On Wednesdays, Smiths Alternative hosts a very cosy event, inviting Canberra’s crafty community to work on their projects for a few hours, where they’re free to indulge in a discussion or two with their fellow crafters.
You’d think at this time of day, no one would have the time to attend. Regardless, I arrived with my pink wool and crochet needle, a hobby I had stopped long ago but hoped to pick up again someday. The accessories were to help me blend in with the others.
Sitting outside in the sun, waiting for her friends, was a lady in her 70s, Vicky. A regular of the Crafternoons event, who barely ever missed a session.
Arriving not long after were her friends, Angela, another Vicky (Vicky M), and Louise; whose son is the owner of Smith’s Alternative. Louise said she was very proud of her son for transforming the venue into a Canberra hotspot for people of all ages.
The girls are all a part of a large knitting and crochet club on Facebook with over 4500 members. They have face-to-face meet-ups around Canberra in different places, “more or less every day” Vicky explained.
Louise had only just started attending the event. One of the girls had been nice enough to help her get started on her first scarf.
I sat with the four of them as they showed me how to get started on a scarf of my own.
Q: What are you working on?
Vicky: A quilt for my granddaughter. I’m embroidering pages of children’s books on different sheets of cloth, before stitching them together to form a quilt.
Q: How many projects have you completed?
Vicky: Tons. Have I completed all of them? No. But at least I always have something to do here. The nice thing about this is you don’t have to pay here. You bring whatever you want.
Q: How often do you all attend?
Angela: Weekly. When the weather is not nice, we have to sit inside, but that only happens once or twice a year. But most of the time, we’re outside, even when it’s raining or dry, usually with coffee and cake. It’s just lovely.
Q: How many projects have you completed?
Angela: More than ten projects. I have some memorable moments too. Someone once brought a portable loom. It was interesting to watch.
Q: What’s your favourite thing about Crafternoons?
Angela: The social aspect. Sometimes it’s a bit noisy with the buses. But other than that, it’s fine!
Q: How long have you been crocheting for?
Vicky M: Since I was eight. I’m teaching myself how to do hearts. I have completed four blankets and have four more on the way.
Q: What’s your favourite thing about Crafternoons?
Vicky M: I like that I can come whenever I want to. There’s no organisation involved. I like what Nigel and Beth [the owners] are trying to do here: build some kind of community. A sense of community is important anywhere. If you feel like you belong, you tick one of those major well-being boxes. People who feel this way have higher self-esteem, live longer, and do better in life generally.
After chatting with Louise, the Vicky’s and Angela for a while, I worked on my scarf, but it couldn’t hold a candle to their pieces.
But that’s the beauty of the Crafternoons. No matter your skill level, you can always join in if you need help getting started, or simply fancy a chat!
While it may not attract the attention of its usual, big crowds, it attracts the right kind of people, who are happy to help you with any of your creative endeavours.
Original photos by Yasmine Killeen