Interview with Czesława Lewandowska, conducted by Agata Turczyn in Ostrołęka on February 28, 2018, for the Summer LSchool of Lacemaking.

Could you introduce yourself, tell us when you were born, and where you come from?

CL: My name is Czesława Lewandowska, and I’m a folk artist. I was born on May 3rd, 1953, in the Kurpie region, specifically the renowned Palm Sunday village of Łyse. People often tease me that since I was born on Constitution Day, I should know the Constitution by heart!

How did you become interested in creating art?

CL: I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have inherited the artistic traditions of the Kurpie region from my mother and grandmother. We had looms at home and wove textiles, later focusing on floral patterns. Our family was renowned for its lace-making and Palm Sunday decorations, thanks to talented sisters and grandmothers throughout the generations. My personal artistic journey began at the age of twelve with crochet lace, a passion that has endured to this day. While I've also explored Richelieu embroidery and knitted children's sweaters, crochet lace has remained my primary focus for the past forty years – or thirty, according to my records.

Interviewer: Who taught you how to make lace?

CL: My grandmother and mother were the ones who introduced me to lace-making. I was always fascinated by their craft. My mother was particularly skilled at embroidering beautiful Kurpie-style aprons for traditional costumes. While I admired her embroidery, I was even more captivated by my grandmother’s crochet lace. I spent countless hours observing them when I was eight or nine years old. By the time I was twelve, I started trying it myself. I was completely enthralled by it. I made countless doilies and tablecloths. We could purchase the necessary thread at the market in Myszyniec, which we visited regularly.

What kind of thread do you use?

CL: I use 100% cotton thread in size ten. It’s durable and can withstand washing and boiling, which is important because I've made a lot of lace inserts for bedding.

What does making such lace involve?

CL: For apron lace, I use basic crochet stitches: single crochets and chain stitches. To create patterns, the single crochets are worked more closely together. For a simple square, there are just four single crochets. For a looser stitch, I work two chain stitches and wrap the yarn once around the hook. Picots are added as finishing touches. The key to creating even, beautiful lace is consistent stitch count, gentle tension, and proper finger placement.

Where do you get your patterns from?

CL: I primarily create my own patterns. While I have several pattern books, I find it more satisfying to develop my designs independently. I’m inspired by the local environment. My husband and I used to explore the Kurpie region by motorcycle, admiring the tablecloths in different churches. We never copied them exactly, but would draw inspiration from elements like leaves, stars, or spider motifs.
I have a vast collection of patterns that I've created, often photocopying them for reference. For instance, I started with four lilies on an apron pattern and expanded it to twelve standing lilies. It’s a constant process of experimentation and development.

Interviewer: What do you make most often?

CL: Primarily, I create aprons for traditional ensembles. While embroidered aprons are typical in my hometown of Łyse, lace aprons are more common in other parts of the Kurpie region. In the 1970s and 1980s, I had the opportunity to design doilies and aprons for the Cepelia shop in Kadzidło.
Demand for my lace work significantly increased when I began creating aprons for folk dance ensembles. For example, I made 48 aprons for the Puszcza Biała ensemble led by Mr. Kozłowski from Pułtusk. This collaboration marked the beginning of my involvement with the Cepelia shop in Pułtusk, where I sold my patterns.

And besides aprons, what else was decorated with lace?

CL: In the Kurpie region, lace was traditionally used to adorn bedding. . Traditionally, we didn’t have sofas or couches; instead, wooden beds were the centerpiece of our bedrooms. These beds were lavishly adorned with feather duvets and multiple lace-trimmed pillows, stacked high for aesthetic appeal rather than comfort. Another distinctive feature was the 'sacred corner,' a special area within the main living space. This space was typically decorated with a white or colored tablecloth, adorned with delicate lace doilies, and often featuring religious icons and candles. My mother was also a skilled knitter, creating beautiful, large shawls known as 'dzianki.' These woolen garments were essential for warmth and were traditionally worn to church, particularly on special occasions like Resurrection Sunday.

Do you need to do anything after you finish crocheting?"

CL: "Yes, there's a specific finishing process. I soak the piece in lukewarm, soapy water for an hour or two. Then, I carefully rinse and boil it to sanitise. After drying, I starch it using a cold potato starch solution. For a crisp finish, I iron it through a damp cloth.

And if the lace gets dirty, how can you wash it?

CL: "If it gets dirty, it needs a gentle wash. I soak it in lukewarm water with a bit of detergent, then carefully boil it. Sometimes they get stained at events. After washing, I starch it with a cold potato starch solution. I use the same method for shirts, but for those, I sometimes boil the starch mixture."

Has anyone in your family taken over this tradition?

CL: My daughter has picked up some of it. She made a beautiful doily for a school project when she was in sixth grade. I still have it. I'm really happy because it looks like the tradition will continue in the Krawczyk-Lewandowski family. My grandson has a natural talent for crafts. He's already showing an interest in making palm decorations, though he's too young for lace yet. He might take up sculpting.

Do you see an interest in lacemaking?

CL: "There's definitely a renewed interest. At craft fairs and festivals around Poland, I see more and more young people admiring the lacework. Many of them say they're inspired to try it themselves. It's really encouraging.

[...]

Also, let me share a funny story about Łyse. About twenty years ago, there was a proposal to move Palm Sunday celebrations to the nearby village of Lipnik, just seven kilometers away. But Łyse had a long-standing tradition of celebrating Palm Sunday, over fifty years in fact. Despite an evaluation process involving both villages, the local parish priest, Father Pogorzelski, firmly opposed the change.

Undeterred, the priest from Lipnik came up with an idea to make his village's celebration more appealing. He asked me to create cassocks with lace inserts, hoping to introduce a touch of Kurpie tradition. I made them, as requested. However, despite this effort, the Palm Sunday celebration remained in Łyse.