Simon Penson

It’ll mean you can share your creativity and become inspired. Whilst the technical side of dressmaking is without doubt important (it’s only a dream until it’s made!), it’s nothing without that spark of ingenuity that creates the design itself. Being around others with a passion for dressmaking will further ignite your passion for this unique skill.

It’ll teach you the technical skills you need. Alright, this is sort of a contradiction with the above, but we promise it makes sense! Just as technicality without inspiration can be unvaried, creativity without technicality can be rather messy! A good tutor will be able to help you improve your existing technique as well as learning new ones, making you a more confident dressmaker all round.

Finally, whilst it might not be a haberdashery reason as such, it’s a great way to meet people who have the same passion for fashion and creativity that you do. Dressmaking courses are taught by people who love what they do, and taught to people who love what they do. Get involved, and you won’t regret it.

To find out more about how dressmaking courses can benefit you, get in contact with Abakhan now.

Mayor Niall O Donnghaile was talking to some of the ladies who were in Northern Ireland as part of their retreat that tours all over the country, aiming to get some knitting done in some of Ireland’s most famous spots. Other destinations include Giant's Causeway and the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.

The trip was conceived by the Lisburn designer Maggie Jackson, who is now based in Michigan, where she shares the benefit of her 34 years in the fashion industry with others hoping to learn this great old tradition.

Mr O Donnghaile, though happy to chip in, was happy to admit that he hadn’t quite inherited his own grandmother’s crochet skills, and ended up conceding defeat to knitting and purling, deciding instead to sit and chat to the members of the group, commenting that he tended ‘not to be any good’ at things that involve hand-eye co-ordination.

Commenting on the group’s aims, Ms Jackson noted that it was ‘about the history of Northern Ireland’ and that she aimed to bring others to her homeland.

To view more of the latest news from the world of knitting, and to purchase knitting supplies at great prices, continue to check into Abakhan over the coming weeks.

Print fleece tartan. If you’re of Scottish descent (or simply need a kilt for a costume!), then our printed tartan fleece material is ideal. Created using the finest materials and with a stylish, unique design, this superb fleece is a perfect excuse to get creating.

Leopard brown micro fleece. If there’s anything more fun than heading out onto town to an eighties club, we don’t know what it is! Our leopard print material is the ideal way to create a costume that wouldn’t look out of place in one of the Austin Powers films. Eye-grabbing and one-of-a-kind.

Plain Colours. Whilst the above patterns are great for individual needs, you’re not going to need leopard print regularly! Our range of plain colours make the ideal material for any need, whether you want to knock up a new bean-bag for your kids or simply want something warm to wear over the winter.

Click here to view our catalogue, complete with a variety of other knitting accessories.

The Wicked Witch. With Halloween on the distant horizon, there’s no harm in beginning to plan as soon as you can. Is there a more classic costume than that of the witch? The sleek black design is a sure fire way for you to look your absolute best on the darkest night of the year. Broomstick not included!

Santa’s Assistant. Do you want to look great during the festive season? Our santa’s assistant costume is glamourous and stylish. So whether you’re heading out for a night on the town or staying home and playing Santa’s assistant at home, we’ve got you covered.

The Leprechaun. St Patrick’s Day never looked this good! If you love to get out on the town during St Paddy’s Day, then this costume will have all those jaunty Irishman looking in your direction! Eye-catching colours and a great fit make this a sewing masterclass.

To view these and more of our sewing accessories, click here.

If you’ve got a lovely pooch that tends to feel the cold, then our range of patterns for stylish and sophisticated dog coats would make a great present. With the winter coming up, now is a great time for you to create a piece of clothing that will really help your pets keep the chill away.

Another great gift idea that you could put together for your beds is to create their beds virtually from scratch, using another one of our patterns. We offer a variety of different dog beds, from larger black ones to more subtle pink designs, so that whatever style your four-legged friend has, we’ll have something to suit them.

It’s not just coats and beds, however. We also stock a range of different patterns for hats, scarves and even gloves so that with the frost and snow that is likely to appear over the next few months, your pets will be able to stay nice and protected.

To view these and more of our pet accessories, visit the Abakhan catalogue here .

Scissors. Needless to say, anyone looking to get involved in sewing will need a really good pair of scissors. From marking, measuring and obviously cutting, a good pair is almost a Swiss army knife when it comes to the world of sewing. We sell a variety of scissors at Abakhan, so take your pick!

Pins and Needless. Don’t worry – we’re not talking about that rather painful infliction that occurs when your foot goes to sleep! Needles and pins are essential for sewing, as they hold the fabric together whilst you sew – you won’t have enough fingers to do so yourself!

Machine Accessories. A sewing machine can be one of the most efficient ways of getting a job done quickly once you’re used to using one. However, as with any machine it requires some extra attention, and our range of accessories are ideal. Form oil to keep the wheels greased to a new bulb for those late-night sessions, we have everything you’ll need to keep your machine in top running order.

To view these, visit the Abakhan catalogue here .

Have you ever thought about getting into knitting, but never really known the difference between the numerous kinds of needle? This can be a real pain for some people, as getting the wrong one can drastically affect the outcome of all that time and effort.

If you want to make a jumper for the winter – or summer if you’re in England – then you don’t want to end up with a hat because you’ve bought a needle to go quickly and it’s all gone wrong.

So here are a few tips for choosing the right knitting needle.

There are so many needles on the market, which can make things tricky for a beginner. There are plain plastic needles, metal, glass, bamboo, wood, the list goes on, and that’s not even begun to mention straight, circular or double-pointed needles! The best way as a beginner is to go to the store with a project in your head. The design and style of your plan will dictate what sort of needle you will need.

You don’t need to go out and buy every type of needle all in one go to make up a collection and say, “I’ll use the wooden one this time I think”. Different knitters prefer different styles so you may find you never use some of them.

Many people like bamboo or wooden needles because of their warmth, natural feel and that comforting, traditional click that you get as you get going.

Metal needles are the choice of many, because they are less likely than any of the other models to break. They are sleek which can allow for quick knitting, but don’t expect to have the jumper done in the same day purely because you have needles that allow you to go that bit quicker – that can be when mistakes creep in.

Plastic needles are similar to their wooden or bamboo counterparts in terms of weight and feel, but they lack that natural warmth that wood gives off. They’re very smooth, like the metal versions, so also allow you to knit that bit quicker, and they’re that little bit more flexible.

If you have the feeling that you want to keep knitting, give a number of different needles a go, but you will probably find out early on that you have one that you just keep going back to.

For more information and a list of all of our knitting yarn and accessories, visit the section on our website.