Anchor and Bee

05/09/2024

Useful List of Shawl Knitting Patterns I’ve Designed – Great for Yarn Scraps and Mini Skeins

We each have leftover partial skeins of yarn, mini skeins, or scraps. Their beauty just as admirable as when they were full skeins, but somehow feel less useful. Their purpose shifts because the weight isn’t a nice even 100g, but that...

29/08/2024

Falling Petals Shawl – A Versatile Knit in Lace or 4ply Weight

I designed Falling Petals Shawl in 2013 to showcase a semi-solid lace yarn for my first book, Bake Knit Sew (Anchor and Bee, 2014). Of course, that doesn’t limit the pattern, which works equally beautifully in 4ply/sock weight yarn. You’ll...

22/08/2024

How to Choose a Gift for a Knitter

I’ve posted many times with gift ideas, knitting care package inspiration, Knitmas gifts, knitter care package advice, examples of knitter gifts I’ve given, and creative thoughtfulness suggestions, so why not once more? This post, however, is more focused on choosing...

15/08/2024

Where to Buy or Review My Books

Thank you to everyone who purchases my books and knitting patterns. Your support means so much to me as an independent publisher and knitwear designer. I have been thinking about my first book a bit more lately as I...

08/08/2024

Interview with Michael Harrigan, designer and author of Travel-inspired Knits https://buff.ly/2Y9S83n

01/08/2024

All About my book... Ultraviolet Knits: 12 patterns featuring UV-reactive hand-dyed wool

Ultraviolet Knits: Twelve knitting patterns featuring UV-reactive hand-dyed wool (Anchor and Bee, 2020) features 12 original accessory knitting patterns designed with black light-reactive hand-dyed wool-based yarns. Ultraviolet Knits is inspired by the night’s sky, some from the view from Earth, s...

25/07/2024

Trifecta Shawl is my DK weight three-skein, three-colour triangle shawl that is a year-round fave.

My latest knitwear design is Trifecta Shawl, a classic yet fun triangle shawl that you make your own by following the clues. It was released at the start of January 2022 in conjunction with the with Gary Boston. Now I’m sharing...

22/07/2024

A Munster Technological University-led project, SPRINGWOOL, which focuses on removing obstacles and providing a springboard for innovation in the Irish-grown wool sector, has received €574,683 from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The project is being run in collaboration with Atlantic Technological University, Technological University of the Shannon and University College Dublin.

The funding was announced as part of €22.3 million the Department is providing for 21 new research projects.

18/07/2024

Knits to Get in a Summer Mood

I am seeing the occasional sunny day, even if it’s chilly, and wishing for a few more this summer. It also makes me want to knit with cheerful sorbet hues! So, here’s a list I compiled of Knits to Get...

11/07/2024

The Science Behind Why Our Brains Love Storytelling

Storytelling evokes the quaint images of a group sitting around a campfire with gestures casting shadows on the surrounding trees, drawing the listeners in and leaving them hooked until the very la…

04/07/2024

Multitasking is a Myth

Multitasking is the idea that you can do multiple things simultaneously and be more productive as a result. Ha! Research has shown that multitasking is a myth and can lead to burnout, mistakes, and…

27/06/2024

6 Tips to Improve Productivity and Focus to Write

As a writer, it can be challenging to find time to focus and maintain a disciplined schedule. In order to finish anything, you first have to begin, but also need to keep going. What drives you to w…

20/06/2024

4 Ways to Make the Most of Your Morning

You could have a jumbled morning routine trying to get ready then a mad dash out the door with the hope traffic won’t be a problem. Sure, it gets the job done, but do you arrive at work feeling cal…

13/06/2024

A Look at Cliff Young’s Success with Consistency and an Unconventional Approach

What does an ultramarathon record in 1983 have to do with taking chances and trusting your abilities? Cliff Young. The inspiring story of Cliff Young, a 61-year-old Australian potato farmer, showca…

06/06/2024

3 Benefits of Indoor Plants Near Your Desk

The modern workplace is different not only because of the presence of technology, but also the focus on people. Your office may be in a corporate setting, a desk within your home, or a cowering sta…

30/05/2024

5 Approaches to Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking

You were probably speaking before you could walk, but that might not make facing a group of people any easier. Whether you are preparing for a business presentation, a wedding speech, or a conferen…

23/05/2024

Maintaining Motivation When You Can’t See the Finish Line

Staying motivated on long-term projects can be challenging, especially when the end goal seems far away and progress can feel slow. It could be a big project at work or the novel you’ve been …

16/05/2024

Bring Art Inside with Murals

You might overlook the importance of artwork in the office environment until faced with floor-to-ceiling beige, but it can immediately inspire and convey a level of creativity and culture to all wh…

09/05/2024

7 Ways to Collaborate Like Champions

Watching Ted Lasso is a reminder of how essential collaboration is to any sports team. You can have a star player or an enthusiastic coach, but if everyone isn’t working together success will…

