A Walk in the Woods

This years Pittenweem Arts Festival Community Craft Project is all about a Walk in the Woods!  A wide ranging theme that covers forests and woods, their trees, leaves and flowers as well as animals!

As in past years, there are regular get togethers in the shop, where you can chat with Anne-Marijke, project coordinator, and other makers.  There will be stash yarns and pattern ideas too!

The first meeting will be on Friday 14th February 10:30am - 12:30pm.

We’ve got a Pinterest board with some Ravelry inspiration here.  And Anne-Marijke has one here too.

If you want to know more about the Community Craft Project, you can read more here.

Over the past 11 years, more than £20,000 has been raised for national and local charities!

Items made will be sold during the 2020 Pittenweem Arts Festival in August.

Sea and Shore

This year's Community Craft project was in aid of Parkinson's UK and The Reaper Restoration.

Inspired by the theme Sea and Shore, a variety of handmade items were sold during this years Pittenweem Arts Festival.

The amazing sum of £2422 was raised during the 9 day festival!

Thank you to everyone who donated their stash and time to make items and to all those who bought an item too.

Sea & Shore

This years Pittenweem Arts Festival Craft project is inspired by the sea and shore!

Think seascapes, sandcastles, beach huts, bunting, seashells, boats, sea life, mermaids, waves...

The first get together is in the shop on Wednesday 13th February from 1:30pm.  Anne-Marijke will be here with ideas and a box of stash.  Feel free to pop in and find out more about the project!

This is the 11th year of the Community Craft project. This vibrant community project inspires both local residents and visitors to make a wide range of items, sometimes learning new techniques! It creates a wonderful display of handicraft skills and it raises funds for many diverse causes. In the past 10 years it has donated over £20,000 to local and national charities.

It's not just knitted, but crocheted and sewn items too!

You can read more about this annual fundraiser here.

Check out our own Pinterest board of Ravelry pattern here.

Pittenweem Arts Festival

Arts Festival Box Office at 47 High Street, just a few doors down from us

The Pittenweem Arts Festival is an annual visual arts event in places and spaces around the village. You can read more about the festival on their website, including the parking restrictions!

The festival runs from Saturday 4th to Sunday 12th August.  

As usual the shop is EVERYDAY during the Arts Festival.  10am to 5pm.  

We're well stocked up with Zauberballs, Vivacious 4ply, Socks Yeah and Jamieson's Spindrift and lots lots more! Including a stunning trunk show from My Mama Knits starting on the 1st August.  

My Mama Knits

It will be here until the Perth Yarn Festival in early September, or as long as stocks last. 

We also have our annual sample sale, including shawls, garments and baby items!

Hearts and Crafts at the Pittenweem Arts Festival

Hearts and Crafts, this years Community Craft Project, is at Venue 48, Coastline Community Church.  

There are lots of beautiful handmade items inspired by this year's theme of hearts.  These items will be sold on behalf of two charities  - The British Heart Foundation Scottish Branch and The Pittenweem Fishermen’s Memorial Association.

This is the 10th anniversary of the project, which has raised over £18,000 for charities.  You can read more about it here!

indicative only... we'll share images of the actual badges when we get them!
{photo credit Lorna Reid}

We will also have some beautiful hand stitched badges by Lorna of Chookiebirdie.

{photo credit Lorna Reid}

Lorna is also showing a new collection of large scale work in Pat Holland and Ian Ledward's venue at 1 Mid Shore.  Check out her Instagram for work in progress images!  

Really looking forward to seeing these in real life.

Remember!  The Woolly Brew is open EVERYDAY, 10am - 5pm, Saturday 4th to Sunday 12th August.

Hope to see you soon!

Community Craft Project at Pittenweem Arts Festival

Fish, Tea Cosies, Hats to Bonnets, Festive Flowers, Couthie Cushions
Winter Warmers, It's a Hoot, Christmas in Summer, Thistles Galore

It's the 10th anniversary of the Pittenweem Arts Festival Community Craft project!

This vibrant community project inspires both local residents and visitors to make a wide range of items, sometimes learning new techniques!

It creates a wonderful display of handicraft skills and it raises funds for many diverse causes.  In the past 9 years it has donated over £18,000 to local and national charities.

Anne-Marijke Querido with Festive Flowers

Project co-ordinator Anne-Marijke has brought together knitters, crocheters, patchworkers, sewers and felters.

