Weaving Time: Bobbin Lace Workshop with Cat Candow at Kings Landing

Bobbin Lace Workshop with Cat Candow offers a focused, three-hour hands-on experience at Kings Landing, a living-history site near Prince William, New Brunswick, Canada. In the Learning Centre you'll sit with Artist in Residence Cat Candow and learn the slow, tactile craft of bobbin lace, following step-by-step guidance to produce a delicate lace bookmark you can keep. The workshop is limited to eight participants, runs three hours, and is suitable for ages 12 and up; materials are provided and no prior experience is required.

This session feels like an antidote to the fast pace of modern travel: wood shuttles and bobbins instead of screens, attentive instruction instead of impersonal demonstration. The Learning Centre's worktables give clear sightlines to the instructor while you learn basic patterns, tension control, and finishing techniques. Because the workshop is held inside Kings Landing, plan to check in at the Kings Landing Welcome Centre before heading to the Learning Centre; you must purchase admission to Kings Landing upon arrival or present a season pass.

Beyond the craft itself, the experience connects you to regional craft traditions. Bobbin lace-making emphasizes fine motor control and rhythm; seeing an artist at work in residence offers a rare chance to ask questions about technique, materials, and local textile history. Small group size creates space for individualized feedback, making this an ideal activity for curious travelers, family members traveling together (ages 12+), or visitors who want a tangible souvenir made by hand.

Practical details are straightforward: workshops run in English, materials are included, and sessions are hands-on rather than purely demonstrative. Arrive early to secure admission, bring reading glasses if you prefer magnification for close work, and budget three hours for the full session. Since Kings Landing is an outdoor-oriented historic site, combine the workshop with a walk on the grounds before or after your class to get a broader sense of place.

Why book this? If you enjoy maker-focused, place-based experiences that reveal traditional skills, this workshop delivers: you leave with a finished piece, new technique, and a clearer sense of how heritage crafts remain relevant. The combination of small class size, an experienced Artist in Residence, and location inside Kings Landing makes this workshop a standout option for travelers in this part of New Brunswick who want an intimate cultural add-on to their outdoor itinerary.

Expect to cultivate patience and focus: instructors emphasize tension, pin placement, and neat finishing so your bookmark lasts. The bobbins, pins, and thread supplied are durable enough for repeated practice, and the small-class format encourages peer exchange—swap tips, compare patterns, and leave with a renewed appreciation for slow craft. It’s an accessible creative detour that pairs well with a day exploring Kings Landing’s grounds today.