For 10 years, the Crafternoon Tea gatherings at the Invercargill Public Library have been pulling in craft enthusiasts from around the city for a bit of conversation, crafts and a cup of tea.

The group is set to celebrate this milestone with an exhibition showcasing a decade of crafting at the end of March and a special anniversary celebration on April 24.

Invercargill City Council Community Engagement and Programming Lead Saniya Thompson said what began as a small gathering of two in April 2014, had grown to a dozen passionate crafters meeting on the last Thursday of every month.

“Our Crafternoon Tea has been the perfect setting to unleash creative spirits around Invercargill,” Thompson said. “From knitting and sewing to scrapbooking and beading, this has been an ideal place to meet new friends who share a love of all things hand made.”

Thompson said that while Covid put a temporary stop to Crafternoon Tea, the group had been slowly rebuilding each month.

The anniversary celebration on April 24, starting at 1pm, will be in the same spirit as the monthly gatherings since 2014, with two of the original members joining in for the afternoon. No registration is needed for the event.

“It’s always been about community,” Thompson said. “And about coming together for a chat in a relaxed setting with a cup of tea or coffee and some nice food.”

The exhibition of work by members from the past 10 years will be displayed in the foyer between the car park and the library from March 28 to April 24 and will include knitting, soft toys, beading and a special Anzac Day exhibit of knitted poppies done by members in 2018.