The Endless Thread is an annual showcase of award-winning fibre crafts from around the Bay of Plenty. The Whakatāne Fibre Crafters hosted this year’s competition, giving judge Nynke Piebenga – a Waikato weaver - the challenge of choosing winners across seven categories and more than 150 entries.
These winning pieces will form the basis of a fascinating exhibition during November at the Whakatāne Library and Exhibition Centre, Te Kōputu a te whanga a Toi.
Creative Fibre was founded in 1969 to unite New Zealanders with a passion for fibre crafts and textile arts. It now has more than 3000 members. The Bay of Plenty has eight established clubs with more than 250 members who share with and learn from each other through workshops, spin-ins and exhibitions. By practising and teaching these traditional styles of work the members of Creative Fibre play an important role in preserving the cultural activities of spinning, weaving and other fibre crafts.
Many members have formed lifelong friendships with their fellow textile artists. Spinners, weavers, knitters, flax workers, fibre artists of all disciplines and skill levels are welcome to experience the joy of working with fibre by joining their local Creative Fibre club.
The Endless Thread will be open to the public from November 2-27, with expert fibre crafters available on Saturdays and Sundays to discuss their work and provide demonstrations.