Applications for our 2025 residency have been extended until July 1; apply here.

Inspired by the work of The Nap Ministry, adrienne maree brown’s Pleasure Activism, and The Mae House, I am offering it as a rest residency, meaning that you don’t have to be an artist to apply; you just have to be a single mom (or other marginalized single parent) who could use some rest. And couldn’t we all?

You’ll have use of our residency space for any week of your choosing*, and you are welcome to bring your children or not, as best suits your needs. The space features a double-single bunk bed, futon, and pack-and-play crib. The resident will receive a €500 stipend toward childcare costs, to use at your discretion.

Nominations on behalf of other people will not be accepted; this is one major change I'm making from previous residencies, when I saw many single parents ask friends to nominate them instead of feeling able to apply themselves. As a single parent myself, I have learned how hard and how powerful it is to acknowledge in writing that you need and deserve support.

*Please note that the knitting factory is in need of renovations that will likely not be completed until next year. I will discuss this in more detail with the selected rest resident, who will have the choice of waiting until after renovation to schedule their residency.

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I created this space because it was the kind of support I longed for so much when I became a single parent, and the kind of support I still long for. There will be as many residencies in the knitting factory's future as I can offer while maintaining the business and the space.

Until last autumn, I also offered stays at The Old Knitting Factory through Airbnb. I’ve stopped doing that, partly because the building is increasingly in need of these renovations that I’m working on now, and partly because I could no longer stomach working with a company that is a significant part of the housing crisis that made it so hard for my kid and me to find a stable home in the first place, and continues to make it so hard for others.

When renovations are complete, hopefully by next spring, I plan to offer the space for free to any single mothers and other marginalized single parents who need rest — all the time. The cash stipends for childcare will still be available for application, but the space itself will be free to anyone who needs it. Once again, I’m indebted to other projects like The Mae House that provide an example of this kind of offering.

My friend Claire (you’ll meet her in my memoir about the knitting factory!) suggested calling it “The Guest Room at The Old Knitting Factory” and that’s exactly how I want it to feel: like a cozy little retreat in a beautiful space, provided by someone who cares about you. (Since renovation plans include a private bathroom and kitchenette, though, don’t worry — you’ll have a lot more privacy than a guest-room guest really would!)

The Old Knitting Factory is a crowdfunded project, and our sliding-scale monthly supporters are the reason we’ve made it this far. Subscriptions also include unlimited access to the knitting factory’s online retreats and writing workshops (which are always free for single parents), behind-the-scenes looks at the knitting factory, writing and creativity prompts, recipes, blog posts, exclusive book excerpts, and more. You’ll also get some pretty cool merch — stickers, tote bags, mugs, t-shirts — as part of your membership.

You can also support The Old Knitting Factory by:

Preordering Ring of Salt! My memoir about single parenting, leaving domestic abuse, and finding home and hope on the wild coast of Ireland is coming out on September 30. Preorders are an incredible way to support an author or book you like. Ask for a preorder at your local independent bookstore, or preorder the US edition here or the UK edition here (Irish edition preorder link TBA).

Telling people about us! Follow us on Facebook or Instagram and share your own posts
about us. This project only exists because of its community of supporters, and spreading the word about our work here is one of the most helpful things you can do (and it's free!).

Thank you so much again for your interest in the Old Knitting Factory. We hope and believe these are only the first of many residencies we can offer you in the years and decades to come.