News
Inspiring Yarns
Inspiring Yarns in Newtownards has a lovely selection of wool, and plenty of other craft supplies. Well worth a visit!
13 August 2025
Blog
News
Craft Demonstrations
As part of Ards and North Down Council’s Creative Peninsula, craft demonstrations were set up in the North Down Museum in Bangor on Sunday 3 August.
I brought several lucets, a Scandinavian braiding tool, for demonstration. Lots of chat with interested visitors, and a few who tried it out Lucets were used to create decorative braids and trimmings for clothings and household, and also to make more practical cordage and fine rope.
13 August 2025
News
Opportunity for Creativity
Ards and North Down Council kicked off Creative Peninsula on Friday 1 August in the square in newtownards. A number of us did some demonstrations in the Arts Centre, offering opportunities for the visitors to have a go at the crafts on display.
I had brought a number of peg looms and had plenty of customers, aged from under 10 to over 80.
Peg loom weaving is fun, easy to learn and provides an opportunity for creativity.
12 August 2025
News
Thursday with Molly
I had a lovely morning on Thursday with Molly, over from England and staying with her daughter Zoe for a couple of weeks.
An experienced knitter, Molly was interested in the Scandinavian craft of nalbinding. So we spent a couple of hours nalbinding, between cups of coffee and homemade cherry and lemon scones, and soda bread.
11 August 2025
News
Donated Fleeces
I was given about 20 fleeces this morning from a local farmer – a very welcome gift.
The first job to do is to ‘skirt’ the fleeces which involves removing both the very dirty fleece, and the shorter and weathered parts of the fleece as using these would create a poorer quality yarn once spun.
24 July 2025
News
Equine Halfway House
I was up at Equine Halfway House, a charity that I support, (and a number of my crafting friends also support it) this morning with a friend who is looking to adopt a pony as companion for her horse. Her old horse had passed on recently.
7 July 2025
News
Creative Peninsula August 2025
Discover art at its finest in 𝗔𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻 – Our Borough is well known for its many resident Artists and Makers and during the Creative Peninsula visitors can view their work, make a purchase or a commission or try their hand at making something unique!
3 July 2025
News
The Walled Garden Helen’s Bay
The Walled Garden in Helen’s Bay said: I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with the wonderful Christine Casey, a fellow champion of sustainable practices, listening to the gentle rhythm of flax fibres being spun once again the Walled Garden
20 June 2025
News
Peg Looms at Glenside Farm
Great morning at Glenside Farm – we were peg loom weaving as part of the Farm’s year long project looking at how fleece turns to fabric.
7 June 2025
News
Sustainable Tourism
This was a really interesting course – lots to think about in terms of sustainable tourism.
6 June 2025
News
Kiri Cottage Hosts Neal’s Yard
Lisa Swann from Neal’s Yard will be visiting Kiri Cottage craft club to run a free ‘create your own’ bath salts workshop. And there will be an opportunity to make purchases at the end.
2 June 2025
News
Kiri Cottage Pony Bead Bracelets
Last Kircubbin Henshed session this afternoon – we made ‘laced pony bead bracelets’. These are easy and fun to do, especially if there are plenty of beads to choose from.
29 May 2025
News
Kiri Cottage Lucet Workshop
On Saturday I hosted a workshop about how to make braids with a lucet – a Scandinavian weaving tool. This workshop was sponsored by Ards & North Down Council as part of its tourism experience development programme.
22 May 2025
News
Crocheted Tea Towel Holder
We saw an Instagram reel showing a crocheted tea towel holder to hang in front of the oven.
There was no pattern on the reel, but we decided to have a go at making one anyway.
20 May 2025
News
17 May 2025
News
Fairy Bells at Kircubbin Henshed
Fairy bells are hung by windows and doors, and their music invites in the good energy and keeps away the rest.
Look at these – the Kircubbin Henshed will be full of good energy!
17 May 2025
News
Kiri Cottage at Kircubbin Henshed
More woven paper plates flowers from the Kircubbin Henshed.
16 May 2025
News
Kiri Cottage – My Workshop
Here is my workshop today, mess and all – and my wee friends.
13 May 2025
Media Mentions
Kiri Cottage Business Video
Ards and North Down Tourism made a video about Kiri Cottage Crafts. I love how it has turned out.
23 October 2022
Kircubbin – The Ards Peninsula: An Ulster-Scots Heartland
We meet Christine Casey, owner of Kiri Cottage Crafts and a traditional hand spinner and weaver who is keeping the skills alive which have flourished here for generations. Produced with the support of Northern Ireland Screen’s Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund, over this series the Virtual Visit team are going to be tracing the legacy of Ulster-Scots settlers in this area and giving you a guided “in-person” virtual tour of the local heritage, history, stories and culture, accompanied by a local tour guide. The series has been shot using a 360° camera.
5 August 2022
Lucy Weaves with Nature
Christine was extremely welcoming and provided delicious homemade scones and cake, as well as tea and coffee. We started off with weaving outside, using all natural materials, this was very interesting and fun.
29 June 2022
Spinning with Dog Hair
Here is a blast from the past! This is one of my all-time favourite commissions – creating a one-of-a-kind jersey for the lovely Martin – owner of the Southern Ireland Dulux dog.
1 March 2022