Deloraine spinners began in 1996 when four ladies, refugees from the Big Island met up and discovered they each were all particularly keen on fibre crafts, at first meeting at each other’s home until the group grew needing a larger venue. In about 2005 they began meeting at Deloraine Community House and especially now that the Community House has a bigger room we continue to meet there.
Deloraine spinners started displaying their creations at the Deloraine show and in cahoots with a breeder, their sheep, a shearer, a skirter, and our team carding, spinning and knitting we demonstrated the entire process of making fabric from first principles. This display attracted a huge amount of interest at those shows.
Each fortnight Deloraine Spinners meet at Deloraine Community House on a Tuesday from 10am – 1:30pm. We spin, weave, felt and then craft the fabrics we have made into garments and other useful items. Some exciting dyeing is done at home by some of our group.
Among our regular crafters many are delighted to mentor any beginner or person who is curious about these basic crafts. Among our members we have people skilled in complex weaving, felting, dyeing and fibre mixing to create fabrics with softness suitable for scarves and babies. Spinning can be done on a variety of wheels, drop and cup spindles and the tiny electric wheels. Felting produces the finest of shawls, a wall hanging, shoes or rugged floor mats. Several members are skilled at natural dyeing using local plants and commercial dyes. And are willing to share their recipes!
We have loaner wheels, equipment and fleece to get you started if you would like to try spinning. A small library of books is available to teach some fibre skills. During school holidays we have had families join us to discover about working in fibres. All are welcome.
Each alternate Tuesday we gather in the morning and work on our own projects, sharing skills and information. Our April meetings are on the 8th and 22nd and then fortnightly after those dates. There is tea and coffee (and sometimes cake) available. We usually bring our own lunches. To cover the rent on the room we each put in three dollars for Deloraine House, but for a first-time visitor there is no charge. At some point in the gathering we have a “show and tell” so finished works can be displayed, discussed, admired and more importantly, bragged about.
The group is informal although the keener members do join the Handweavers, Spinners and Dyers Guild Tasmania Inc. who offer an incredible amount of support to us crafters including insurance for our Guild events. They have an exhaustive library of books, equipment and raw materials to loan and purchase.
Deloraine Spinners have spearheaded a craft stall at St. Marks Hall during the Tasmanian Craft Fair at Deloraine in the last decade. There members of the Tasmanian Handweavers, Spinners and Dyers Guild send us their works for sale from all over Tasmania. Guild members also are present demonstrating their wonderful skills for the interested. We plan that this year we, with the Tasmanian Craft Fair team, will provide workshops at the main venue over the weekend. Watch out for the Craft Fair Program 2025!
