INTERESTED IN LEARNING A TRADITIONAL SKILL?
Learn to spin wool from scratch and weave, learn about wool, learn to trust in your own ability to make, create and craft yourself a new future. Book an experience with us today!
CONTENTED, CALM, CREATIVITY
at your fingertips in Kiri Cottage
Kiri cottage is located close to Kircubbin on the Ards Peninsula. This area of outstanding natural beauty has always been a home to women who crafted an income and independence from their sitting rooms. With this area’s strong history of flax spinning, embroidery and bonnet making, learning to craft at Kiri Cottage weaves the past into the present.
MEET CHRISTINE CASEY
Spinner, dyeing and knitting expert Christine Casey will help you find pleasure in the possibilities of wool. She empowers people with the knowledge, and hands on skills to go home and make. Because in making, we make lives better.
Carding
WEAVING
DYEING WOOL
KNITTING
SPINNING
CROCHETING
WARM INSIDE
AND OUT
Part of the pleasure of working with 100% natural wool is that it’s a genuinely sustainable resource. Although the process, starting with raw fleece straight from the sheep, carding, spinning, washing and dyeing it into a unique one of a kind item is long, the reward is a breathable, flame resistant, beautiful fabric with a carbon footprint of zero
SOFT WOOL SPUN FROM SURPRISING SOURCES
Christine has created wool from animals including sheep and alpaca, but she also is highly skilled at using the softest dog or cat hairs to make more unique and memorable types of wool. From carding, washing and dyeing raw wool, to spinning it to create yarn, which she then weaves or knits, Christine will help you make practical and beautiful things both in Kiri Cottage and at home.
SPINNING STORIES TO A NEW GENERATION
In this part of Ireland, these skills were once forged and passed on through generations of women with quiet confidence – they knew you would always be better off if you could use your hands to make something of what you had.
Across the generations
WEAVE THE PAST
INTO THE PRESENT
Christine first learned to knit at the age of 5, taught by her mother, grandmother and aunt. Knitting arans, making Irish crochet and drawn thread work, they sold these items throughout Ireland and the USA. Christine then developed her skills in the 1980s, when she learned to spin, weave and dye at the Women’s College in Belfast, now sadly closed.
She has created her own unique approach to her craft over the years, commissioning spinning for niche markets, designing, spinning and knitting bespoke garments from other fibres like dog or cat’s hair. By passing this information onto as many people as she can, Christine is hoping that new generations of families can reignite the spirit of independent creation that makes Co Down so unique.
What Our Clients Have To Say
I booked a class with Christine as a wee treat for me and my mum!! Absolutely loved it and discovered the total joy of peg loom weaving!! Would highly recommend anyone to try!!
Rebecca from Ballygowan
Just spent a lovely afternoon with Christine and some friends at Kiri Cottage Crafts. Really fun, relaxing afternoon, learning how to use a peg loom, and made a great wee cat mat, for Lily and Lottie, the girls.
Judith from Kircubbin
Thoroughly recommend having a go at these craft sessions….if I can produce something useful, anyone can! Thank you Christine Casey!
Violet from Kircubbin
Had just the best afternoon at Kiri Crafts. Fabulous tutor, great fun, great craic and I learned how to peg loom and ended up with a lovely piece of artwork/cat mat, which I am really proud of. Thank u so much Christine
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