Crafty Sundays Jan + Feb 2023
Hot weather a woolly garments are an unlikely couple. But the woolcrafting community around Tarndie reminds us that when you’re into something, regardless of the weather, you’ll stick with it. Here’s a few of the recommended projects and bits of information that sprang up from the Crafty Sundays gatherees over January and February 2024.
We hosted the first “Tarndie Fibre Artist Residency” in February. It is a collaboration with Colac Otway Shire’s COPACC and Tarndie to shine some light on the fibre arts exhibition CrossXpollinatioN 2024.
It was a delight to share our space with Zetta Kanta, based in Mt Gambier, SA and introduce her to the Crafty Sunday’s community. Zetta usings layers of natural fibres to create art pieces. Her work is often on display as wall hangings in public spaces such as hotels where the hangings also work to baffle acoustics bouncing around open spaces with hard surfaces.
Her work is finely tuned to nature, and during the day Zetta dyed some yarn and cloth with rosemary picked from the garden. It created a beautiful scent in the process!
Zetta’s works are on display in commerical galleries, in the permanent collection of Gippsland Art Gallery, at Rydges Melbourne and 1Hotel at Seafarers.
See more of Zetta’s works at her website and keep an eye out for return trips to Tarndie!
Speaking of art galleries. Here’s a few textile based exhitions to know about.
At Warrnambool Art Gallery - Lisa Gorman x Mirka Mora. Intersecting art and fashion. On until Sunday 17 March.
Dutch-Australian textile artist known globally for her vivid recreations of Australian native fauna and flora. On until 26 May in Sale at Gippsland Art Gallery.
We introduced our wonderful new service to those developing skills in woolcraft. With the help of the calm, talented, and patient Ruth, someone you know might benefit from a little bit of one-on-one help with spinning or knitting. 20 minute spots are open to book with Ruth so she can help unblock some barriers to woolcraft joy.
On Saturdays March 16, May 4 and June 29.
The workshop space adjacent to the learning space is open for participants to stick around and work on their techniques.
Please share with anyone who may be interested.
There was big love for Shelley Husbands latest crochet pattern book The Cove. Maxine reckoned her explanations were really good and on that basis we now have it available in the shop and online! We also learned about Shelley’s Sydney Crochet Getaway.
The Cove Crochet Blanket – a pick your path pattern inspired by coastal adventures – is less about the granny square pattern and more about the path — it’s as much about your journey, as it is your destination.
Whether you’re an adventurous beginner or an experienced crocheter, there’s something for everyone to enjoy around The Cove.
The Cove Crochet Blanket starts with the sunrise centre and walks you round by round to create patterns inspired the shapes, the sounds, and the sense of ease of walking along the Australian coastline.
With five potential paths, you’ll have room to roam.
Shelley has made it easy for you to pick your path. You can either take a short stroll (baby blanket), walk a little further (lap blanket), or go the long way round (bed blanket).
What support is included?
The Cove Guidebook, gives you everything you need, including:
yarn needs for the five blanket samples of the three blanket size options
round-by-round photos,
step-by-step, round by round explanations,
charts (with left and right-hand options), and
links to videos to keep you on track.
Shelley is an Australian designer, author, and serious supporter of making crocheting granny squares easy and enjoyable. Her first book, Granny Square Flair, won the UK’s Best Crochet Book in 2019 and has sold over 20,000 copies. Shelley has published nine books with the tenth on the way. She enjoys giving her strong worldwide community what they want. Now with an App, online group, and regular workshops, she loves getting the crochet curious hooked on granny squares. Old and new crocheters fall in love with the way Shelley designs patterns that grow their crochet confidence, one square at a time.
Recommendations from the gathered:
Book - “The Golden Thread” by Kassia St Claire
YouTube - Welsh knitting and crochet guy: https://www.youtube.com/@knit365blog
We met an honourable Mister Knightley, who becomes a snowman. Or a snow gnome perhaps. https://www.imaginedlandscapes.com/design-gallery/gnomes/
Bron show us her tapestry works where she uses found pieces of fabric and yarn in an abstract way for large scale wall hangings. See more on Instragram bee_shipway
“Hitofude”
Jill repurposed some decades old Tarndie yarn. She redyed it and found this open front cardigan with an allover lace pattern which is worked in one “yarn stroke” -- a continuous strand without cutting the yarn. “Hitofude”, meaning a single brush stroke in Japanese https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hitofude-cardigan
Frog fun.
Kerry introduced us to the super cute world of Dot Pebbles with her knitted frog. See more on TikTok https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSF2srd9E/ or on Dot Pebbles website here. https://dotpebbles.blogspot.com/
Naturally Dyed Tarndie beanie
Jen’s beanie is the result of learning about natural dyes at a Tarndie workshop last September. She then knitted up the “Tarndie Beanie” using 2 strands of 4ply yarn. Indigo, Cherry Ballart and Eucalyptus Cinerea. There’s a real sense of place in that hat Jen!
We’re delighted to be on Mary Jane Mucklestone’s tour of Australia in June. While all the classes sold out in one day, there is a waitlist and tickets for a social night in Colac will come on sale shortly. All the info can be seen here.