Become a knitwit

If knitting is the new golf – and with hotels now offering knitting breaks it certainly looks that way – then Edel McBride is firmly in Rory McIlroy territory. McBride, a designer of high-end knitwear for the past 25 years, is the new knitting guru at Harvey’s Point hotel in Co Donegal, which has a series of weekends aimed at knitters planned for the new year.

“Knitting is definitely having a resurgence,” says McBride. “On a trip to the US I noticed that knitting retreats were all the rage and decided to bring the idea home. It’s a few days of knitting workshops in a beautiful country location with gorgeous food and accommodation because, let’s face it, not everyone likes golf.”

McBride, who hails from Donegal, is the new “knit mentor” on the next season of RTÉ Television’s Craft Master, and runs classes through her company Knitfield. The brand name evokes the headspace people go into when they knit. “It’s just a special feeling, meditative and relaxing – knitters will know what I’m talking about.

“I think people are more interested in taking up things that connect them to a more basic and real way of life. That could be growing your own vegetables or baking.”

Men's knitting retreats have become a big trend in the US and UK, and McBride hopes to emulate them here. Her knitting breaks will be aimed at everyone, including men, from the most experienced needle-clicker to knitting virgins. More details from harveyspoint.com