Sandra Coote lives on a farm in Co. Cavan, surrounded by stunning countryside. Both farming and crafting were at the centre of Sandra’s childhood. In rural Ireland, there was a time when handmade wasn’t just a label description—it was a way of life. Crafting clothing by hand was a necessity for families everywhere, and Sandra is eager to share these skills with the next generation.
Sandra’s love for crafting started young. Her grandmother first taught her how to crochet at age 9. In 2012, she appeared on ‘Craft Master,’ an Irish television competition in partnership with the CDC of Ireland. During filming, Sandra worked at the “Knitfield” Studio in Donegal to improve here knitting skills. She later won the knitwear section of Craft Master, with knitwear designer Edel McBride as her mentor. Over the years, Sandra has won multiple awards for her talent, but her proudest achievement was designing and crocheting the dress she wore on her wedding day.
In 2016, Sandra chose to follow her dreams and start her own business. She finally established ‘Crafts of Ireland’ on her family farm. ‘Crafts of Ireland’ is dedicated to preserving traditional Irish crafts, ranging from wool spinning to butter churning. The farm now has a studio where Sandra offers a growing list of workshops and demonstrations. When you visit, you’ll be introduced to Sandra’s large collection of spinning wheels. She spins wool sourced only from local farmers and dyes it using organic plants she collects from her garden.
When she’s not spinning, Sandra knits socks on antique circular knitting machines. The oldest one dates back to the late 1800s. Even now, it still makes beautiful socks with a “Kitchener” stitched toe—just like it would’ve during World War I. Her studio is the only place in Ireland where these machines can be seen in action. Sandra’s collection has other fascinating pieces of crafting history, including sewing machines from 1861.
Beyond her crafts, Sandra is passionate about baking traditional Irish bread and cakes. She loves to serve them with homemade jam and freshly churned butter. She published her first cookbook during the Covid pandemic in 2020, and has since published a second book ‘Baking Together, More of Our Favourite Recipes’. Both cookbooks have been very successful, with copies going as far as Australia and the US.
