instructional videos

introduction

Traditionally, children learned Armenian needlelace and other forms of ancestral handwork from their relatives, neighbors, and friends. Today, people often still prefer to learn in community, whether in person or online, but sometimes gathering together is a challenge. See our Teachers page for more information on guided learning opportunities.

While some of the traditional methods of transmission still take place, it is becoming more commonplace to use prerecorded online resources. Videos made by others such as the ones featured below can serve as a bridge towards making needlelace in community or solitude. Also, as mentioned on our Texts page, please note that variations in techniques, patterns, and instructional styles between makers are to be expected.

recommended videos

be inspired with ashley

Through her YouTube channel “Become Inspired,” Ashley shares her creative and DIY passions, from needlelace making to cooking, gardening, and more. In fact, she has nearly sixty videos (all in English) in her Armenian Needlelace playlist! We are highlighting a few below to help you get started. Once you have viewed and practiced her instructions for beginners, try your hand at more advanced patterns, such as caterpillar, honeycomb, and Ararat mountain.

Armenian Needle Lace for Beginners
(Part 3 of 8)

Armenian Needle Lace for Beginners
(Part 1 of 8)

Armenian Needle Lace for Beginners
(Part 2 of 8)

teryan cultural center

Founded in 2004, the Teryan Cultural Center in Yerevan, Armenia, is an NGO that preserves and promotes Armenian cultural heritage through a focus on traditional handwork and clothing. As a creative and educational platform, the center restores and recreates regional folk costumes as well as providing humanitarian support, vocational training, and cultural events in Armenia and beyond.

Teryan’s instructional videos feature highly skilled artists offering in-depth introductions to several Armenian handwork traditions (e.g., from Antep, Marash, etc.). Linked below, Teryan’s three-part series on Armenian needlelace is presented by Iskuhi Sarkisyan, a key student of celebrated Armenian needlework artist and scholar Lusine Mkhitaryan. While the videos are in Eastern Armenian—as is Lusine’s needlelace text—we encourage all interested learners, including non-Armenian speakers, to practice following along with Iskuhi’s precise and intricate movements.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

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