Each year they work within a theme.  So far the group have made fish, tea cosies, hats, flowers, and cushions, and been inspired by the themes of thistles, Christmas, owls and winter warmers.

Each item is sold during the Pittenweem Arts Festival which takes place annually at the beginning of August.

Cheque presentations 2012 and 2016 

Proceeds are then split and donated to charity groups.

Beneficiaries have included local organisations like the East Neuk Community Trust and the East Neuk Food Bank as well as the local branch of national charities such as Marie Curie Cancer Care and Alzheimer Scotland.

Tayside Children with Cancer and Leukaemia
It's a Hoot cheque presentation 2015

Want to support this Community Craft Project?

Hearts & Crafts 2018

You can donate an item for sale - this year's theme is Hearts!

You can volunteer to help with the exhibition!

You can buy something!  This year's Pittenweem Arts Festival is on 4th - 12th August 2018

Hearts and Crafts

The next get-togethers for Hearts and Crafts have been scheduled!

Come along for pattern ideas from project co-ordinator Anne-Marijke.

Don't worry if you can't make it. You can still donate heart themed items for sale, just drop them of at the shop.

Remember this is not just about knitting or crochet, sewers, embroiderers and quilters can contribute too!

In the last 9 years this project has raised over £18,000! Let's make this 10th anniversary year the best yet.

Items will be sold during the Pittenweem Arts Festival in August and proceeds will be donated to the British Heart Foundation and the Pittenweem Fishermen's Memorial Association.

Hearts and Crafts

The next get-togethers for Hearts and Crafts have been scheduled!

Come along for pattern ideas from project co-ordinator Anne-Marijke.  Check out her Pinterest board here.  And of course we have our own board too.

Hope to see you at one or both!  But don't worry if you can't make it.  You can still donate heart themed items for sale, just drop them of at the shop.

Remember this is not just about knitting or crochet, sewers, embroiderers and quilters can contribute too! In the last 9 years this project has raised over £18,000! Let's make this 10th anniversary year the best yet

Oh... and proceeds this year will be donated to the British heart Foundation and the Pittenweem Fishermen's Memorial Association.

Hearts and Crafts

This years theme for the Pittenweem Arts Festival Craft project is hearts!  Items inspired by this theme will be sold during the Pittenweem Arts Festival in August.  Money raised will be donated to charity (to be announced).

The launch will happen on Sunday 11th February 2-4pm in the shop.

Come along for pattern ideas from project co-ordinator Anne-Marijke.

Check out her Pinterest board here.  And of course we have our own board too.  Remember this is not just about knitting or crochet, sewers, embroiderers and quilters can contribute too!

In the last 9 years this project has raised over £18,000!  Let's make this 10th anniversary year the best yet!

Pittenweem Arts Festival 2017

This years Pittenweem Arts Festival is from Saturday 5th to Sunday 13th August.

As usual we will be open every day during the Festival, including Sunday and Monday, and we are open until 5pm!

This is a great opportunity to visit Pittenweem and see lots of fantastic art displayed in homes, gardens and businesses around the village.  And of course buy some yarn!

It can get very busy, so please check out the travel guide on the Arts Festival website.

Thistles Galore is at Venue 27, Coastline Community Church on Session Street.

This community craft project, led by Anne-Marijke Querido, has raised over £16,000 for Scottish and local charities over the past 9 years.    You can read more about the project here

There are some amazing pieces for sale from several crafts... knitted, crocheted, sewn, patchworked and quilted.  Please check it out.  This years charities are MS Fife Group and the brand new Pittenweem Community Library.

Remember we are open every day, 10am-5pm, from 5th - 13th August (inclusive)

Thistles Galore

We have another set of dates for the Pittenweem Arts Festival Community Craft Project - Thistles Galore.

Project Co-ordinator Anne-Marijke will be at the shop on Wednesday 7th June (and Saturday 8th July) with her box of stash and book of ideas. Please come along and get some inspiration... and join this successful community project.

We've got a folder stuffed with thistle ideas and a Pinterest board too.

As usual you can knit, crochet or sew.  All items will be sold during the Pittenweem Arts Festival in August. 

Money raised will go to two charities - MS Fife Group and the Pittenweem Community Library

You can read about previous years by clicking the links below...

