Spinning a yarn and crafting connection
Christchurch City Council Newsline: 21st May 2025
Library craft groups have been busy on the needles, knitting and crocheting to keep Christchurch families warm this winter.
Groups of talented crafters meet at their local library all year round, hooking into the Christchurch City Libraries’ weekly Knit ‘n’ Yarn sessions.
Some come alone, some come with friends, and all come with their yarn project in hand - ready to spin some tales.
Christchurch City Council Acting Head of Libraries and Information Rosie Levi says the Knit ‘n’ Yarn groups have become more than just designated craft sessions.
“This is a chance for members of our community who might be experiencing loneliness or isolation to come together and connect with others who share common interests,” says Ms Levi.
“Often some of our ladies will just come for the companionship, only doing one row of their yarn project or none at all.”
The Knit ‘n’ Yarn programme keeps the crafters busy all year round, but especially so in the lead up to winter as they’ve been knitting and purling at double speed for babies and families across Christchurch.
Following a Craft Snippets event featuring guest crafter Carmin Beck from Sundune Fibres, Christchurch City Libraries found themselves with a donation of New Zealand wool yarn.
Staff at Upper Riccarton Library decided to use some of this supply to join with the Kiwi Family Trust as part of their Knitting Communities Together project, creating woollen goods for young people across Aotearoa.
The group have been creating beanies, jerseys, teddies and everything in between which will now be donated to the Trust, going on to preschools, hospitals, childcare centres and other organisations to keep our tamariki warm over the cooler months.
Knitting Communities Together is the largest project at the Kiwi Family Trust, now in its 18th year. Over 6000 items were donated into the community in Christchurch alone last year.
“This project has been a real win-win for our keen knitters and crocheters – it gives the community a way to connect while crafting for a cause,” Ms Levi says.
“It helps people in our community who are isolated feel importance by contributing to something that will really help those less fortunate.”
Find out more about the work of the Kiwi Family Trust.
Find out more about upcoming Craft Snippets event at the Upper Riccarton Library.
Find out more and come along to the Christchurch City Libraries Knit ‘n’ Yarn events.