RESTORATION, PRESERVATION & TEACHING SINCE 1983

Handmade multicolored crochet poncho displayed on a black mannequin

Online Crochet Courses for All

Whether you're a seasoned expert who wants to learn more about Heritage Techniques, or a beginner who has never touched a stitch in your life--your teacher, Rita de Maintenon, will teach you the techniques she has perfected over 40 years of experience.

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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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Heirloom Fiber Arts Blog

July Musings

By Rita | July 1, 2021

The sad events from May necessitated taking a close look at all of Dave’s computers and hard drives and it turns out that I will need several brave people to do all the different jobs he did for my Heirloom Treasures business. Paula Easton did a great job resurrecting this website but I will also… Read More »July Musings

June Musings

By Rita | June 23, 2021

This month’s musings are very sad but I want to keep all of you fiber friends updated. May brought us a fun vacation and anniversary celebration; we spent 4 busy days in Las Vegas and especially enjoyed the Paris, Paris Hotel and the Chihuly glass ceiling at the Bellagio. Dave took this image of the… Read More »June Musings

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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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What Clients & Students Have to Say

Thank you so much for your comprehensive and easily understood course. I have been wanting to learn to crochet for some time. Due to severe arthritis I now find it very difficult to knit. Crocheting has saved the day! I am so happy with my progress and am really proud of my efforts. I practice frequently and replay your videos and have now mastered all the basic stitches. You are a very good teacher. I hope you put out more courses on crocheting so I can expand my knowledge. I love the way you include projects to do. Thanks again!

~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

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. After mastering the basics of these often undervalued traditional 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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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 skills with interesting crochet accents to give your projects that designer look! Learn to combine you favorite knitting style with easy lace crochet, use cast-on and cast-off techniques and borders and embellish with crochet trims. Use your skills to combine knit and crochet, move effortlessly between them and create your own designer projects without the need for commercial patterns.

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Both Books Available on Kindle Now!

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