“It’s a caring, dynamic organisation and all our members seem to love the camaraderie and companionship of attending meetings and the busy schedule of events,” she says.
“We have an educational workshop each year, visiting tutors, wool-dying days, trips to other centres, mystery days out and an annual wool muster for three days in February.
“We also participate in community activities, including conducting classes at schools and demonstrating at public events.”
Pleasure and community projects the drawcardsEducation officer Frances Bailey says members attend meetings for the sheer pleasure of creating handmade items.
The enthusiasm of the group for the community projects they undertake is another major drawcard, she says.
“We make ‘knitted knockers’ out of soft baby wool for breast cancer patients who are awaiting prostheses, slippers for children at Planet Sunshine at the hospital, hats for premature babies and beanies for children at the health camp.”
The Night Owls’ group of eight to 10 members meets at her home every fortnight.
“They usually bring their own spinning wheels but we have a spare one here for anyone who wants to learn, and we are more than happy to teach beginners.
“The group is very welcoming and accepting, and men are welcome to come along too. In fact we have a male spinner from the Coast who spins wool for his wife to knit.”
Frances says she does all sorts and is a keen recycler.
“I make babies’ slippers, jumpers and knitted and felted hats — a bit of everything. I’ve loved spinning from the time I was a little girl and was fascinated with my grandmother’s wheel. I learned to knit with 4-inch nails and then graduated to meat skewers,” she says.
As a teenager, Frances used to knit on the bus en route to high school, an hour each way.
“I could make a 4-ply jumper for myself in three or four weeks.”
Poverty Bay Woolcrafters comes under the umbrella of the national body, Creative Fibre NZ — formerly NZ Spinning, Weaving and Woolcraft Society (NZSWWS) — an organisation representing all fibre crafts.
Creative Fibre NZ, which has over 3000 members throughout New Zealand, is divided into 15 autonomous geographical areas, each with its own area delegate.
“It brings together spinners, weavers, knitters, dyers, flax workers, felters, crocheters, free-form fibre artists and others involved in all facets of fibre arts and crafts,” says Sharon.
Creative Fibre NZ has an annual festival which local members attend. Next year’s event, Fibrant Auckland, will be held in Pukekohe in late April-early May.