Christmas in Summer, Its a Hoot, Winter Warmers, Couthie Cushions, Festive Flowers and Bonnets to Berets. These links will start at the end of each project, you'll need to scroll through them to see the full story! Over the past 8 years this project has donated £16,292 to different charities!

Thistles Galore

We have another set of dates for the Pittenweem Arts Festival Community Craft Project - Thistles Galore.

Project Co-ordinator Anne-Marijke will be at the shop on the 5th April (and 5th May) with her box of stash and book of ideas. Please come along and get some inspiration... and join this successful community project.


We've got a folder stuffed with thistle ideas and a Pinterest board too.

As usual you can knit, crochet or sew.  All items will be sold during the Pittenweem Arts Festival in August. 

Money raised will go to two charities - MS Fife Group and the Pittenweem Community Library

You can read about previous years by clicking the links below...

Christmas in Summer, Its a Hoot, Winter Warmers, Couthie Cushions, Festive Flowers and Bonnets to Berets. These links will start at the end of each project, you'll need to scroll through them to see the full story! Over the past 8 years this project has donated £16,292 to different charities!

Thistles Galore

Pittenweem Arts Festival Community Craft Project 2017 is very Scottish and a bit prickly.

As usual you can knit, crochet or sew.  All items will be sold during the Pittenweem Arts Festival in August.

Money raised will go to charity (to be decided!)

Project Co-ordinator Anne-Marijke will be at the shop on the 3rd Feb (and 2nd Mar) with her box of stash and book of ideas. Please come along and get some inspiration... and join this successful community project.

We've got a folder stuffed with thistle ideas and a Pinterest board too.

You can read about previous years by clicking the links below...

Christmas in Summer, Its a Hoot, Winter Warmers, Couthie Cushions, Festive Flowers and Bonnets to Berets. These links will start at the end of each project, you'll need to scroll through them to see the full story! BUT it will show you how much money has been raised over the years.... LOTS!

Christmas in Summer cheque presentation

Fantastic result!  Well done to all who contributed.

Christmas in Summer

There will be another get together for this years Pittenweem Arts Festival Community Craft project on Friday 3rd June and Tuesday 5th July.

This years theme is Christmas!  So you can knit, crochet or sew anything Christmassy.

Tree and table decorations, stockings and advent calendars...  how about a festive cushion or tea cosy?

Items made and donated will be displayed and sold during the Pittenweem Arts Festival in aid of charity (usually 2!)

For some ideas, check out Anne-Marijke's Pinterest board and we have our own Jingle Bells board too.

Our what about a quick search on Ravelry.

As usual you are invited to the get togethers in the shop - get some inspiration, share ideas and stash and chat with fellow crafters.

Read more about the project here!

Christmas in Summer

This years Pittenweem Arts Festival Community Craft project has gone all festive!

Knit, crochet or sew anything Christmassy.

Tree and table decorations, stockings and advent calenders...  how about a festive cushion or tea cosy?

Items made and donated will be displayed and sold during the Pittenweem Arts Festival in aid of charity (usually 2!)

For some ideas, check out Anne-Marijke's Pinterest board and we have our own Jingle Bells board too.

Our what about a quick search on Ravelry.

As usual you are invited to the get togethers in the shop - get some inspiration, share ideas and stash and chat with fellow crafters.

But don't worry if you can't get along... you can join in here on the website and on Facebook and we're happy to accept your items and pass them on to Anne-Marijke!

Last year the It's a Hoot project raised over £1850.  The money was split between the Pittenweem Arts Festival and Tayside Children with Cancer and Leukaemia.

last years cheque presentation

You can read about previous years projects and charities on our website... Winter Warmers, Couthie Cushions, Festive Flowers and Bonnets to Berets. These links will start at the end of each project, you'll need to scroll through them to see the full story! BUT it will show you how much money has been raised over the years.... LOTS!

It's a Hoot cheque presentation

Many many thanks to all who contributed!

It's a Hoot...

2 Tooley Owls

Remember when I said I struggled to decide between a shawl and a toy for my donation to this year's Pittenweem Arts Festival project?

I went on and made Hogwart's Express by Susan Ashcroft (pattern available to buy on Ravelry).

Well... I did some toys too...

