Crochet Guild Australia is the brainchild of passionate crocheters from all over Australia.
Launched in November 2019, Crochet Guild Australia is still a very young organisation that is rapidly evolving. Despite the set backs of the COVID 19 global pandemic that unfolded two months after the launch of the Guild - we are committed to providing a centralised crochet community resource for education, inspiration and teaching tools for those of us who love crochet whether hobbyist or professional.
More and more passionate crocheters are joining the effort and are willing to put their time and work into growing our Guild. The current committee acknowledges and respects the enormous effort and passion of the founding Executive Committee and subsequent committees. We thank you for having the courage, knowledge and passion to unite and launch Crochet Guild Australia.
JennY KING - President 2021-22 | Jenny King's earliest publicity cited her as having a terrier dog’s determination in the book ‘Crochet for Fun and Profit’ by Darla Simms in 2000. Jenny’s 50 year crochet history has seen her: crochet commercially, own a yarn store, self publish 13 pattern books, write 7 more, design for magazines and books globally, teach all over the world, appear on TV teaching crochet in USA , winning International Crochet Awards and being in an Australian crochet exhibition called “Hooked” with her beaded crochet designs. Jenny has had a diploma of teaching since 1981 and is a certified crochet teacher with the Craft Yarn Council of America. She is also a professional member of the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA) since 2001. She has developed and trademarked her revolutionary design concept called Get Squared® And Kids Squared®. This novel designs concept has never been done before.
After teaching at the CGOA conferences since 2000 and the Stitches and DFW Fiberfest events in USA Jenny was determined to bring some of that magic to Australia. She is delighted to say that, thanks to this wonderful committee, her dream has been realised and now Australia has its very own Crochet Guild. |
LYNLEY BUCKLEY - VICE PRESIDENT |
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Lynda Tomkins - Treasurer | Lynda Tomkins learned to crochet from her mother when she was a youngster growing up in Central Queensland. It remained a hobby for her as she pursued a career in accounting until 2014 when she decided a change was needed and crocheting and yarn became her focus. Since then Lynda has been running Crochet Australia where she gets to play with yarn and crochet tools every day and drools over the many new patterns. She also teaches crochet and runs regular crochet workshops. Lynda also been conducting workshops at various craft events and is involved with the knitting and crochet committee of the Queensland Country Women’s Association. She likes to crochet everything and has recently been turning her hand to designing garments. Lynda has a passion for passing on the skill of crochet to ensure this skill never dies. |
LyNDALL REEVE - Membership officer | Lyndall Reeve originally taught herself to crochet from books and with help from friends and has been crocheting for over 20 years. She trained and received her Craft Yarn Council of America’s Crochet teacher certificate in 2010 and has been teaching and demystifying crochet pattern reading for her students ever since. Lyndall has worked alongside Jenny King from Jenny King Designs and Prudence Mapstone at craft shows around the country, has taught at Yarn Glorious Yarn in Brisbane, and at retreats in Nundle NSW and on the Sunshine Coast QLD. Locally in her home-town of Murwillumbah NSW she has also taught at Jabiru Art & Picture Framing, Tied with String Studio, CWA Hall and more recently at Mill and Make. The most exciting place she has travelled for crochet, is to America twice for the Annual Conference of the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA). During these events, she attends as many classes as possible to expand her crochet skills and knowledge. She has studied under such professionals as Myra Wood, Melissa Leapman, Edie Eckman, Lily Chin, Robyn Chachula, Mary Beth Temple, Darla Fanton, Sharon Silverman, Marty Miller and Laurinda Redding. Lyndall brings many years of experience volunteering and on committees, holding various positions. Lyndall has previously been employed in the positions of secretary, office manager, pay clerk, book-keeper and she currently fills all these positions in her family’s businesses, one of these is a cane farm. I cannot imagine my life without crochet it is such an amazing stress reliever, I love the sense of comradery and joy that the crochet community brings to my life and all the wonderful friendships that I have made. |
ALISON PHILLIPS - COMMITTEE MEMBER
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SAMANTHA MacNALLY - COMMITTEE MEMBER
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CAROLYNNE CANNON - COMMITTEE MEMBER |
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PETRA CREUTZIGER - COMMITTEE MEMBER |
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KATHLEEN HANSEN - COMMITTEE MEMBER | Kathleen Hansen I cannot remember a time I was not making something with my hands. I grew up with, and was surrounded by crafty men and women who could fix or make just about anything. All the women in my family produced beautiful intricate and fine crochet lace creations, sewed gorgeous garments for the whole family, knit dozens if not hundreds of jumpers and hats, made leather handbags and purses, painted, made jewellery, and baked decadent breads, sweet treats, jams and more. I was expected to learn, and I did. I started knitting my first scarf at 5 yrs, sewed my first dress at 8yrs, crocheted my first lace doily at 12yrs (I still have it), and took over the family cooking when I was 15. I learned to spin 12 yrs ago to supplement my growing yarn obsession and am just now learning about painting and art. In the intervening years I have knit, crochet and sewn many of the clothes my children needed, until they had a say anyway. I’ve taught various crafts to the Brownies when my daughter was little, some basic sewing skills to high school students ( teenage boys and sewing machines are not a good mix), and handcrafts to my former local QCWA branch members. I joined the CGA as one of the founding members and attended the Crochet Guild conference in June. I am proud to be one of the inaugural Teacher Training candidates, and am looking forward to being able to display and use my qualifications. Attending the Teacher Training at the conference has given me more confidence to help and teach others. I am ready for this next phase of my life. |
RACHAEL CECIL - COMMITTEE MEMBER & MEMBERSHIP OFFICER | Rachael Cecil has a broad range of skills to bring to the Crochet Guild, she had an extensive career in Customs and recently moved into a very rewarding career in the Disability Sector looking after a large portfolio of disability accommodation across Sydney. Rachael also enjoys volunteering and has volunteered in some capacity for many of her adult years. The most recent being the founding President of a local netball club, as well as child loss organisations holding various positions. Rachael started her love of Crochet since she was 9 yrs old where she would dabble in basic granny squares for some years. Many years on she has expanded her knowledge and would like to tackle more complexed projects as well as gain her crochet teaching accreditation. Whether a beginner or advanced crocheter, Rachael would like to bring people together to enjoy the love of crocheting for many years to come. Her overall dream is to one day open her own yarn store. |
2019 Committee | 2020 Committee | 2021 Committee |