Local group eager to help people learn how to knit, spin or crochet

By Lethbridge Herald on June 28, 2025.

Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalsim Initiative Reporter

International Knit in Public Day was June 14, and to mark the occasion a group of Lethbridge fibre artists staged an event called YQL Fibre Fun on the opening day of the Lethbridge Farmers Market. 

The event at the Agri-food Hub highlighted the art of knitting and spinning, and provided an opportunity for beginner and experienced knitters to come together and craft, share tips, and also enjoy the atmosphere of the market.

“We meet together the first and third Tuesday of the month at the Centre Village Mall at 5:30,” said Liz Demaere, one of the organizers of the event.

“We knit, we spin, we crochet and do all kinds of crafts. And through that gathering, we thought we’d do something to share our knowledge and spread the love that we have for fibre.”

The loosely-knit group of crafters offers free knitting lessons to anyone who wants to learn. All they have to do is show up at Centre Village Mall during one of the twice-monthly gatherings. 

Fibre arts, also known as textile arts, encompass the creation of artworks using natural or synthetic fibres, such as fabrics, yarns, and other materials. It involves various techniques like weaving, knitting, crocheting, quilting, and embroidery to manipulate fibers into aesthetic and functional pieces. Fibre art prioritizes the artistic expression and craftsmanship involved in working with fibers over purely utilitarian purposes.

The equipment at the demonstration included antique manual tools and spinning wheels, and also motorized devices for converting raw wool into thread. 

One antique spinning wheel was actually a throw-away saved from the trash bin and restored. Volunteer Elaine Klop demonstrated a 1940s-era drum carder for Lethbridge Resident Alice Matisz. 

“I think it’s wonderful…we weren’t expecting to see this today,” says Matisz. “And Elaine has done such a great job of explaining to us how wool goes from the back of a sheep to yarn, and some of this equipment is amazing. It looks like it’s the same equipment they would have used at the turn of the century.”

Fibre arts have a very long history, dating back thousands of years to ancient civilizations. Evidence of textile production and other fibre-based crafts can be found in prehistoric times across various cultures. These early uses of fibres were often for practical purposes like clothing and shelter, but they also included decorative and symbolic elements.

The oldest materials used in fibre arts are flax fibers, which have been found in archaeological contexts dating back as far as 34,000 years. These fibres were used to create linen, the oldest known woven natural fabric, and were utilized for clothing, bandages, and tapestries.

The use of wool in fiber arts dates back to the Stone Age, approximately 10,000 years ago, with domestication of sheep for wool production beginning around 6000 BCE. 

Archaeological evidence suggests that early uses of wool included clothing and felt making, with weaving emerging later.

Like many other arts and crafts, fibre art has its own competitions, both in North America and worldwide. These competitions showcase a variety of techniques and styles within the fiber arts field. Some focus on specific themes, while others are open to a wider range of creative expressions.

“One of the things we’ve always participated in was the International Wool Challenge Competition,” said Demaers. “We competed against teams from Australia, America, England and Scotland. The idea was to take the fleece from a sheep, (manually) shear it, spin it and knit it as fast as you can in one day. That’s been going on for 19 years and we’re the longest standing team to do this competition. We couldn’t do it this year because we don’t have a sheep shearer, but the last to years we won first place.”