Tooley Owl by Amanda Berry is a very easy pattern available to buy Ravelry.  The pattern is written for a DK weight but you could easily use another thickness.  Just remember to use a thinner needle than your yarn suggests so you get a nice firm fabric.

Great for using up leftovers!

It's a Hoot!

When deciding what to knit for the Pittenweem Arts Festival Craft Project  I was torn between my favourite types of project - toys and shawls.  I finally decided on Hogwarts Express by Susan Ashcroft.

Its very simple, knitted mostly in garter stitch and worked from the neck down.  The owls are made with simple cabling.  It uses a 4ply yarn and the size is adjustable - mine took about 100g/400m of yarn.

If you'd like to make one - for yourself or to donate to the project - you can buy the pattern on Ravelry and the yarn in the shop!  And you can buy the shawl during the Arts Festival in August (venue to be confirmed!)

The next get together for the project is on Tuesday 26th May 1:30 - 3:30pm in the shop.  Project coordinator Anne Marijke, will be here with finished items, patterns and stash yarn.

Come along to see what others have made, get some pattern inspiration and knit (or crochet, or sew) some owlie things.

If you can't come along then don't despair - check out our Pinterest board for some inspiration.  You can also hand in owl donations to the shop and we'll happily pass them on to Anne Marijke.

it's a hoot

This year's Pittenweem Arts Festival Craft project is all about... owls!

Why owls?  Anne-Marijke was inspired by a project by the artist Tim Fitzpatrick which is linked to Kellie Castle and will conclude at a special event at the 2015 Arts Festival.

The project is called "1878 and an inexplicable series of visions".  1878 was the year the Lorimer family bought Kellie Castle and spent their first night there. The daughter Louise found lots of twigs, which had fallen down the chimney and remarked that the house had been .."left to owls and rooks".

Like last year this year's theme is open to interpretation - you can make anything as long as there is an owl somewhere in the design!  And remember this is open to other crafts too.

The first get together is in the shop this FRIDAY 6th FEBRUARY at 1:30pm,  Anne-Marijke will be there with pattern inspiration and stash yarn for you to use.

We also have a new Pinterest board which we'll be adding to throughout the project with pattern inspiration!

We think this is a great theme - ideal for beginners and more advanced knitters!  And you can make anything!  Cosys, toys, accessories and garments...

If you want to read more about previous Arts Festival Craft projects and thh charities supported, you can see some of them here... Winter Warmers, Couthie Cushions, Festive Flowers and Bonnets to Berets. These links will start at the end of each project, you'l need to scroll through them to see the full story! BUT it will show you how much money has been raised over the years.... LOTS!

a stash busting cushion...

Chunky Fair Isle Cushion by Littletheorem (available on Ravelry)
{photo credit: Littletheorem}

This cushion pattern popped up on Ravelry earlier this year.

Knitted in Jamieson's Heather Aran it is both quick to knit and easy to adapt.

I had Heather leftovers from various hot water bottle projects and as this yarn is fantastic in stranded projects I immediately favourited the FREE pattern and got my odds and ends together.  I used other Aran weights too - including Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, Rialto Aran and Twilleys Alfresco.

I didn't give much thought to the colour scheme...  and really just put it together depending on the amount of yarn I had per shade (and which shade I pulled from my bag).  So my cushions aren't quite as 'pulled together' as the designers sample.

Yes that's right... more than one cushion.  I knitted one, still had lots of yarn leftover (and another cushion pad to cover) so I knitted another.  There will be a third one too!

I found it a quick knit and a great way to practice stranded colourwork in the round.

I did actually hold a strand of 4ply and DK together to get a nice bright green.  So these cushions really are great stash busters! You can see my Ravelry project page here.

You can see more of Littletheorem's patterns on her Ravelry designers page.  Some are free, others are paid for.

Of course my attention immediately went the Asphodel shawl - a lace shawl in the fantastic Debbie Bliss Rialto Lace.

Asphodel Shawl by Littletheorem
{photo credit - Littletheorem}

And this Felted Lace Shawl would be lovely in our Twilleys Alfresco Aran...

Felted Lace Wrap by Littletheorem
{photo credit - Littletheorem}

and how about whipping up this FREE hat pattern for the Winter Warmers project...

Lomond Hat by Littletheorem
{photo credit - Littletheorem}

Oh!  and don't forget our Cushion board on Pinterest for lots of pattern inspiration.