Nifty Needles Craft Designs

08/06/2026

Monday morning again… and another very busy teaching week ahead at Nifty Needles 😊💛

Tonight is the first class of the new 4-week Amigurumi crochet course where everyone will be learning how to crochet a bunny… or possibly a dog… honestly the jury is still out on that one at this stage so I’ve decided to simply give up and let everyone’s creation become whatever it wants to be 😂 Whatever it turns into, it will definitely be loved 😄

Then on Tuesday evening I’m away to teach a community needlework group how to do needle felting, which I’m really looking forward to. I’m planning to let everyone experiment and be creative, so it will be very interesting to see what appears by the end of the evening 😊

Wednesday evening is Week 3 of the Tunisian Crochet course and it has been lovely watching the ladies settle into such a different crochet technique. You can really see the confidence growing each week as everyone relaxes into the rhythm of it 😊💛

Then on Friday afternoon I’m spending the afternoon with another community group doing Inktense colouring and redwork. They’ll be stitching one of my newer designs that hasn’t even been officially released yet, which always feels quite exciting 😄

And somehow in between all the classes, travelling, prep work, and kit packing… I also need to get back onto the longarm and work through the ever-growing pile of customer quilts waiting patiently to be quilted.

So yes… another very full week ahead 😄

I’m definitely looking forward to a short little break in July!

So what has everyone else got planned for the week ahead? 😊

07/06/2026

After a wonderfully busy day yesterday at the Ballyronan Craft De-Stash, today is definitely a slower-paced kind of day 😊🧵

The kettle is on, the hand stitching is out, and I’m spending the day quietly recharging the batteries with a little gentle crafting.

I honestly think there’s something so calming about slow handcrafting… no rushing, no pressure, just the simple rhythm of needle, thread and creativity at a gentler pace.

Yesterday was all about busy halls, crafty bargains and chatting with so many lovely people. Today feels more like a day for cosy stitching, reflection and letting the mind settle again ☕🔥

So tell me… what is everyone else working on this Sunday? Are you stitching, knitting, crocheting, quilting… or simply enjoying a well-earned rest after a busy week? 😊

06/06/2026

Well… what can I say other than THANK YOU 🧵✨

Another Ballyronan Craft De-Stash done and dusted, and once again we are going home with full hearts (and very tired feet 😂).

Thank you so much to every single person who came along today - whether you were one of our lovely table holders bravely letting go of your highly treasured craft supplies, or one of the many bargain hunters happily giving those supplies brand new loving homes.

That is what truly makes these events so special.

It’s not just about yarn, fabric, buttons, paper, books, fibre and crafty bargains… it’s about the chatting, the laughter, the inspiration, the “ohhh I could make something with that!” moments, and catching up with so many familiar crafty faces.

Honestly, these events have become such a lovely part of so many people’s social crafting calendars, and without the encouragement, support and engagement from this wonderful crafting community, they simply wouldn’t continue.

So from the bottom of our hearts - thank you for supporting these events, for supporting each other, and for helping create such a friendly, welcoming and wonderfully creative atmosphere every single time 💛

Now… I am officially off duty for the rest of the weekend and fully intend to put my feet up and recover 😂☕🧵

06/06/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DBuEtiDei/

Do you know any weavers that would be interested in trading at our new Heritage Textiles Festival??
Being held at Belmont Hotel, Banbridge on 27th Feb 2027

Please tag them in this post!

Weavers, if you would like to be added to our applications list then please send an expression of interest by 5th July to [email protected]

And please tell us your:
Name
business name
Social media & website links
How much space you would need

Closkelt Yarns Hand spinning Nifty Needles Craft Designs

06/06/2026

I have a person to find ... so asking for your help in locating...

At the Ballyronan Craft Destash today a lady brought 2 sewing machines from one of the sellers... Patricia Hughes ...

One of the sewing machines... Pfaff ... had a bag containing the feet for the machine which was left behind ....

Patricia is wanting to locate this lady so she can send her the feet to the sewing machine...

The only details they have is that the lady's name is J Diamond and she came from Coleraine. They tried to find her but she had already left.

If you know a J Diamond that was at the Craft Destash today, please get her to send me a message/email and I can give her Patricia's contact details...

