Creative Fibre – The New Zealand Spinning, Weaving and Woolcrafts Society Inc. (NZSWWS) – was founded in 1969 (Incorporated Society since 1972). We are the New Zealand organisation that brings together people with a passion for fibre crafts and textile arts. Spinners, weavers, knitters, dyers, flax workers, felters, crocheters and other makers – from home crafter to professional artist – all are welcome to join, and experience the joy of working with fibre.
Our mission is to explore, create and inspire with fibre and to achieve this we share, promote, teach and preserve the cultural activities of spinning, weaving and all other crafts that use wool and/or other fibres, and encourage the pursuit of excellence.
In New Zealand our groups are spread over 15 geographic areas. The number of members in each group varies a lot but all members share and learn from each other, and many life-long friendships are formed. Each area has a delegate who is the link between the area and our national council. He or she is supported by a committee of members from within the area. Although autonomous, all areas provide interest and activities such as workshops, retreats, spin-ins and exhibitions.
Every other year we host a national festival in a different location in New Zealand that includes our national exhibition and fashion show, workshops, lectures, trades, and several displays.
The fashion show and national exhibition showcase the highly creative talents of our members. They use various methods and materials: hand knitting, machine knitting, weaving, raranga, paper art, basketry, spinning, felting, leather art, dyeing techniques, free art forms, embroidery, crochet and tatting. Many members are conversant with more than one method of utilising fibre, which leads to exciting combinations of techniques. From these methods and materials our members create free standing fibre art, wall hangings, jerseys, shawls and scarves, coats and jackets, baskets, kete and other forms of raranga, korowai, fabric, cushions and curtains, tapestries, jewellery, floor rugs, lace.
Creative Fibre has much to offer, including a full education programme, study collections that travel the country to inspire and educate members, workshops, lectures and correspondence courses. Our annual membership fee entitles you to our quarterly magazine, access to our extensive resource library, the opportunity to exhibit at our national and area exhibitions, and to register for our national events. We hope you will enjoy browsing around our website to discover the benefits of joining.
With nothing to lose, and everything to gain, why not become a member. We’d love to have you join us.
You can read about our history here.