'A P-lace together' , A virtual lace atelier 

You read successively: How do I participate at 'A P-Lace together' / History / Evolution / Exhibition

How do I participate at 'A P-Lace together'

To participate, you must register on the FB-page 'Kantcentrum' in the 'A P-Lace together' group. All patterns and technical drawings are available on the page of this FB group, in the section 'Files'. Every Wednesday, until July 1st, a new design will be posted on this FB-page.
Suitable THREADS are: Linen 80/2, Egyptian cotton 36/2, DMC fil à Dentelles nr 80 or Fil au Chinois
ALL THREADS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE ONLINE STORE OF THE LACE CENTRE ON THIS SITE. See:  https://www.kantcentrum.eu/en/webshop/garen 

The Bruges' Lace Centre organizes an EXHIBITION with the lacework sent to us by the participants. The exhibition will open on August 10th, 2020.
See more news about the exhibition in a separate chapter below.

HISTORY OF THE PROJECT 'A P-LACE TOGETHER'

When we were all locked down in March because of the pandemic caused by the coronavirus, the Bruges' Lace Centre and Museum was obliged to cancel its courses and close the daily ateliers.   Many of our lacemakers felt the loss, as the daily atelier was, for many, 'a P-lace together' - a place where people worked hard, enjoyed themselves and motivated each other and were proud of the work they and others had produced.  Suddenly it wasn't there anymore.   
At that moment, our lace teacher Xandra Ballieu had the brilliant idea of starting a ‘virtual atelier’, 'A P-lace together', a project in which every lace lover from anywhere in the world could take part.  Through her Facebook group, she invited everyone to work a piece of bobbin lace based on one of her own designs, which she made available free of charge.   The Kantcentrum immediately worked with her and announced the initiative on its website, 'Newsletter, and FB-page in a new group created for the occasion: ‘A P-lace together’. In a few weeks, the group had over 1,000 members.  The idea was to offer a pattern to work each week, as long as these difficult times last, so that everyone could continue their craft and hobby at home. After Xandra launched her second pattern, we also received plenty of reactions from our other lace teachers wanting to support this appealing initiative, who also set to work. This meant that we quickly had a lovely series of brand new patterns in reserve, thanks to Saskja Snauwaert, Veerle Meerschaut, Mieke Keeven, Lieve Pollet, Geneviève Leplat, Ingrid Casier, Katelijne Debaene, Suzanna van Nes, Sophie Poppe, Christiane Blokken and Annick Wils. 
The result surpassed all expectations.  We have had feedback from all over the world:  congratulations for the idea, technical and other questions and orders for supplies, but also lots of photographs on the FB-page of the pieces of lace in many colours.  Once we had announced that we were planning to organise a small exhibition of all this work when times were better, many people started to send their pieces of lace to the Kantcentrum. It warmed everyone's heart to see how an initiative like this created a bond and comfort in this world-wide, virtual lace atelier. 

In the meantime, the project has been an overwhelming success. On May 1st 2020 we registered the 1500th participant and on May 14th 2020 the 2000th participant. On 11 June, the project had 2,345 registered participants. On June 25th, we had 2,540 members. On July 15th we  had 2600th members.
The 16th pattern was published on June 24th. The 17th and final pattern will be posted on July 1st, 2020.
Each pattern has a pricking, a technical drawing and a description; these are all in the 'Files' block at the top of the FB page. This page will continue to exist. Anyone who wants to can still register as a member and make the strips.
Publishing patterns and pricks outside the FB page is strictly prohibited; all designs are protected by copyright of the authors. We ask everyone to strictly respect this.

EVOLUTION OF THE PROJECT SINCE THE BEGINNING

EXTRA UPDATE JULY 15th: registration 2600th participant
EXPECTED JULY 1st LAST PATTERN NR 17
UPDATE JUNE 24: pattern nr 16
UPDATE JUNE 17: pattern nr 15
UPDATE JUNE 10: pattern nr 14
UPDATE JUNE 7: extra pattern nr 13
UPDATE JUNE 3: pattern nr 12
UPDATE MAY 27: pattern nr. 11
UPDATE 20 MAY: pattern nr. 10
!!!!EXTRA UPDATE MAY 14th: registration 2000th participant!!!!
UPDATE MAY 13th: pattern 9 (number '9' in the FB-group)
EXTRA UPDATE MAY 12th: registration 1900th participant
EXTRA UPDATE MAY 11th: registration 1800th participant
UPDATE MAY 6th: pattern 8 (number '8' in the FB-group)
EXTRA UPDATE MAY 6TH: registration 1700th participant
EXTRA UPDATE MAY 1st:
This morning we registered the 1500th participant.It is a lady from Belgian Limburg.
This is an unexpected success.Thanks to this project, hundreds of lace lovers are working together on the same lace patterns in a large virtual lace workshop, spread all over the world, from Great Britain to Uzbekistan, from Thailand to Iceland.The Bruges' Lace Centre says a big thank you for so much enthusiasm, emotion, joy and passion.We will continue until at least the end of June to provide all participants with a new lace pattern every Wednesday.
UPDATE APRIL 29th - pattern 7 (number '7' in the FB-group)
UPDATE APRIL 22th - pattern 6 (number '6' in the FB-group) 
UPDATE APRIL 15th - pattern 5 (number '4' in the FB-group)
UPDATE APRIL 12th - pattern 4 (extra Easter pattern number '3a' in the FB-group)
UPDATE APRIL 8th - pattern 3
The third strip is a design by Saskja Snauwaert, also a teacher at the Lace Centre.
There are 4 PDFs for this design because you can also set up this strip with a straight start stich.
Suitable threads are: Linen 80/2, Egyptian cotton 36/2, DMC fil à Dentelles nr 80 or Fil au Chinois + a possible decorative thread.
UPDATE APRIL 1st - PATTERN 2
It is again a design by our lace teacher Xandra Ballieu. The pricking and technical drawing of the new strip can be found under “Files” of this FB-group.
New patterns are also ready or in the works for the coming weeks. So discover a new pattern at our FB-page every Wednesday, during these difficult corona times!
THE BEGINNING OF THE PROJECT - THE FIRST PATTERN OF MARCH 25th

EXHIBITION: August 10th until December 31st 2020

The exhibition will start in the Bruges' Lace Centre on August 10th and will last until the end of the year 2020.
In a few weeks you'll find here more details.
PLEASE NOTE: for participation at the exhibition, send -LATEST JULY 10th- your lace work(s) to 'Kantcentrum Brugge', Balstraat 16, 8000 Brugge, Belgium with label with your name, address and e-mail. If you would like your lace back afterwards, add a non-stamped cover with your name and address on it. The Lace Centre will send it back. Many thanks in advance for your participation.