Roscommon Lamb Festival

It's that time of year again, can you believe it !?

The Roscommon Lamb Festival is just over a week away. 

This year you will find me at the launch of the Festival in Roscommon Mart on Wednesday 1st May from midday with Frances Crowe Fibre Artist where we will be launching our very own event called 

Fleece to Piece 

On Thursday 2nd May Frances will be hosting a free workshop at her studio in Four Mile House demonstrating spinning and weaving from 11am-1pm.  Then from 2-4pm I will host the second part of the event at my cottage where we will use the wool created that morning to put together a final 'piece' (which is top secret for now) to be unveiled at the Wool Craft Village during the Family Fun day in Loughnaneane Park. 

As you will see from the pic below it promises to be a fun filled fibre day!

The Wool Craft Village is moving from it's usual location and this year will be part of the Family Fun Day in Loughnaneane Park.

We have a variety of crafts people on hand to demonstrate spinning, weaving, feltmaking, knitting, crochet and wool embroidery.

there may even be some live sheep shearing !!

As if that weren't enough I will also be exhibiting at the Festival.  I will be taking a stand in the Made in Roscommon tent (situated in the town square in front of the Bank of Ireland) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday selling all my handmade, homemade lovelies.  I have been very busy working on lots of new stock over the past few months so I'm excited to showcase it all at the Festival.  

Don't worry there will still be lots of my usual items including baby onsies with farm appliques 

and lots of knitting themed items. 

Hope to see some of you there!

It's May Bank Holiday Weekend 2nd-5th May

It's not all about craft though the festival celebrates lamb in many forms - this year there is a food trail where lots of local producers are opening up their premises for you to come and visit, there's music, entertainment, the infamous Brazilian BBQ and the Aileen Cust Memomorial Celebration celebrating the first female vet in Ireland.  That's just a snap shot though.  Check out the website for more details. 

As if that wasn't enough excitement, the talented young chef Donal Skehan will be popping by the Festival too with his new vintage van, Gertrude.

So what are you waiting for!?  Get online and check out the website for the festival and plan your fun filled weekend in Roscommon.

Keeeeeeeeeeeeeeep Stitching !!

Wooly Crafts

I'm busy as a bee

crafting late at night 

and early in the morning

getting ready for the

Wool Craft Village

I'm organising at this years

Roscommon Lamb Festival 

If you fancy trying your hand at any wool related crafts

I've organised lots of fabulous workshops

The Yarn Room

12.30 – 1.30 pm – Spinning with Nancy Devlin using a spindle and a wheel

1.45 pm – 2.15 pm – Beginners crochet with Patricia Kearney

2.30 – 3.30 pm – Feltmaking with Maggie Dolan

3.45 – 4.45pm – Loom & Tapestry Weaving with Fran Crowe

The Wool Shed

12.30 – 1.30 pm – Weaving a mat on a peg loom with Caroline Walshe

1.45 – 2.15 pm – Spinning Introduction with Gerardine Murphy

2.30 – 3.30 pm – Needle Felting for kids with Carmel Creaner

3.45 – 4.45 pm – Crochet– making crochet flowers & butterflies with Carmen Heffernan

To book your place on one of the workshops above please emailmichelle@michellemadethis or call Michelle on 085 1111984

I'm really looking forward to crochet flowers with Carmen Heffernan.  Carmen was featured in Mollie Makes magazine and has a beautiful shop on Etsy selling her crochet creations. 

In fact I want to do all of the workshops!

I've got lots planned for the day including a Knit'n Natter Cafe, a Spinning Area for people to join in and have a go and an interactive Knitting Circle.

Keeeeeep Stitching!

Mx

1000 Knitters Wanted!

Theres's just a few days to go

until the big event

and I'm telling you now

1000 knitters are wanted!

We want them all

to gather in Roscommon

On Saturday afternoon

at half past eleven

If you haven't registerd

just go online

follow this link

there's still time!

Come along

and be part of the knitting

help spread the word

and keeeeeeep stitching !!!!

If you're new to the blog I'm organising a knitting world record attempt on Saturday 30th April in Roscsommon town (Ireland) as part of the Roscommon Lamb Festival.  We are attempting to break the record for the largest group of knitters, knitting simultaenously at one time for 15 minutes.  Find more info and a registration form on the Roscommon Lamb Festival website  here.

Knitting, College and Baking

Had great fun at our first Knit'n Wine Night last night. 

I'm sure we will have no problem breaking the record for the largest group of knitters at the Roscommon Lamb Festival this year.

Quite impressed at the amount of guys we had knitting but of course they were a little camera shy.  More pics on our facebook page.

Meanwhile I'm here working on a college assignment euggh!

So looking forward to next week because we're on mid term break. 

This is one of the plus's of being a student :O)

Of course as is the case with me and assignments a little baking was done before starting ... and washing, cleaning, hoovering and even ironing!

One needs a few snacks to keep one going whilst working.

And they're healthy (ish)

Carrot cake muffins

yum! yum!

What's everyone been up to this week?

1000 Knitters wanted

Calling all you fabulous knitters out there.

Do you fancy taking part in a Knitting World Record?

If so how about joining us on 30th April 2011 in Ireland as part of our Roscommon Lamb Festival in an attempt to break the record for the largest group of knitters in one place.

Knitting was once synonymous with Ireland but like many traditions it's becoming a lost craft.  I don't want it to disappear altogether so I am asking for your help.  Please spread the word on your blogs, on your facebook, on twitter, in email or at your stitch'n bitch groups.

Here in Roscommon I am running a weekly Stitch'n Bitch with my knitting group The Cast Offs every Friday morning at 10.00 am in Gleesons Townhouse 

I have several other events lined up over the next few weeks including Knit'n Wine Nights, Interactive window demonstrations, free knitting workshops and so much more.

If you would like to join me and 999 other knitters just drop me an email at michelle(at)michellemadethis(dot)come.  Likewise if you would be willing to put some posters up in your local town let me know and I will post them out to you.

For more information

Click on the Knitting Record page above

Go to facebook/knittingworldrecord

Go to twitter/knittingrecord

Go to Roscommon Lamb Festival

Email me at michelle(at)michellemadethis(dot)com

Keeeeeeeep stitching!!

Knitting Lesson Part III

How to Knit/Garter Stitch

Once  you have mastered your slip knot and cast on your stitches you are ready to knit. 

Just follow this quick tutorial and you will be knitting in no time.

Enjoy!

Knitting Lesson Part II

How to Cast On

There are various methods of casting on stitches in knitting but I am using this method as I will be taking part in an attempt to break a knitting world record at this years Roscommon Lamb Festival and the rules are that two needles must be used at all times.

Knitting Lesson Part I

How to make a slip knot

The first stitch you will ever need when knitting is a slip knot.

A video may seem ridiculous for some of you but you would be amazed how often I get asked how to do this.

So here you go, in just over 20 seconds  - you're first step to knitting.

Enjoy!