Purler of a plan! MEET THE YARNTEEZE

Click go the needles, click, click, click... How a bunch of craft lovers banded together to spread warmth and kindness

- Fleur Guthrie

It started off as a throwaway comment between two siblings and has ended up sparking a North Auckland knitting movement that donated more than 4500 items to those in need last year alone.

In 2017, Trish Stewart and her sister Sue were sitting around the table knitting and crocheting, when Sue remarked, “It’s really sad that many of the next generation don’t do this any more – it’s a dying art.”

In that moment, a childhood memory sparked for Trish – and Yarnteeze was born.

The 68-year-old explains, “We came up with Yarnteeze ‘yarning with the aunties while drinking tea’– because when we were little, all the aunties would come over and sit in the kitchen with their knitting, while I made their tea.

“It was like a therapy session as they helped each other with their problems. I remember thinking, ‘They always seem to feel better when they go home.’”

Galvanised to start with one small action, Trish asked the owners of The Coffee Club in Örewa if they’d be okay with her putting up a post on Facebook to see if any locals would like to join her there each week to learn to knit or crochet and create items for charity.

Now, six years on from originally five ladies, the Yarnteeze are a self-funding group of around 40 women and one bloke – Barry, who makes colourful beanies for all sizes on his loom at home.