Crochet Lace-Making with Cecilia in Aldona

The experience

Cecilia will sit with you on her veranda and slow the whole craft down to its basics — chain stitch, single crochet, the small looping motion that eventually becomes lace doilies and table runners. Aldona has long been known for its crochet workers, and by the end of the afternoon you'll have made a small lace piece using the same hook-and-loop technique passed down through generations of village women.

Why this matters

Crochet lace-making became a genuine cottage industry in villages like Aldona, giving women an independent income while producing fine work exported and sold across the region, and the skill is now held mostly by an older generation.

Cultural background

Introduced through Portuguese and convent influences, crochet lace-making took deep root in villages like Aldona, where generations of women produced doilies, table linens and lace trims both for home use and for sale.

Meet the practitioner

We're still verifying a practitioner for this experience — check back soon.

Schedule

Gallery

Cecilia's veranda workspace with lace samples

Learning the basic chain stitch

A finished crochet lace motif

Photographs from this experience will replace these panels once available.

Before you arrive

• · No prior crochet experience required
• · Bring reading glasses if needed for close work
• · Comfortable seated clothing

Frequently asked

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