A community of crafty women has been stitched together through the promise of crochet, company, coffee and a worthy cause.
“This is my happy place – I get goosebumps just talking about it,” one of six core members of the Creative Soul Sessions’ ‘needle nook’ Marie Parker said.
The group meets once per week where the old deli once stood at the Challis shops.
The space has now been completely transformed into a unique creative hub for ‘art, friendship and food’.
“I wanted to give people a platform to explore their hobbies and take them in whatever direction they choose,” Creative Soul Sessions owner Sandy De Luca said.
“I kept hearing from people who wanted to learn to crochet, and from those who used to crochet but had no reason to anymore. I thought ‘I need to bring these two groups together’.”
And so, the ‘crochet circle’ was born. The knitters soon infiltrated, and the idea grew wings and took off. Community members also started to donate their unused stockpiles of yarn, hooks and needles.
Over the past six months, the ladies have knitted and crocheted a beautiful collection of tactile blankets they plan to deliver to Wheelchairs for Kids.
Many of the blankets are themed, and come with little crocheted animals or bobbly bits – perfect for busy fingers.
And the ladies are already hatching a plan to create similar blankets for people with dementia at a local aged care facility.
For many of the women who come religiously, or drop in occasionally, the chance to connect with others and create something purposeful has been therapeutic.
Lynn Dalton said she started to come each Wednesday “to get out of the house, and cope with grief”.
“You go nutty at home,” she said.
Carlene Stafford said she took a chance after seeing the idea for the group advertised, and coincidentally reignited a friendship with an old work colleague.
“I used to crochet 50 years ago and wanted to get back into it. And when I found out what we were crocheting for, it just made it even better,” she said.
She now plans to bring her granddaughter along these school holidays, after she expressed interest.
For Marie, who works from home, the group has enabled her to meet a great group of new friends who live close by.
“We come here depressed and leave laughing,” she said.
“And the conversation just picks up where we left off last Wednesday.
“This place feels like a second home – I’ve always felt welcome and treated like a friend.”
The group meets each Wednesday morning, at Creative Soul Sessions on Challis Rd. Anyone who would like to reignite their passion, or learn a new skill is welcome to drop in and join them.
