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

November Musings - The September and October record heat is finally producing a beautiful array of fall colors. The heat caused the colors to be 10–12 days past their usual arrival. The Blue Ridge Mountains and our Smoky Mountain National Park are all decked out to celebrate fall. The middle of October we celebrated our annual Fall Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands at Harrah’s Cherokee Center downtown Asheville. I did my usual lunch relief for some of our participating artists winging it without a helper. We have a small army of volunteers who enjoy booth sitting and other opportunities to be involved, and they are much appreciated. We noticed an increase of international visitors, and our overall numbers at the summer and… Read More

October Musings - After all the enjoyable celebrations in August, the month of September seemed quiet, boring and uneventful – until our much-anticipated annual Heritage Weekend with the national Whimmy Diddle competition. The youth group saw some new participants showing great form and enthusiasm! Some of our old-timers continue to win in their categories, setting a lofty example for our younger Diddlers. Heritage Weekend is a lovely reunion for us artists who practice heritage techniques to keep our culture and especially the local Appalachian heritage crafts alive. Read More

September Musings - August was an ongoing birthday celebration! As planned, I started the month with the long-anticipated Yo-Yo Ma concert in Brevard. He is on his farewell tour and was the closing act for this year’s Brevard Summer Music Festival. We had over 1,000 people enjoying the concert and his witty interactions with the orchestra, all Brevard students and faculty, and Giancarlo Guerrero, the conductor sitting in for Keith Lockhart from the Boston Symphony. 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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