KNIT will take place over three weeks and four weekends, 8 - 31 August 2025, and is timed to coincide with New Zealand Fashion Week, Kahuria.

The exhibition and workshops will be held in the Strand Arcade,  227 Queen St, Auckland Central, for ease of access by public transport, but there are also ways to get involved no matter where you are!

Mining our rich history and playing to a resurgence of interest in the handmade, KNIT: Original Fashion created from yarn will bring together examples of homemade fashion garments, the yarns, the knitting needles, crochet hooks, machines, and trimmings plus the fashion illustrations, photographs, newspaper and magazine articles and patterns that inspired earlier makers. KNIT will also bring together contemporary materials and equipment to host workshops, crafting circles, repair sessions, and masterclasses so we can share some of the important skills and knowledge essential to the ability to fashion unique clothing.

First image: Aotea Knitting Yarns advertisement from the Ineeda knitting brochure, 1930s. Second image: innovative fashion in yarn by Goldie Knitwear, 2024.

A call for submissions is now open, we'd love to hear from you!

We're seeking contributions for the following elements, we'd love to centre the stories, skills and experience of our local yarning community to create this interactive experience!

Garments:

We hope to uncover and bring together some of your special garments, pieces you have treasured and kept, and their stories. Sharing them will invite the audience to marvel at the creations on display, to explore the many possibilities inherent in crafting with yarn, and to be inspired to create exciting new and original pieces. If you have a garment you would like to be considered to exhibit, please send a photo and a brief story to hello@nzfashionmuseum.org.nz with Knit- Garment as the subject line.

Volunteers:

For this exhibition we also want to draw on the experience and skills in our community and invite you to come on board as volunteer hosts where you will share skills and information, and offer an interested ear to visitors. If you would like to volunteer as a host, please send your details including any relevant skills to doris@nzfashionmuseum.org.nz with Knit- Volunteer as the subject line.

Workshop leaders:

We are also looking to recruit leaders for our hands-on public programme of workshops, drop-in activities, and expert sessions. We want to create a programme that welcomes participation and engages our visitors, whether their skills are basic or more advanced. If you would like to contribute a workshop, please send your details including a brief outline of your proposal and expertise to doris@nzfashionmuseum.org.nz

Stash materials:

Lastly, we are looking for materials to enhance the display and for the workshops. We are looking for every sort of yarn, knitting needles and crochet hooks plus the fashion illustrations, photographs, newspaper and magazine articles and patterns that inspired you and earlier makers. If youhave stash materials you would like to donate, please send a photo and a brief story to hello@nzfashionmuseum.org.nz with Knit- Stash as the subject line.

Peggy square community blanket:

Over the duration of the exhibition we are inviting people to gather at the exhibition for our daily ‘yarning circle’, to work on something of their own or to make a peggy square to contribute to our durational crafting project, a community blanket to be auctioned for charity. You can contribute to this from anywhere in Aotearoa or around the world by creating a square using any technique you like and we will add it. Progress will be documented on our social media channels so you will be able to see your contribution. If you would like to contribute from afar, send your 12x12 cm peggy square via post to KNIT, attn Doris de Pont, 48 Tutanekai St, Auckland 1021. Don’t forget to include your name for the makers register!

This project is supported by the City Centre targeted rate.