I teach in-person, locally in Vancouver, sharing the art with others as it was given to me.

My Philosophy

I first learned to knit as a young girl in Ireland, the late 1980s. That was part of our formal education in school! But crochet is my art of choice, and I learned it from my grandmother Ada, and my godmother Mary. I will be forever grateful that they gave me the gift of the art. Irish crochet, and Irish lace making, is a part of my heritage.

Crochet is a skill unlike any other. It is capable of producing beautiful, intricate and delicate work, but can also be used to create three dimensional forms and stiff, durable fabrics. It’s endlessly versatile in a way that constantly amazes me. It’s also a calming and meditative practice, of adding stitch upon stitch with no pressure, no pattern, no direction to follow. The only wrong way to do it, is not to do it at all.

I am glad to teach others what I know. I have no set curriculum – I prefer to meet students where they are, not where they are expected to be. I have only two questions:

What do you know right now?

What do you want to do?

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What I can teach you

My specialty is teaching crochet for accessibility and mobility. My goal is to make crocheting possible regardless of what range of motion or dexterity you have. If you have an injury, disability, or chronic illness that causes your hands to hurt or lack the ability to do the traditional style of crochet, I know many different ways for you to try out instead – and yes, I’ve even managed to crochet with my feet!

I can teach:

• All common crochet stitches: slip stitch, chains, single/double/treble crochet, half double, increases and decreases, front/back loop stitches, front/back post stitches, waistcoat stitch, etc.
• Many common techniques: mosaic, corner-to-corner, granny square, magic circle and working in the round, fair isle crochet, shells
• Multiple styles, including traditional crochet (yarn on the left), and English throwing style (yarn on the right)
• Multiple holds and methods of keeping tension
• Crochet for left or right hand
• Learning with limited or reduced mobility
• Crochet using only one hand
• Crochet by feel or with impaired vision
• Deciphering patterns and crochet charts
• Problem-solving, modification, and fixing mistakes

Wherever you want to go, I will help you find the way there. If you know nothing, but want to try making the cute little amigurumi you’ve seen online, then I can guide you through your first stitches and talk you through the pattern. Have you made a scarf or two but want to get into making baby clothes? I have a large collection of books that you should see, and we can talk about sizing, modifications, and substitutions.

I believe crochet should be for everyone.

My Knitting Practice

Knitting has become a bigger part of my craft, as I’ve begun to create more clothing and accessories. I have found that knitting contrasts with the versatility of crochet; it cannot produce the same forms as easily, but the drape and flexibility of knitting’s woven fabric is superior to the knotted fabric of crochet.

I’m fascinated by vintage and antique knitting patterns, and I have built up a library of ephemera dating back to the 1930s!

I can teach:

• Continental style, English style, lever or Irish cottage knitting, flicking style, Norweigan purling, combined or Russian knitting
• All common stitches; increases, decreases, shaping, various types of casting on and binding off, knitting in the round or flat, the magic loop technique
• Fair isle, intarsia, and other color work
• Cables, lacework
• All types of socks (I have my own pattern for beginner socks!)
• Grafting and repair work
• Left or right handed knitting
• Unravelling and yarn recycling

I love chatting to other crafters, and I’m a big believer in slow fashion. My personal goal is to someday have a wardrobe that consists only of clothes that I made myself!