RESTORATION, PRESERVATION & TEACHING SINCE 1983

Handmade multicolored crochet poncho using techniques inspired by heirloom crochet restoration, displayed on a black mannequin.

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.

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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.

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Side-by-side comparison of a damaged vintage crochet lace tablecloth and its beautifully restored version, with the words “Heirloom Restoration” across the center.

Heirloom Fiber Arts Blog

June Musings - May was a fast-moving blur while I was kicking off my summer season. I had several restorations coming in, enjoyed our annual Fiber Day celebration at the Folk Art Center and the kick-off to the annual Brevard Music Festival. Patrons had a lovely reception with previews of several of the operas and an opportunity to visit with new and returning students and members of the faculty. A musical taste of special things to come! Read More

May Musings - April was a fun kickoff to spring with several interesting events taking place after a long, sometimes boring winter. I completed a Daisy Wheel pattern tablecloth restoration in early April, which brought back some fun memories from long ago. Decades ago, my mother-in-law made several Daisy Wheel Read More

April Musings - Welcome Spring! Those of you who read last month’s Musings know how strongly I feel about the Olympic games and after they were finished, I could hardly wait for the Para Olympics in the same beautiful location, the Italian Alps. 1976 was the first year to include disabled athletes with their own event after the regular games concluded. Only 2 skiing events took place at that time, Alpine and Cross Country. Now, after 50 years, 79 medal events took place with over 600 athletes participating. Since the Para Olympics started, incredible advances in prostheti Read More

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.

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Learn About Heritage Techniques on Your Own

Rita has detailed her techniques in two published books.

Cover of "Heritage Crochet: In A New Light" by Rita de Maintenon, featuring heirloom lace tools and vintage threadwork with the subtitle "Enriching Your Designs with Heirloom Lace Techniques"

Heritage Crochet in a New Light: Enriching Your Designs with Heirloom Lace Techniques

Learn the history of heritage crochet techniques, and how to use them to enrich any crochet project. Clear instructions from master teacher Rita de Maintenon, plus 160 photos and online videos, take intermediate-level crochet skills to the next level, allowing you to learn to crochet broomstick lace, hairpin lace, Tunisian lace, Aran cables, and thread lace such as filet crochet, Irish crochet, bullions, and picots. These traditional skills also form the foundation of heirloom crochet restoration, helping preserve vintage techniques through modern hands.

After mastering the basics of these often undervalued skills, learn how to move between them, combine them, and—most importantly—move from pattern dependency to "pattern independence." Readers are guided in how to create their own designer projects without the need of commercial patterns. Original-design examples are featured throughout. This book belongs in every fiber lover’s library as a constant resource of information and inspiration.

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Cover of the book "Crochet for Knitters" by Rita de Maintenon, showing pink knitted and crocheted

Crochet for Knitters: The Marriage of Hook and Needles

In this book, master fiber arts teacher Rita de Maintenon shows you how to take your knit and crochet skills to the next level. Combine your knitting expertise with graceful crochet accents to give your projects a refined, designer finish. Learn to pair your favorite knitting style with easy lace crochet, use cast-on and cast-off techniques creatively, and add personality with handmade borders, trims, and embellishments.

With clear guidance and practical examples, Rita helps you move seamlessly between knitting and crochet—opening the door to a whole new level of creative freedom. These hybrid techniques are not only beautiful, but they also play a vital role in heirloom crochet restoration, allowing crafters to reimagine and repair vintage pieces with artistic flair.

Whether you're enhancing a personal project or preserving a family treasure, this book empowers you to break free from pattern dependency and develop your own one-of-a-kind fiber creations.

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Both Books Available on Kindle Now!

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