Laois crochet teacher turning the craft into a fine art

Skilled Laois crochet artist Courtney Murray says the craft has become cool, and it may be down to TikTok.

Courtney who is from Mountmellick travels across Laois and Offaly teaching her skills through the Education and Training Board (LOETB).

“We start from the very beginning and eventually move into nice big projects. A lot of people might not have had a good experience in school. But because it’s a casual setting, their confidence builds and they can produce lovely work,” she told the Leinster Express' Laois Life magazine in a recent interview.

She recently co-curated an eyecatching crochet art exhibition at the Dunamaise Arts Centre in Portlaoise, with creative Laura Dunne.

“We put a callout for crochet flowers but we got so many, even from other countries, that we expanded and made one large central circle artwork,” she said. 

That large piece hangs pride of place in the LOETB Portlaoise head office.

“While we love to crochet cardigans and blankets, we wanted to see if we could elevate it to a hanging piece. It just shows the momentum behind crochet. It’s seen as an art form, it’s cool now, I think it’s down to TikTok.

“If you hang it on a wall or turn it into those crochet bunnies we made, people see it as an art. Craft by women can often not be considered art, but the Irish craft world is taking back the power of the word craft now. There’s definitely a buzz behind yarn.”

Courtney is passionate about sustainability. She wants real wool to regain its place over dominant acrylic.

“My friend is a sheep farmer and she says it’s more expensive to process wool, than dump the fleece. If there was more support people could contact local farmers and make wool themselves. There’s definitely a disconnect, how many sheep farmers do we have in Laois alone, but you can’t get your hands on wool.”

She fits in her own work alongside her classes. Last October she had a piece in the exhibition at Fibre Fest in October In the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin, made from scraps of wool from her classes. 

She has lots of sustainable tips.

“Small scraps can be wound into a large ball to crochet into something. I’ve turned scrap wool into jumpers, if you’re brave enough to wear the mad colours. If you don’t like something you made, rip it back and use it again. Or have a yarn swap, everyone has a bag of yarn in the attic. When we bin it, it doesn’t go away, it just goes somewhere else.”

Her mother taught her to crochet.

“Hats off to my mother Tina. She taught me everything I know. She can do really intricate work, she is still my go to if I need advice on pieces. She learned from her grandmother, Ethel Furlong. Crochet has been passed down through two powerful women, it’s great.”

She says it is like therapy.

“A lot of ladies that come to my class, for maybe two weeks they’ll say ‘this is rising my blood pressure not calming me down’ but that’s because they’re learning. Once they push past that they get into the zen zone. It’s really mindful because you have to focus on it. You’re not on social media scrolling, over consuming. And you’ve a project at the end or a gift to give.”

Courtney with her students in an LOETB crochet class.

Courtney was part of Mountmellick Yarn Bombers in its early days. 

“They have left a legacy, people know the town for the yarnbombing and for the lace, Mountmellick has a bit of a buzz for fibre which is great.”

Courtney was recently a finalist in the national Community Craft awards at the Aviva.

“It was great to meet like minded people, and to be included.”

A piece from Courtney's Bealtaine Bunnies project with Creative Ireland Laois.

Read next: New coffee shop planned in vacant Mountmellick hairdressers

She hopes to appear in more exhibitions in 2026. 

For Christmas, Courtney’s skill is always in demand. 

“I make great promises to my family, but they could be delayed Christmas presents. My partner is waiting on a jumper for as long as we’re together. Their gift is to see me making things,” she joked.

Follow Courtney on Instagram