About Us

The Guild

The Guild aims to promote embroidery and unite those who are interested in all types of stitching.

It was established in 1978 after Elizabeth McKee placed a small advertisement in the local paper asking for anyone interested in forming a guild to meet with her. More that 20 women attended the meeting and the Nelson Embroiderers’ Guild was born.

Not long afterwards the Guild became affiliated to the Associated Embroiderers’ Guilds of New Zealand. Over the last 36 years the Guild has gone from strength to strength, encouraging and supporting its members to explore and develop their chosen style of stitching.

Activities

The guild has 80 members, and counting. It holds a variety of meetings, catering for the needs of its members. Our more formal meeting is held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month – in the Warne Stadium, Songer St, Stoke. At this meeting we have a variety of activities – speakers, mini workshops, Guild projects, displays of work and access to the Guild’s extensive library.

We have four less formal meetings called ‘Stitch and Chat’, held at Broadgreen House, 276  Nayland Road, Stoke. These meetings take place on the first and third Saturday of every month, from 10.30 am to 4.00 pm, and on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month, from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. At these meetings members work on their own stitching. This is a great opportunity to get advice and encouragement from other members.

Throughout the year the Guild aims to offer classes for members to learn new skills/techniques by running a variety of workshops. These can vary from two days to a few hours. National  and local tutors are available to us.

Weekends away are always very popular too! Marahau is the destination for two fun-filled days of stitching, laughter, chat and eating in March. Regional retreats are also held during the year.

Extensions (NEXT)

This group is for members who want to play and experiment with stitching, fabric manipulation, dyeing and embellishment of their own designs. The group meets on the second Saturday of each month at All Saints Church Hall.

‘What a Weekend’

Every year a Guild sub-committee runs ‘What a Weekend’. Over the two days there are up to 15 workshops, with tutors from all over New Zealand. Check out the What a Weekend page for further information.

Community Involvement

Over the years Nelson Embroiderers’ Guild has made several art works for public buildings – panels in the Children’s Library; panels at Nelson Hospice; the wall hanging in the Emergency Department and the panels in the Intensive Care Department Quiet Room at Nelson Hospital.

The Guild has also participated in artworks created in conjunction with ANZEG, such as the Hangings in the Globe Theatre, London. We are about to contribute to the Tapestry Trust Hangings that will depict a significant time in history of the Nelson region.