A Bendigo craft group is celebrating a hat trick at this year’s Australian Sheep and Wool Show, taking out a woolcraft award for the third year in a row.
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But not only has the Bendigo Spinners, Weavers and Handcrafts Group won the team award in the woolcraft section for the third time, but has also claimed the award for the best translation of the theme for the second year running.
This year’s theme was ‘Homefront’, to mark the centenary of the end of World War I.
Members of the group crafted a piece inspired by Australian artist Grace Cossington Smith’s 1915 painting ‘The Sock Knitter’, depicting a woman preparing a care parcel for her husband away fighting overseas.
The piece had to include five elements, showing prowess in different crafts.
For its piece, the group had a felted background, a skein of yarn spun from Polwarth fleece, knitted socks, a piece of weaving, and a crocheted baby shawl.
Members began working on this year’s entry straight after last year’s show, with scores of hours put in – the felting alone was estimated to have taken at least 35 hours.
The talents of the group were on display in other sections, with member Ute Krusel winning two first prizes for her weaving.
Mrs Krusel said she was always interested in weaving, but it wasn’t until she retired that she found the time to learn and take up the craft.
That was more than 20 years ago.
“I love weaving,” she said.
Long-time member Dorothy Graham said the group began in the 1970s and had grown steadily.
It now boasts almost 30 members.
Ms Graham said the main crafts were spinning and weaving, but other crafts were embraced.
“The group has retained that love of traditional crafts, but we still look to the modern as well,” she said.
She said the ability of people to express their creativity through crafts kept these traditional crafts thriving.
“There’s a lot of individual creativity,” she said.
But the group is not only about the craft – it is also a place where people can catch up with friends.
“I’ve known people here for 30-plus years, it’s lovely,” Ms Graham said.
The group welcomes new members.
Members meet on the first and third Thursday of the month at the Chum Street Unity Hall. For more information, call president Julie Hutchieson on 0400 738 576.
To see their award-winning creations, visit the woolcraft shed at the three-day Australian Sheep and Wool Show at the Prince of Wales Showgrounds from 9am Friday.