I’m an Aussie living in the sub-tropics who simply loves playing with fibre, both natural & synthetic, & relishes colour & texture… anything that will help me to achieve the effects I’m after. Each Freeform piece is a one-off original, takes many hours to create & can never be repeated… However… not limited only to the unusual… traditional crochet & writing crochet patterns keeps me grounded. Thanks for dropping by… I hope you find something of interest & please, don’t be shy about leaving comments. “I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t exploring the fibre arts in one form or another & expect it to go on for some time yet.”
Renate Kirkpatrick – Fibre Artist ~ Author ~ Craft Teacher
Born in Germany 1951, migrated to Australia in 1955 & grew up in windy Wollongong, NSW. In 1974 my husband, Glenn, & I settled in Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast Qld, & operated a small commercial Signwriting & Screenprinting business until 2013. We have since moved to Landsborough, a small historical town, in the Sunshine Coast hinterland
In the past, I dabbled a little in pottery, became obsessed with Handmade Paper, both natural fibre and recycled & by 1984 my papermaking was in full swing, retailing unique paper products across Australia & conducting regular workshops. In 1994, I participated in a group exhibition at the Queensland Museum with the Papermakers of Queensland.
Attracted by the colour & texture of fabric, I drifted into Rag Rugging & in 2001 won the Best Entry Fibre Art Award at the Caloundra Arts & craft Festival. Workshops & weekly classes began the same year.
In amongst it all I’ve always crocheted; just for fun, just for me, but always exploring the old & the new. From 2002, as crochet made a huge resurgence & increased in popularity, I was encouraged to share my knowledge in Traditional, Tunisian (Tricot), Jacquard, Crochenit (double-ended hook) & in more recent years Freeform techniques which has led to workshops & classes across the Sunshine Coast.
2005 ~ I became a published author of my personal story ‘Not Without A Backward Glance.’ Published by Zeus Publications
2006 ~ Worlds Best Tea Cosy winner ~ My first craft book Crochet Techniques ~ My 2nd book, Freeform Crochet & Beyond
2009 ~ Alice Springs Beanie Festival, Winner of the Spirit of The Land Beanie Award.‘Australia in Colour’
2010 ~ My 3rd book Bring Colour To Crochet
2012 ~ my 4th book Textured Crochet Lace
2014 ~ My 5th book Tapestry Crochet
2016 ~ Maleny Knitfest, 1st & 2nd prize for Tea Cosies category & 2nd Prize for Scarf category.
2017 ~ Maleny Knitfest, 1st prize for both Best Beanie & Best Scarf categories. The Landsborough Inaugural Tea Cosy/Beanie Challenge… 1st prize People’s Choice Awards for both best Beanie & best Tea Cosy…
2018 ~ Alice Springs Beanie Festival, special mention. Maleny Knitfest, 1st prize for Shawl & 2nd for both Character Beanie & Best Beanie…The Landsborough Inaugural Tea Cosy/Beanie Challenge ~ Best Tea Cosy
2019 ~ Maleny Knitfest 1st prize Tea Cosy ‘My Back Yard’
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Find more info about my books here
Thank you for your lovely compliment, Michele… thats perfectly fine to share the granny notes, all the best in your endeavours 🙂
First off I love your website. You had the perfect instructions allowing me to learn the Granny Square. This allowed me to make my charity blankets faster than the rows method when I was learning Crochet. Thank you.
As part of the organisation I make blankets for “67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day” I sometimes have to teach people to crochet. I always refer them to your site and I printed portions of your notes for some people with your website address on it. Some of the other South African regions would like to use my ‘notes’. Can I share what I created for your approval. Since this would be a broader use than a few copies I made for my teaching newbies?
Thanks Linda – cheers Renate
Hello! I wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the Sunshine Blog Award, you can read about here:
http://lindacee.wordpress.com/2012/04/14/sunshine-blog-award/
(oh, and your new book looks gorgeous! I’ll have to see about ordering a copy :))