“LOST ART” REVIVED

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31772, 31 August 1968, Page 2

“LOST ART” REVIVED

Embroidery is an art of a bygone age which a group of Christchurch women are reviving. They have formed the Canterbury Embroidery Guild and join the many women who are finding a new outlet for their creative talent in handwork. “People are tiring of the machine age; there is so much enthusiasm now for pottery, spinning and weaving. We want to create the same feeling for embroidery,” said Mrs A. Gray, the founder of the guild. The guild is not to be confused with, a sewing circle or the artistry of its members to be labelled fancywork, which Mrs Gray defines as "outlining for effect.” Two meetings a month are held in rooms in Hereford Street, and lessons are given for a youth group and for adults. “I wouldn’t have anything to do with a guild formed to serve cups of tea and gossip. We keep our meetings alive and useful,” she said. The 48 members take along their latest project, and exchange ideas and problems. Mrs Gray, who has a deep interest in church embroidery (which is almost dying out) encourages group members to take orders for

churches and private homes to raise the standard.

Jacobean (or crewel) embroidery, cut work, petitpoint, tapestry, crochet, tatting, and quilting are all part of the repertoire. Some members are working on modern pieces, and all are encouraged to create their own designs. A recent exercise involved designing place mats with New Zealand flora motif. There is no age limit. Four young girls meet on Saturday mornings for classes and Mrs Gray hopes to foster an interest in embroidery among the young. “It must be difficult for anyone with an interest in this if there are a lot of distractions in the home, so we want to encourage them to come to the guild,” she said.

Males are also welcome, but Mrs Gray considers shyness, not lack of interest or talent, may prevent men and boys who are interested coming forward. “If some do come forward to join we would be happy to arrange special classes,” she said. Talent has not been found lacking among Christchurch women, and the guild has been called the Canterbury guild to encourage skilled country women to join. “Of course, it’s a fairly expensive hobby. The cost of materials is going up all the time,” said Mrs Gray. Mrs Gray was taught at a Boman Catholic convent and

she is saddened by the decline in teaching of embroidery. “Everything is pushed aside for academic learning and sport these days. Some children cannot even darn their socks or sew on a button.”

Churches, the birthplace of embroidery, were also suffering for lack of skilled needlewomen. For some years Mrs Gray has done embroidery for the Anglican sisters of the Community of the Sacred Name and she hopes the guild will help raise the standard of church embroidery.

“Now the vestments are almost devoid of handworked embroidery,” she said. At present she is working on a cross for the frontal of the Avonside Holy Trinity Church. The guild’s plans include showing at the Exhibition Centre in the White Hart Arcade during Show Week and a large project in which everyone will participate. This latter work will depict the history of Canterbury and eventually the 14-yard piece will be presented to Christchurch.