A group of spinners is not what you would expect to find in surburbia, so you may be surprised to learn the Newcastle Spinners and Weavers Guild meet on a regular basis at New Lambton and Warners Bay to swap tips and show off creations.
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Monika Tagg, of Fullerton Cove, had always knitted but it was a trip to Morpeth over two decades ago that ignited her passion for spinning.
“One day we were at Morpeth and I saw a wheel and wanted it, that was about 25 years ago,” Ms Tagg said.
She joined the Newcastle Spinners and Weavers Guild, which also has an arm in Maitland, about a decade ago.
“It’s just nice to see the bare wool spun and melded and weaved into something that you can use for umpteen different things,” Ms Tagg said.
Newcastle Spinners and Weavers Guild vice president Deya Deguara said the group had around 100 members and had been in existence for 50 years.
“People range from complete beginners and some who haven’t spun for 20 years. We have weaving groups and a lot of us weave and there is hand spinning, hand weaving, felting, knitting, crocheting and dyeing,” Ms Deguara said.
“We have workshops and activities … it’s a great place to come if you’ve got a wheel and want to learn how to use it.”
On June 11 a group from Newcastle Spinners and Weavers Guild will head to Tocal Homestead for the International Back to Back Challenge. The “Spinning Knitwits” comprise seven specialist spinners and knitters with Scone shearer Trevor Pike a key team member.
They will be the only team from Australia to compete in the unique contest where a shearer will shear a sheep and teams have to spin the wool, ply it then knit it into a jumper of specified size. The quickest team to complete the task from the back of the sheep to the back of a person will be crowned International Back to Back Challenge champions. Entry is by gold coin with funds going to the Mater Cancer Research Unit in Newcastle.
More about the Newcastle Spinners and Weavers Guild at www.newcastlespinnersandweavers.org.au.