Darker evenings usher in sewing season

There's something about the darker evenings that gives women itchy fingers, writes Brian Byrne. Which means a steadily growing interest in the sewing, crochet and quilting workshops which The Cottonwood Tree haberdashery has been organising it opened in the spring.

"Yes, we've lots of people signing up," says Rose Doherty, who adds that she's been very pleased with the overall interest in handicrafts since she opened the store.

Several crochet workshops through October will deal with themes such as making winter scarves; doing flowers, edgings and borders; how to read a crochet patters; and Christmas gift ideas. There's also a knitting workshop dedicated to pattern reading, on 23 October.

Felting and quilting workshops are also scheduled during the month, and an all-day quilting event on 6 November will concentrate on Christmas patterns.

Courses range from €20, and further information is available from Rose at 087 2628305.

Rose is pictured with Katie Sheehan, who runs the quilting courses at The Cottonwood Tree.

(This piece first appeared on the Kilcullen page of the Kildare Nationalist.)