Scarfs, gloves, Matariki
Children attending a Matarikithemed school holidays programme have created winter warmers and picked up practical skills.
Many of the children who came to the workshop yesterday had not used a sewing machine before, and Palmerston North City Library programmes team leader Elise Goodge said the activities were designed with this in mind.
‘‘We get a lot of kids who have never used a sewing machine before, so we wanted to keep the pattern and the shape quite simple for them, but still have a cool garment at the end of it,’’ she said.
About 30 people turned up throughout the day to participate in yesterday’s activities, which involved sewing gloves, making scarfs and decorating T-shirts.
People were encouraged to bring their own T-shirts to decorate with fabric markers and stencils, and polar fleece and sweatshirt fabric was supplied to make the gloves and scarfs.
The fingerless gloves were made using a pattern that required minimal sewing.
Matariki is the Ma¯ori name for the cluster of stars known as the Pleiades. It rises in midwinter and for many Ma¯ori, it heralds the start of a new year.
The library has more themed events planned throughout the week. Today there is wakahuia (treasure box) making. Tomorrow’s event is making origami and harakeke stars.