T
he Community Art and Craft Share brings together seasoned and novice crafters to share materials, wisdom, and skills.
Held at the Stewart St Church Hall on Saturday, April 12 from 1-2pm, it’s an opportunity to de-stash and share not only materials, but also experience and skills.
As well as bringing her excess craft supplies, keen craftsperson Molly Simms will also be sharing her love of slow fashion and making things by hand with a crochet workshop.
“A big part of crafting for me is minimising my environmental footprint and I feel like it’s my contribution to the community and to the environment,” she says.
Alongside diving through Molly’s stash of materials, crafters can learn to make a crochet granny square. Often pieced together to create a beautiful blanket, granny squares can also be fashioned into all manner of garments.
“You’re seeing the granny square on the catwalk now and I’ve been inspired by that. I did a granny square project last winter, and I was going to make it into a jacket, and then I decided to make it into a blanket,” she laughs.
Social media, sustainability, and a desire to create by hand have all contributed to a surge in popularity of crafts like crochet, knitting, embroidery and sewing.
For Molly, who knits, sews, darns, crochets and more, the pleasure of making something by hand also contributes to her wellbeing.
“Sometimes people give me a few dollars to darn their favourite jersey, but mostly I do it for my own enjoyment. And it’s also a real anxiety management tool for me. If you see me at a community gathering or any group of large people, I will always have knitting in my hand.”
Molly offers darning through Timebank and as she talks about her crafting, she is bringing a loved op shop woollen jumper back to its former glory.
“I feel it’s my contribution to the community and to the environment, because people might otherwise buy a new jumper and throw the old one away. Instead, I can help a favourite jumper go on for another few years,” she says.
Supported by Raglan Timebank and Whāingaroa Environment Centre, the Community Art and Craft Share is open to all ages and stages of crafting, and will feature a variety of arts and crafts.
For more information contact Meredith.youngson@gmail.com or 021 563 143.
What you need to know
Bring anything you no longer want or need for any kind of craft. Some people will bring a lot, some just one or two things, and if you don’t have anything to bring that is fine too.
There are no direct swaps – bring what you can and take what you need.
What to bring?
Fabrics, yarns, threads, tape, lace, trims, ribbons
Patterns and books
Pins, needles, tools and equipment
Paints, brushes, canvases
Unfinished projects or completed projects to be loved by someone else
How does it work?
Set up is 1-1.30pm – set up items on tables and have a sneaky peek at what is on offer.
Brief introductions at 1.30pm then time for sharing, swapping and making
IMPORTANT – you must take home your leftover supplies
