piece was made. Needlelace Linen and cotton thread, beads 30x30 |  Gilded Pathways, detailby Sharon Lidbury The organic flowing curves hidden in a vegetable inspired Sharon to creating an embellished panel of organic flowing lines enriched with metallic thread, beads and bobbin lace to add a 3D dimension. Bobbin lace Metallic thread and wire 43x20 |
 Balance, detailby Robina Melville A section of a collage made during a design challenge, where dice were rolled to decide on the shape and number of pieces, became the basis of this design. Bobbin lace Cotton, linen and synthetic threads 51x20 |  Grasses, detailby Alison Tolson Alison was inspired by a photograph of grasses being blown in the wind. The panel was worked in larger than usual Point Ground with the grasses added in a variety of textured yarns. Bobbin lace Linen thread, mix of textured yarns 48x21 |  Meander, detailby Pat Brunsdon A clean sheet of paper and a pencil can produce a myriad of shapes. Pat selected a small section and mirror imaged repeats. Worked spontaneously within a few guidelines. Bobbin lace Linen, cotton and miscellaneous synthetic threads 69x29 |
 Moon Child, detailby Anne Dyer Inspired by and made from a belt and buckle, found in an Oxfam shop window, which Anne turned into a hanging with the addition of linking threads and beads. Macrame and painting Belt, thread, beads. 95x20 |  Random Memories, detailby Gil Dye Finding a long black Möbius strip alongside a box of assorted lace samples inspired Gil to create this piece full of random memories of past lace adventures. Bobbin lace and needlelace Mixed yarns 90x20 |  Shadows (of a former life), detailby Pamela Layzell Staying in a hotel while celebrating her husband’s retirement, Pamela was inspired by the shadows cast by a towel in the bathroom. She thought the ephemeral shadows were a free form. Bobbin lace Linen thread 28x46 |
 Splinters, detailby Anne Dyer The inspiration for this free flowing piece were the shavings and splinters found on the classroom floor after a wood carving class. Bobbin lace and filet Fine copper wire, wood 27x33x12 |  The Anatomy of Stitches, detail 1by Anne Dyer Anne has explored the movement of threads in fine lace fillings. She has interpreted very small details, crossing heavy cords in various ways. Bobbin lace Cords made of assorted threads 135x45 |  The Anatomy of Stitches, detail 2by Anne Dyer Anne has explored the movement of threads in fine lace fillings. She has interpreted very small details, crossing heavy cords in various ways. Bobbin lace Cords made of assorted threads 135x45 |
 The Anatomy of Stitches, detail 3by Anne Dyer Anne has explored the movement of threads in fine lace fillings. She has interpreted very small details, crossing heavy cords in various ways. Bobbin lace Cords made of assorted threads 135x45 |  The Anatomy of Stitches, detail 4by Anne Dyer Anne has explored the movement of threads in fine lace fillings. She has interpreted very small details, crossing heavy cords in various ways. Bobbin lace Cords made of assorted threads 135x45 |  Tie for a Dandy, detailby Anne Dyer Starting with a panel that didn’t work as planned Anne repurposed one of the bands as a tie for an imaginary Dandy. Bobbin lace Weaving cotton, chainette 70x32 |
 Scrunching, detailby Ann Wheeler Scrunched paper was flattened and used as a rubbing with selected lines developed. Bobbin lace and needlelace Mixed threads including perle, wool and paper 113x36 |  Sunny Hunny, detailby Janet Evans A stone collected from Old Hunstanton Beach and the patterns, shape and colours of this were used to inspire a freestanding pebble. Bobbin lace Linen thread 13x20x20 |  Froth, detailby Ann Allison A central ring surrounded by overlapping circles worked using improvised lace techniques, playing with structure, some loose and messy. Steel wire provided a firm inner edge for the resulting lace spiral. Bobbin lace Various linen, cotton, silk and synthetic yarn, wire Lace pillow is 61 diameter |
 Pebble, detailby Janet Evans A close up photograph of lace in ‘Sunny Hunny’ freestanding pebble was manipulated to produce this scarf. Bobbin lace Paris chiffon 40gsm (100% polyester) 133x31 |  Triform, detailby Ann Wheeler Developed from hand printed papers, using three colours, assembled together. Bobbin lace and needlelace Cotton perle thread 59x12 |  The Shrouded Form, detailby Ann Wheeler A design developed from drawings taken from images of the webs of the spindle tree caterpillar. Bobbin lace and manipulated scrim Mixed threads including perle, string and metallic 46x61 |
 Rannoch Moor, detailby Alison Tolson Alison started with a pencil sketch of Rannoch Moor and worked the lace as though she was sketching or painting with threads - ‘breaking the rules’ of lacemaking throughout. Bobbin lace Mainly linen thread 50x40 |
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