Margaret has a great love for crochet, Irish crochet lace in particular and likes to incorporate stitches and motifs into her designs whenever possible. Combining luxurious fabrics and fine yarns she creates uniquely individual and contemporary pieces drawing inspiration from our rich cultural heritage. Her style could be described as simple, elegant and timeless. Each piece is designed and hand crafted in her studio in Donegal

Meet The Maker

I live in County Donegal with my husband and four children. I grew up in Tipperary, where as a young girl I learned the art of sewing and crochet. My mother was a huge inspiration and I remember her making dresses for me as a child. She always encouraged my creativity and when I worked in London, I continued to make my own clothes in my spare time. It was not until I was living in Donegal and raising my family that I began experimenting with the old and very beautiful art of Irish crochet lace.

Over the years, I met many amazing people while taking part in craft related ventures. This in turn provided me with an unexpected and wonderful opportunity to complete a BA in Fashion with Promotion at Letterkenny Institute of Technology and graduated with first class honours in 2020. It was here I honed the skills of designing, pattern drafting and garment construction.

With emphasis on creativity and originality it gave me the confidence to further explore innovative ways of working with Irish crochet lace. It is such a rich legacy, uniquely Irish, which has been preserved, loved and passed down through the generations. My aim is to infuse Irish crochet lace with contemporary designs, to make it wearable and relevant in fashion once again.

Margaret

Margaret Gillespie