Nifty Needles Craft Designs

Nifty Needles Craft Designs I am a tutor for group workshops, specialising in fibre arts. I am passionate about fostering creativity in a supportive and relaxed atmosphere.

I design needlework and sewing patterns/kits, I offer longarm quilting services and handmade crafting notions. I am a fibre artist and tutor who has been spinning, dyeing,sewing, knitting and crocheting for over 40 years. I was taught to sew when I was 10 years old by my mother who was a professional dressmaker. She also taught me to knit, crochet and do needle work. I grew up in a family of women

who filled their time with hand crafts for both work and pleasure. I was taught to spin when I was in my early teens by an elderly family friend in New Zealand, where I was born and grew up, who spun lace weight yarn directly from the fleece to crochet wedding gowns. In New Zealand I worked with adults with a learning disability (mainly autism and Downs Syndrome) to teach and support them to weave, spin, dye and knit articles which they sold in their local craft shop. I have also been an active member in several spinning guilds both in New Zealand and Northern Ireland

Here in Northern Ireland I have held workshops at Ulster Folk & Transport Museum for the local spinning guild. I have also tutored at local craft groups, community groups and Quilting shops (Northern Ireland & Ireland) in knitting, quilting, sewing, crocheting and various other traditional crafts. I have demonstrated spinning at various sheep shows, primary schools and museum open days both in New Zealand and Northern Ireland. I have extensive experience working with younger people, older people and adults with a learning disability so I can tailor workshops to different groups such as community groups,local craft groups or social groups which may include people of various ages and abilities. Many of the workshops that I conduct are reviving skills of a bygone era, so taking part in one of the workshops is to ensure that the skills of the past are not forgotten and we can enjoy them again and pass them onto the next generation. I have an online store where I sell my own patchwork & sewing designs in both written & PDF form, along with kits and sewing notions. My patterns are written for all levels of sewers and are supported with comprehensive instructions and diagrams so even the less experienced sewer can product a piece of art. My designs range from small to large items. I love to include applique (both blanket stitch and needle turn), Inktense colouring and embroidery/redwork in my designs. My quilts reflect this in their designs and many are available as BOM (block of the month) patterns or you can purchase the set of monthly patterns in one purchase. My website is https://niftyneedles.com/

Monday morning again… and another busy week ahead at Nifty Needles 😊💛This evening is Week 2 of the Amigurumi course and ...
15/06/2026

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

This evening is Week 2 of the Amigurumi course and I’m pleased to report that my bunny/dog has now officially been named by the ladies in the class 😂

Meet Frankie.
Or Frankenstein.
Depending on who you ask 😄
It was unanimously agreed that poor Frankie is having a bit of an identity crisis, but is still completely adorable! Honestly, I love teaching classes where everyone has such a great sense of humour 😊💛

Tomorrow morning is my hair appointment, which means a few hours of enforced relaxing (whether I like it or not 😄).

Then on Wednesday evening it’s back to Tunisian Crochet, and it has been lovely watching everyone's confidence grow as they settle into this completely different crochet technique.

Friday will be spent packing the car absolutely to the gills as Alyssa and I get ready to head down to Wicklow for the weekend. We need to fit in shop stock, workshop supplies, teaching materials, display items… and somehow leave enough room for a few clothes as well 😂

We’re staying overnight, which we’re really looking forward to. It’s going to be a busy, hectic, fun-filled weekend and I can't wait 😊

Of course, in between all of that there will still be the usual behind-the-scenes work, customer quilts waiting for the longarm, website updates, and the never-ending list that somehow keeps growing instead of getting shorter 😄

So that's my week ahead...

If you were heading away for a creative weekend, what is the one thing you would be most worried about forgetting to pack? 😄💛

You can make fun of my knitting... but remember... I am the one with the pointy sticks. 🧶😏
14/06/2026

You can make fun of my knitting... but remember... I am the one with the pointy sticks. 🧶😏

Beautiful things take time...One thing I've learned over the years is never to rush fabric choices.When starting a new p...
13/06/2026

Beautiful things take time...
One thing I've learned over the years is never to rush fabric choices.
When starting a new project, I often think I've made my final selection, only to find myself adding another fabric, removing one that isn't quite working, or changing the thread colour completely!

This collection has been sitting on my worktable for the past few days. Every time I walked past, I stopped for another look. A few extra fabrics found their way into the pile, the original thread colour quietly disappeared, and little by little the collection evolved into something that felt just right.

Today I've finally reached the point where I can say:
This is the final selection.
No more second-guessing.

Now the real design work begins.
There's a very special project growing behind the scenes at Nifty Needles and while I'm not quite ready to reveal it yet, I can't wait to share more of the journey as it unfolds.

For now, I'll leave you with these fabrics and threads and let your imagination wander...

What do you think the colours are inspiring?

🌿🧵🌸

Alyssa and I had a lovely afternoon with the ladies in Ahoghill today ☺️ They spent a relaxing afternoon learning the te...
12/06/2026

Alyssa and I had a lovely afternoon with the ladies in Ahoghill today ☺️

They spent a relaxing afternoon learning the technique of inktense colouring with one of my latest designs ...

They had a choice of either Spring or summer from the new collection- from seed to Bloom ....

Their designs looked amazing 👏 looking forward to returning in 2 weeks to do the stitching on the designs 😀

Thank you Ahoghill Quilters for inviting us today ... we thoroughly enjoyed the day 😀

Every new design collection begins with thoughts, ideas… and the search for the perfect fabric palette and thread colour...
10/06/2026

Every new design collection begins with thoughts, ideas… and the search for the perfect fabric palette and thread colour 🪡🌿

I have quietly been gathering together softened florals, aged textures and beautiful Perlé cotton threads as I begin working on something very special for Nifty Needles.

A new creative journey is slowly taking shape behind the scenes… inspired by heritage textiles, slow stitching and the joy of creating something meaningful over time.

This one is going to be a little different… and I cannot wait to share more with you as the ideas begin to grow 💛

For now though… the fabrics and threads are speaking for themselves beautifully.

Monday morning again… and another very busy teaching week ahead at Nifty Needles 😊💛Tonight is the first class of the new...
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? 😊

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

Well… what can I say other than THANK YOU 🧵✨Another Ballyronan Craft De-Stash done and dusted, and once again we are goi...
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 😂☕🧵

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06/06/2026

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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

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Banbridge

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