02/05/2024

Time Management for Mornings

Effective time management can make your morning routine less stressful by helping you to plan and prioritize your tasks, and make the most efficient use of your time. The tricky part is not resenti…

25/04/2024

Lessons Chess Teaches Us About Planning and Strategic Change

Playing chess offers valuable lessons in seeing the big picture, contingency planning, and strategic change. Here are some insights that can be gleaned from the game: Seeing the Big PictureIn chess…

18/04/2024

Parenting Skills Are Management Skills

Parenting involves a range of skills and lessons that can be directly applicable to workplace and management dynamics. Here are some parenting lessons and skills that can be valuable in a professio…

15/04/2024

These Islands: Knits from Ireland, Scotland, and Britain explores two sources for wool in Ireland which embrace the slow revolution with ethically-treated sheep, fair-trade wool, and local milling. A step away from the mass-produced acrylics and imported wool blends from other continents to focus once again on knitting with local wool. There are a variety of breeds of sheep being raised in Ireland and Great Britain, each breed with its own special characteristics. Each of these varieties of wool brings a new level of uniqueness to a knitter’s work. It is time to allow conscientious small-batch artisan producers to guide us to the very best of what these islands have to offer. If we're so focused on having our eggs be fair-trade and local, why not our knitting wool?

These Islands includes eight never before published patterns for hats, a cowl, shawls, fingerless gloves, and boot cuffs using locally-processed wool made from the fleece of Irish, Scottish, or British sheep with names. The patterns are designed by Sara Breitenfeldt , Suzanne McEndoo , and Evin Bail O’Keeffe of the award-winning craft blog, EvinOK EvinOK.com.

ISBN: 978-1-910567-03-6
62 pages
77 full-colour photographs shot on location at Zwartbles Ireland in Kilkenny and in County Cork, Ireland.
A5, paperback
Published in 2015 by Anchor and Bee of Cork City, Ireland

11/04/2024

Sweet Productivity Lessons from Bumble Bees

Bees are indeed a great example of focus and productivity. The humble but amazing bee is also part of the inspiration behind the name Anchor and Bee, so I wanted to focus on the admirable qualities…

16/11/2023

Thanks for your enthusiasm for our 2nd anniversary in the English Market. You’ve convinced us to host a giveaway! We’re giving you the chance to win our most popular breakfast set! ONE lucky winner will be the owner of a Red Heart collection Breakfast Set.

🎁 Prize includes 1 Red Heart collection Breakfast Set. Prize value is €77.50 + parcel/post. The prize includes:
✨ 1 mug
✨ 1 ramekin bowl
✨ 1 small rectangular plate
✨ Shipping within the Republic of Ireland

To enter:
✅ SUBSCRIBE to our brand new monthly newsletter via our website: https://charliemahonceramicspottery.com/blogs/news
✅ FOLLOW our page
✅ TAG a friend in the comments
✅ SHARE this post to your page

⏰ This giveaway ends on Tuesday 21st of November at 11:00 p.m. Irish time. Winner will be notified by email only on Wednesday 22nd of November. We've got our fingers crossed for you!

🎁 Winner Notification:
Winner will be contacted by email only at the address provided at newsletter signup from an official .com email address. We will not contact you via direct message regarding this giveaway. We will never ask you to divulge personal details or ask you to click a link or pay a fee to claim your prize.

🎁 Fine Print:
Winner must reside in the Republic of Ireland. No purchase is necessary. We will verify eligibility before selecting winner at random. Prize may be collected locally in Cork city or shipped to your address in Ireland. This competition is in no way affiliate with Meta, Facebook, or Instagram.

21/09/2023

Travel-inspired Knits: 10 Original Patterns for Hand Knit Accessories.

The 10 patterns in this book represent a collection of some of Michael Harrigan's all-time favorite knitting patterns, with designs ranging from simple stranded colorwork to textured patterns and eyelet lace. They are all suitable for intermediate-level knitters. His inspiration comes from his travels around the world.

14/09/2023

These Islands: Knits from Ireland, Scotland, and Britain. This book explores sources for wool in Ireland which embrace the slow revolution with ethically-treated sheep, fair-trade wool, and local milling. A step away from the mass-produced acrylics and imported wool blends from other continents to focus once again on knitting with local wool.

07/09/2023

Ultraviolet Knits: 12 knitting patterns featuring UV-reactive hand-dyed wool yarn https://buff.ly/3KYZhMO

31/08/2023

The Science Behind Why Our Brains Love Storytelling https://buff.ly/3XEahUW

24/08/2023

There's a misconception that managing multiple projects concurrently is multitasking. It's excellent organisational skills and expertise. True multitasking is a myth and a detriment to our thought process and mental health. Here's why... https://buff.ly/3qYIUZt