ICA women’s ‘crafty’ advice packed into a new DIY book
Subtitled ’40 Projects To Make At Home’, the book was launched at the National Ploughing Championships. It contains simple ideas for beginners, and more difficult ones: “Try your hand at a patchwork quilt, children’s Aran jumper, delicate Carrickmacross lace, or add finishing touches to your home with red-work embroidery, fabric-covered boxes or seasonal decorations.”
The ICA women are generous with their advice. Wanda McCamley, from Delgany Guild, in Wicklow — explaining how to make a Peyote stitch bracelet — advises “buying good-quality beads, as they are generally more even. Don’t use any that are unusually big or small”. Betty Gorman, from Castletown Guild, in co Laois — instructing on how to make a hedgerow basket out of sally rods — recommends drying out the rods before starting your basket and then rehydrating them. “If you don’t do this, your rods will shrink later and your weave will become loose.”
