Knitting brings generations together

Needle novices and purl stitch champions joined together at the Ramp Gallery for a knitting workshop run by Weasel Contemporary Art Gallery curator Maddie Gifford and ‘Hear Me Roar!’ exhibiting artist Arielle Walker. 

‘Watch Me Knit!’ attracted over 20 eager knitters and provided a space to celebrate and practise their stitches with like-minded enthusiasts. 

The workshop was run in collaboration with Weasel Gallery’s current exhibit ‘Hear Me Roar!’ for the Wintec Ramp Festival, in which Walker is showing her knitted pieces ‘Ka Haere au ki te Tōwenetanga o te Rā’, ‘Awa Badge #1’, ‘Tai Badge #1’, and ‘Uta Badge #1’. 

Walker’s choice of forming words in Te Reo in wool was described as an “act of decolonisation” by Gifford.

“[She] works with language and traditional crafts to transform the act of storytelling from her ancestral home into tactile and experiential encounters.”

Gifford and Walker brought skeins of wool, yarn, and a range of different size needles. 

Gifford even recruited her grandmother to help tutor some of the beginner knitters as Gifford herself admitted that she was a rookie with knitting needles. 

Wintec student Annalese Webber used her time at ‘Watch Me Knit!’ to resume knitting a fisherman’s knit scarf. 

“For me, the ‘Watch Me Knit!’ workshop was the perfect excuse to get some more work done on a knitting project I’ve been picking up and putting down over a few years.”

“I loved the atmosphere of people just sitting around chatting and enjoying the act of creating something, and especially seeing the experienced knitters share their knowledge with those who’ve never picked up a set of needles. 

“It was calming and communal and no one was distracted by phones or screens or everyday life.”

Wintec student Tim Coenen said he was inspired to start his own knitting project after attending the workshop. 

“My grandmother would be so proud of me going to a knitting workshop. 

“It was really great to see such a varied group giving it a go.”