5 June 2017

Canberra knit in - 10 June

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I have a not-so-secret admission: I love knitting. I don’t get to indulge as often as I would like, but in cooler months I turn up to afternoon tea soirees or playdates with a bag of unfinished projects in tow. I was glad to know that I am not alone and that there is a thriving knitting (and craft) community in Canberra, who will be knitting en masse in public in Garema Place on 10 June.

The event is part of the World Wide Knit in Public Day, a global movement that began in 2005 and is now staged annually in 57 countries. Canberra’s knitting event is being hosted by Trove Canberra, a cooperative established in 2014 by a group of Canberra region makers. Its shopfront in Garema Centre, Bunda St stocks items by 30 designers, artists and makers and the store is run as a not-for-profit cooperative. Pretty cool.

Canberra’s World Wide Knit in Public Day is being organised by Kylie of environmental knitting business Wombat and Poss, and Trove cactus crochet contributor Kristen from The Granny Square Conspiracy. “It’s a chance to get out, meet other knitters and share your love of all things yarn,” said Kylie. “It is not just knitters! We will have crocheters too, but we hope there will be some more out-of-the-box crafters who come to show us what they make. Weavers, felters or spinners would be a welcome addition.”

Why knit? According to Kristen, craft is all about community. “I started participating in a stitch and bitch group when I lived in Beijing, and then I was hooked,” she said. But even if you knit by yourself, it is still fun. Some studies have shown that knitting reduces the stress hormone cortisol, thus having a positive effect on your health and wellbeing. I certainly appreciate the meditative and soothing effects of knitting. I reacquainted myself with the craft not long after separation, and I often go back to knitting or crocheting when things are a bit tense.

If you would like to participate but don’t know how to knit, Trove Canberra is arranging for knitters and crocheters to be there to demonstrate how to do it. There will also be yarn, needles and hooks available for people to use. (Doesn’t that sound just a little bit kinky? It is all happening in public, too). If that doesn’t grab you, there will also be home-baked goods and tea and coffee to enjoy.

What: World Wide Knit in Public Day
When: 10 June, 2.30pm to 4.30pm
Where: Trove Canberra, first floor, Garema Centre

Photos by Kristen from The Granny Square Conspiracy.

Are you a closet or proud and out crafter? What craft do you like to do and why?

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Hi Serina, thanks for the article. This event is on my list of potential activities for the coming weekend. I spin as well as knit, but not sure that lugging my spinning wheel from some distant parking spot would be very practical. Perhaps best just to bring along some hand spun yarn to show. Knitting is definitely more portable!

I’m sure The Front would be happy to be the venue these days!
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