Dannevirke: Crafty women make bag gifts for China

Louise Charlton (left) the Tararua District Council's business administrator, and Wimbledon farmer Brian Hales.

A special project has begun in a historic Wimbledon woolshed that involves 25 custom-made felted, woollen bags being created as gifts from the people of New Zealand to the people of China.

The China Wool Textile Association (CWTA) has given the go-ahead for the bags to be made for the VIP guests at the International Wool Textile Organisation's (IWTO) 84th conference in Zhangjinugang in May.

And last week a group of first-time felters began work at Brian Hales' Wimbledon woolshed, using wool from his exotic karakul flock.

"This is pretty awesome," Mr Hales told the Dannevirke News. "Taking on something like this is recognition that there is more to farming than just the ordinary day-to-day activities. I believe some wonderful things will come out of this."

Mr Hales personally invited the women taking part in the project. None have had previous felting experience.

"They have no preconceived ideas and that's wonderful. I couldn't have found a better group of skilled artists," he said.

"This is a very special project and each bag will have a label giving traceability back to the creator and the farm where the wool has come from."

Each felted bag requires 200g of fleece and the large karakul fleece on display in the Wimbledon woolshed weighed 4kg, 60 per cent of which will make 10 bags.

Mr Hales is passionate about the wool industry and not just his exotic flock.

"This area, the Puketoi, encompassing Pongaroa, Weber and Akitio, produces the best crossbreed wool in New Zealand, but no one recognises that. It's a bloody shame," he said.

Karen Workman from Taranaki has had 10 years' felting experience and was teaching the women the process.

"I think the karakul wool is going to be ideal. But we're all learning here today," she said.

"We're so lucky to have Brian (Hales) organise something like this. There aren't many farmers who can get eight women to visit and have lunch. Brian is so generous and wonderful with people. This project really reflects his enthusiasm for the fleece."

Danuella Broughton of Dannevirke said, "I'm so excited. It's just like my first day at school." Dannuella and fellow felter Alana Clarke have been the mainstay shedhands in the shed for years. Mr Hales said, "They are expert woolhandlers with a good knowledge of my exotic wool and have natural artistic talents."

For Heather Newland, of Pongaroa, the workshop was a very supportive way of working. Heather is a professional flax kete maker and rock sculptor.

"I'm excited to see the end product," she said. "This is an awesome craft to do."

The final felted bags will put Wimbledon on the map when they go on display at the world's largest global wool stage in China. Nigel Hales, the chief executive of Cavalier Woolscourers, said, "Madam Wu from the CWTA is organising the IWTO conference and she visited the farm last year. She is the big wheel in the global wool industry and now a huge fan of New Zealand wool."

For his brother, Brian, the chance to feature local wool and crafts people on the world stage is something to be treasured.

"When we've had Chinese visitors here previously they were very impressed with the way our sheep were treated," he said. "Each bag will have a custom silk label and will be blessed before they leave Dannevirke."