On a drizzly Tuesday morning, Creative Bay of Plenty’s Emily Arnold enjoyed a cup of tea amongst the stitchers and quilters at the Tauranga Embroiderers’ Guild.
The Tauranga Embroiderers’ Guild is made up of stitchers of all skill levels who come together to learn, share, and connect. Guild meetings are held during the day at the Tauranga South Bowls Club, with a night guild meeting taking place at a private location.
With two nationally recognised creatives among their members, the guild offers workshops where stitchers can develop their skills. They also hold regular pop-ups where newcomers can try their hand at embroidery in a supportive space, so they can gain confidence before joining beginner sessions.
Kaye Hubner first joined the guild after they hosted the biennial national conference for NZ Embroiderers Guild in Tauranga in 2022. “The guild is about meeting likeminded people who wanted to find space to create,” says Kaye, whose most recent project is an avocado skin she has varnished and stitched around. “Using organic matter in my pieces is a question of permanency or lack of,” says Kaye. She is also working on a new project stitching gold thread into a large leaf, with the leaf membrane resembling lace.
Another guild member, Barbara Fitzgibbon, showed me her most recent works, made from primarily wool based materials from various op shops around Tauranga. “Men’s jackets and shirts make up the backing and inside of my pieces,” she says, demonstrating her craft with a bag she has lined with a jacket and including the existing jacket pocket as an internal section.
Barbara, a schoolteacher for many years, says being part of the guild has brought her connection and community. “Whether sharing tips, techniques, feedback or scraps of fabric, there is much to be found and enjoyed at guild meetings.”
Barbara’s ‘use what already exists’ approach is echoed in the work of Rose Webber. As she carefully pins her piece together, she talks about how the fabrics she is working on lead her. She doesn’t use a pattern, instead choosing to free stitch. “This is about bringing little pieces together in a way that pleases you,” she says. The guild sees a variety of forms of embroidery, from intricate patterns through to free stitching, meaning the members are free to enjoy the craft the way they choose to.
Rose has put together a fabric book, featuring scraps of her mother’s material – often scraps from dresses Rose’s mother made for her as a child. Each page features a different fabric and an acknowledgement or date.
As I move around the room, observing the variety of works and styles, I’m struck by how the process of embroidery varies – not only in technique, but in the meaning it has for each member. Whether stitching to play or create, stitching to a pattern, stitching to practice a new style, or stitching to remember or tell a story, each person takes their own approach and, with occasional help from others in the guild, brings to life a truly unique artwork.
With members aged from 21 to 90 years, the skills and knowledge of the guild bridges generations. Their membership has grown by 15 this year, and they welcome both seasoned stitchers and beginners who are curious to come along and see what the guild has to offer.
To get in touch with the guild, see their Creative Directory profile here.
