Instagram Lace Challenge 2021

In January 2020 we kicked off the year with the very first Instagram Lace Challenge. Designers and makers of all kinds of lace joined the challenge, posting stories and many, many wonderful photos of lace.

For a few minutes every day, it felt like normal life was suspended and I found myself immersed in everyone’s stories. So many different types of lace were shared from traditional to contemporary, bobbin lace, needle lace, embroidered lace, knitted lace, crocheted lace, painted lace, old and new. Some stories were funny, some were enlightening, and all were heartfelt. The challenge became about so much more than lace and was a way for us to tell our stories and share experiences of life and lace.

None of us could have foreseen what the last 12 months have thrown at us, the global pandemic that has undoubtedly impacted all of our lives in one way or another. It’s been a year of losses and cancelled plans. But we’ve shown how wonderfully creative and adaptable we are. We’ve looked for the silver linings to our situation, forged new connections, and made new plans.

How does the challenge work? I’ve created 31 prompts, one for each day of January. You can take part in as many of the prompts as you like. Interpret the prompts however you want and post a photo or multiple photos along with your post description to your Instagram grid using the hashtag #lacechallenge_2021

Check out Connections 2021, the online exhibition curated from the Lace Challenge!