Online Crochet Courses for All
Whether you're a seasoned crocheter or just starting out, Rita de Maintenon shares the timeless techniques at the heart of heirloom crochet restoration. With over 40 years of experience, she’ll guide you through heritage methods like Hairpin lace, Broomstick lace, and Irish crochet—making traditional fiber arts accessible for all skill levels.
Heirloom Restorations
Heirloom pieces are still appreciated as reminders from the past and they are sometimes in need of repair. Working with thread is my passion and a technique not often seen any more.
Heirloom Fiber Arts Blog
April Musings
From Threads to Treasures: Restoring Vintage Linens This Spring Welcome Spring! As I am writing this on March 27, 2025 – we in Western North Carolina remember the devastation of Hurricane Helene six months ago. GOOD MORNING AMERICA visited Asheville live this morning to update all their viewers on the progress that has been made,… Read More »April Musings
March Musings
If you read this in early March, I will be in Gatlinburg, TN at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts with a lively group of ladies, participating in my “Fun with Geometrics” workshop. We are exploring and working with Circles, Squares, Triangles, and Rectangles. These shapes lend themselves to a variety of design possibilities for… Read More »March Musings
February 2025 Musings
Here is wishing you a happy February! Enjoy everyone and everything you love, mostly yourself. I waited until well into January to undecorate my house and put the tree out to be shredded. We receive the mulch around our flower beds in the spring, so I don’t feel bad about getting a real tree each… Read More »February 2025 Musings
Unique, Wearable Fiber Arts
All are my crochet wearable art designs are original. Many feature vintage heirloom techniques, such as Hairpin lace, Broomstick lace, Tunisian lace, Irish lace and thread lace in contemporary application.
What Clients & Students Have to Say
~Pandora Law
Tablecloth arrived. It is beautiful!!! Thank you!!!
~ Meli Calkins
I finally got my bedspread onto my bed. It is my summer spread you see. Anyway, it looks absolutely beautiful! Thank you so much for all of your hard work.
~ Leslie Belcher
Just delivered. Beautiful work. Blends in perfectly. Thanks so much!!
~ Karen Clemmons
The bedspread arrived this afternoon, and I am DELIGHTED with the results! Both my wife and I don’t know how you repaired it so perfectly! That’s skill for you! Again, thanks for spending so much time on it and for doing such a good job.
~ Richard Giesler
The spread and the sham look fantastic! Greatly appreciated!
~ Edie Williams
I have received my bedspread and it looks absolutely beautiful!! You are amazing! Thank you so much, I feel blessed to have found you.
~ Martha Mezurek
The bedspread arrived back Monday safe and much sounder than before. The work you did is exemplary. The spread looks like new for the first time since It has been mine. And I no longer will feel worried when I make up the bed as there will be no great hole to tear further! Great-Aunt Stella would be pleased.
~ Karen Harmon
Just want you to know that we are so pleased with the table piece. It looks beautiful and is just the right size. The coasters are under dishes etc. that we have on our mirror cabinet behind the table. They make the two pieces of furniture blend together. Thank you so much!
~ Barbara Riccardo
I just checked out the work in the Black and White show and I think everyone that sees it will enjoy it. I am so thrilled and proud of your fresh take on ‘heritage’ techniques. Your pieces are my favorites in the show.
~ Janet Wiseman, Director of Education, Southern Highland Craft Guild
This morning I visited the Craft Guild in east Asheville I saw some of your things. I purchased one of them, a sweet little baby sweater for my daughter that I am expecting in November. I love it! Thank you!
~ Julie Dennis
I just wanted to check in and tell you how happy I am with my skirt. You did a great job! Fits exactly as I had hoped. Thank you again. We’ll look for you soon at the Folk Art Center
~ Lauren Wallace
I just wanted to write and thank you for the beautiful Baptism dress. We love it!! We tried it on Claudia and it fits great, there is some room for her to grow a little more. We are so excited for her to wear the dress, she looks so cute in it!! It is absolutely beautiful!
~ Tara Camisa
When I saw this book advertised as a pre-pub, I put in an order. And I am so glad I did. I received it last week and it is simply wonderful. The color illustrations are gorgeous, but even more important to me, the writing is both elegant and easy to understand. I am happy to add it to my crochet library
~ Graybeard's Wife
I took Rita’s Heritage Crochet course at Arrowmont and have been using everything she taught us. The book is a fortification of the course. Her finished products are beautiful and the pictures in the book reflect it. I was glad I could view some of these items in person.
~ Joan Setevens
Thank you so much Rita, I really enjoyed your class and I hope to keep trying the broom stick crochet.. even have a friend interested in it too. with both of us working on it together will make it more fun… thanks for the web sites… see you next year at the fiber fair!
~ Lyn Daulton
I so enjoyed your class on thread crochet and wanted to thank you again. I hope to schedule my next visit to the Folk Art Center when you are demonstrating— best wishes
~ Sheila Leverson
Thank you so much for spending time with me at the FAC last week. The information you shared with me-even tho beginning steps for you- were life saving for me. You are a PRO and I’m so proud of you for all you have done…You are amazing and your creations are spectacular.
~ Janice McDonald
I so enjoyed your class on thread crochet and wanted to thank you again. I hope to schedule my next visit to the Folk Art Center when you are demonstrating— best wishes.
~ Lisa Smith
I had such a fun time with you and the class last Saturday. You are a great teacher – fun, encouraging and easy to follow. Something tells me you have taught one or two classes before! I just want to tell you THANKS! and that I look forward to your emails about future classes.
~ Linda Pierce
Enjoyed your class last night. Would love to learn more. I will be calling to sign up for the Tunisian class. I reviewed your website a little and was so impressed with your work. I didn’t know that crochet could be done at this level. I know I’ve not seen everything but nor have I come across the lovelies like you have constructed. Love it.
~ Brenda Medford
I just wanted to let you know I really enjoyed the workshop on Saturday and learned so much! I look forward to more worshops with you! I already have questions, but will wait until I really need help to ask…thank you again.
~ Lori Jurkovic
I think you’re a great teacher and I’m learning from the best. It’s so nice to learn something new at my age. I took sewing lessons when I was twelve or thirteen. Later on, I was able to teach myself embroidery, needlepoint and crewel by looking at the pictures and following the directions but as I said earlier, there’s no way I could have done that with crochet. So, thankyou, thankyou, thankyou for your wonderful help and patience!
~ Joyce Reykert
I just took a look at the Brugge Lace on your website! Beautiful! your website! Beautiful! It has been a rare pleasure to spend time with you. Thanks to your incredible artistic ability and communications skills, my world has grown larger and more beautiful.
~ Betsy McCormick
Learn About Heritage Techniques on Your Own
Rita has detailed her techniques in two published books.
Heritage Crochet in a New Light: Enriching Your Designs with Heirloom Lace Techniques
