MORE than a dozen people stitched, knitted, and sewed around a central table at Eureka Hall over the weekend as part of a new monthly crafting group\u2019s first meetup.<\/p>\n
The group, called Cozy Craft Dates Ballarat, is set to continue meeting each month at a different location with the aim of providing a creative space for social connection.<\/p>\n
Convenor and founder Ashleigh Ozols has been crafting for at least a decade and said she\u2019s seeking a friendly face-to-face environment for her hobby.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted this to be a place where people can come with whatever they want as a way to make friends especially after COVID where people have been a lot more isolated than they\u2019re used to,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know I can find it hard to interact with people and I can get quite anxious so it\u2019s about putting myself out there and meeting new people as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Facebook group attracted more than 200 people within its first 24 hours and currently has more than 300 members.<\/p>\n
Prior to establishing Cozy Craft Dates Ballarat, Ozols regularly met with a cross-stitching group in Cardigan Village before the pandemic.<\/p>\n
She said she was pleasantly surprised by the response to the new group.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think everyone\u2019s really enjoying themselves,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve been able to teach them some crochet stuff and everyone\u2019s really lovely.<\/p>\n
\u201cI definitely think there\u2019s been a need for this and everyone here\u2019s been saying as such. I\u2019m hoping we can even arrange more frequent meetings if there\u2019s more interest.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lisa Goodson was at work on a chevron blanket for her daughter during the group\u2019s first session.<\/p>\n
As a mother of two she said the meetup has given her a social outlet.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is great because I get to talk to people more and have that mental health break. To get that social interaction and make new friends has been good,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been working with craft for about 20 years and this is probably the first time I\u2019ve really been part of a craft group.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MORE than a dozen people stitched, knitted, and sewed around a central table at Eureka Hall over the weekend as part of a new monthly crafting group\u2019s first meetup. The group, called Cozy Craft Dates Ballarat, is set to continue meeting each month at a different location with the aim of providing a creative space […]<\/p>\n