handmade.by.catkin

02/06/2026

A new button drop 🐚🐚🐚 Stunning NZ Paua Abalone buttons are available now.

Paua abalone is pretty much the king of mother of pearl shell- like other abalone, it has the rich rainbow iridescence, but it also has more patterning and peacock blue tones to the shell.
Prized for centuries throughout the pacific, Paua abalone is the holy grail for mother of pearl lovers.

I have a selection of sets, they vary in colours, texture and tones. I've done my best to match them across the cards, so each set is cohesive.
I love all the natural variations!

If you're someone who loves Shell buttons like me, then you'll adore these ones!

Limited stock in my Etsy shop now ☺️

28/05/2026

I am holding a stall at the Yarn & threads market at the Sydney craft and quilt fair 2026!

I'm looking forward to attending this event in July, held at the international convention Centre in Darling Harbour!
I'll be hitting the road and travelling up in July, so I hope up meet lots of wonderful people from Sydney and elsewhere at this event!

For more information, visit .events_ to view tickets and event schedules!

&quiltfair

28/05/2026

My next event will be the crochet convention with the crochet guild of Australia, held in Wollongong! Join in for workshops, yarn markets and crochet adventures!

Hope up see you there and I'm looking forward to seeing all of you hookers in June 😉

25/05/2026

Thank you so much to everyone who came along to the Canberra wool expo this weekend!

Unfortunately it seems that thanks to the heritage building, none of my posts worked during the event 🫠
So here's the photos now, late is better than never I suppose.

Thank you so much for coming along and supporting us and the other stall holders, we know how much work you put into your yarn crafts, and we appreciate the support you give us in creating wonderful things for you to use in your own creations.

23/05/2026

Here we are ready for day 2 of the wool Expo at !

Still plenty of yarn and notions and buttons ready for Sunday 😊 hope to see you!

22/05/2026

I will be tomorrow for the Canberra wool expo!

If you're a fibre artist of any kind, then there will be something for your crafts this weekend!
And even if you're not, you can appreciate all the beautiful finished items, the handknits, the felted wool items, and warm things for this winter!

There's something for everyone, so I hope up see you there!

14/05/2026

11/05/2026

So now that these chickens are in my shop, and I can't help staring at them, I'm absolutely planning on doing a chicken cardigan now. Clearly it has to happen.
And I think after seeing these, other people might agree they need to make one too. How could you not?!

I have carded them into three options - light, dark and mixed sets!
Every chicken has its own unique spots, so your cardigan or items will be completely unique because no two chickens are the same! (Just like real life chickens!)

Yup. We all need a chicken cardigan!

05/05/2026

Today is world asthma day. As someone with very severe asthma, it's important to talk about how this affects me, and the 260 million people worldwide who live with this life-threatening and debilitating condition every day.

Living with asthma, especially severe asthma, feels like walking on landmines. You're constantly trying not to set of any triggers, avoiding the things that cause flare ups, and often stress dosing in advance when triggers can't be avoided.

This isn't something you can take a vacation from. It's every single day.
It's not a choice, it's survival.

So don't dismiss people as "it's just asthma, it's not serious". Sorry, but not breathing can lead to death. A condition like this is life or death. Some attacks may be mild. And others can kill. Every attack should be taken seriously.

I encourage you to hug or reach out to your asthmatic friends, family and colleagues. Every day they fight invisible battles for survival, that you'll never see. It's mentally exhausting trying to stay healthy.
You'll never see the amount of tablets, puffers and even injectable medications they take in private to look fine.
We live with what is currently an incurable condition. Hopefully in the future, there will be a cure.
For now we fight every day and that takes a heavy burden, when it's the same thing for the rest of your life.

If you can afford it, please consider donating for asthma research. And if you can't, please share and raise awareness, because fighting invisible battles alone and without support is a very tough thing for those living with asthma.

You can also donate to support asthma support services through

05/05/2026

New sock base has been launched! The weather is getting colder, so it's definitely sock knitting weather... You know you need warm feet this winter 🥶

My newest base is a blend of Ramie and worsted spun wool, you can't get a more perfect sock yarn! The wool is muelsing free, soft and squishy.

But what is "worsted spun"?
Worsted spinning aligns all the fibres parallel, creating a very strong and durable yarn. You don't need nylon when the strength comes from how it's spun!
Most sock yarns are "Woolen spun" because this type of spinning is generally cheaper and creates slightly more meterage. While this type of spinning makes the yarns super soft, it also makes them pill, felt more easily, and wear holes much more quickly than worsted spinning.

And to add even more durability, softness and strength, we've added Ramie!

So then, what is Ramie? It's a fibre made from Nettles. It has the lowest ecological footprint, from water consumption to fibre processing. And when you add it to yarn, it levels up your yarn in so many ways!

Ramie is:
Moisture wicking
Antimicrobial
Antibacterial

This means it keeps you drier, and prevents smells, mould, fungi and other nasty things. What more could you ask for in socks?!

These colours and more in the shop now!