Please, let us get these feet and sewing machine reunited 🙏

05/06/2026

🧵✨ The Ballyronan Craft De-Stash is TOMORROW! ✨🧶

The weather may not be looking the best… but honestly, that just sounds like perfect crafting weather to me 😊

Come along for:
🧶 Crafty bargains
✂️ Tables packed with supplies looking new homes
☕ A lovely catch-up with crafty friends
🧁 Lunch & refreshments in the onsite café
🧵 Lots of inspiration for your next creative project

Many of our lovely traders are arriving with cars packed full of yarn, fabrics, papercrafting supplies, kits, haberdashery, books, fibre and so much more… and I know they definitely don’t want to be taking full cars home again 😂

📍 Loughshore Marina Centre, Ballyronan
🕚 Saturday | 11am–3pm

So… who’s coming for a rummage? 👀
.. Photos from our March 2026 Destash in Ballyronan ....

04/06/2026

🧵✨ The Ballyronan Craft De-Stash is this Saturday and the hall is going to be packed full of crafty bargains! ✨🧶

Whether you’re into sewing, knitting, crochet, embroidery, papercrafting, felting, jewellery making or simply love rummaging through lovely creative supplies, there really will be something for everyone.

We’ll have tables filled with:
🧵 Yarn & fibre
✂️ Fabrics & haberdashery
📚 Craft books & kits
💌 Papercrafting & card making supplies
📖 Great supplies for junk journalling
🪡 Needlework & embroidery items
💍 Jewellery making supplies
🧶 Felting materials
…and so much more!

I’ll also be bringing along a selection of discontinued Nifty Needles kits which have now been removed from the website, so there will be some lovely bargains to be found on my table too 😊

📍 Loughshore Marina Centre, Ballyronan
📅 Saturday 6 June
🕚 11am – 3pm

So… who’s coming along for a rummage? 👀🧺

04/06/2026

Heritage Thread and Fibre Festival

🤩🤩Exciting News 🤩🤩

We are now opening for expressions of interest for the Heritage Thread and Fibre Festival on 27th February 2027

We are looking for exhibitors and workshop leaders for our event with their products and craft. We are particularly looking for Heritage Textile Crafts.

To express your interest please email

[email protected] with your:

Name
Business name/Business type
Social media and/or website links
How much space you need (6ft, 8ft, 12ft)
Exhibitor or Workshop leader (or both)

Expression of interest open until 5th July 2026
Applications open mid July 2026

We can’t wait to hear from you.

01/06/2026

Well… sometimes things definitely do not go the way you imagine them in your head 😅🧶

While preparing the sample bunny for my new Amigurumi Crochet Course starting next week, I discovered that my “cute bunny” had developed a slight identity crisis…

First, Alyssa informed me that it looked like a dog.
Then a friend very kindly pointed out that it looked like a pig… apparently the pink nose wasn’t helping matters 🐷

So back to the drawing board I went.

First attempt at fixing it?
A nose job.

Sadly… the bunny was still questioning its life choices.

Which meant only one thing…

A full head transplant was required 😆

Cue lots of note taking, rewriting pattern instructions, crocheting an entirely new head, and producing a second sample bunny.

I’m still not entirely convinced I’ve created the world’s most perfect bunny… but at least it no longer resembles either a pig or a dog ... so I’m calling that progress 😂

I suppose this is your reminder that when something doesn’t work: ✨ don’t give up
✨ rethink the method
✨ make changes
✨ and try again

Because sometimes two heads really are better than one 🐰

Now I need honest opinions…

Does it finally look like a bunny? 👀

01/06/2026

Monday morning again… and somehow we’ve arrived at the 1st of June already 😊

Today Alyssa and I are making another trip back to Ballyronan for a completely impromptu extra sewing class. When I was up there a couple of weeks ago, the ladies all asked if we could possibly come back for one more session as they were sad to see the course end ... and they also wanted to finish their zipped pouches 😊💛

Of course, Alyssa and I kindly agreed to return… and the fact that it also means another late lunch in the amazing wee café in Ballyronan had absolutely nothing to do with our decision whatsoever 😄

(Although honestly… the thought of French toast and fresh fruit may just have helped persuade us 😂)

Then on Wednesday evening it’s Week 2 of the Tunisian Crochet course, and after that it’s full steam ahead getting everything organised for our Craft Destash in Ballyronan on Saturday.

So… who is planning to come along to the Destash? 😊

And a little tip from me ... if you’re coming to Ballyronan on Saturday, The Scullery is open and I can highly recommend both their brunches and their sausage rolls 😄💛