Hooked!: Having a Yarn at South Dunedin

Hooked! Having a Yarn at South Dunedin

Crochet Thursday, 1.15pm - 2.45pm South Dunedin Library & Service Centre, 199 Hillside Road, South Dunedin

Knitting and crochet seems to be having something of a resurgence of late. Knitting groups have been established at most of our libraries, with crafters enjoying a weekly social get-together with fellow needle-meisters, swapping patterns and browsing the new craft books on show. Always ready to chart their own course, South Dunedin pop-up library is backing the crochet trend. The Crochet Thursday group started on 7th June, when someone approached local charity shop manager Jeanette to teach them to crochet. The pop-up library seemed like an ideal place to form a group with her friend Diane, and it’s proving popular. Jeanette and Diane work at Orphans Aid International in South Dunedin, a charity operating in six countries worldwide, sponsoring orphans in overseas orphanages. The friends finish their shifts at the shop on a Thursday and head straight for the library on Hillside Road.

“I discovered the library when I was looking for a space for the crochet class and thought it would be perfect. I love the books and it’s a great way to find new books on crafts”, says Jeanette.

Jeanette and Diane are both crafts people and keen to share their skills with the community. “Some people are new to Dunedin, so this is a good way to meet people, says Diane. “This also a way for us to continue our charity work, promote the Library and what goes on here, as well as promoting Orphans Aid International. I’ve noticed that the group also brings people in to the Library who don’t use it for books. That’s why I’m here, as I’m not really a reader and didn’t know the library was here until Jeanette started this group. Now I’m likely to borrow books while I’m here, because I know what’s available”.

South Dunedin Librarian, Dianne Mears, is pleased to see that Crochet Thursdays now has a nice core group of regulars. “It’s good to see people chatting together and working on projects,” she says. “It’s a really good way of bringing people together, and starting conversations. We put out a display of new knitting and crochet books, craft books and others that might appeal to the group, so they can pick up something to take home and try.”

Jeanette agrees. “It’s more about being social than just crochet. Some people just come and sit down with us for a chat, and don’t do any needlecraft – they just join us for the company. One friend does cross stitch, one knits. Any handcraft is fine. The time goes so quickly, with everyone doing their own thing.”

Jeanette hopes that one day the group might make something for the wider community – a project that South Dunedin can enjoy together. It looks like they’ve already started.

Crochet Thursday, 1.15pm - 2.45pm
South Dunedin Library & Service Centre, 199 Hillside Road, South Dunedin