Embroidery was once the domain of medieval nobles who used gold or silk threads to adorn religious vestments, royal garments, and heraldic symbols.

These days, embroidering seems more about providing fun and friendship than finery for elites – something exemplified by a lively group that meets at the Masonic Centre on Thursdays.

Clubs come and go, but this one has staying power, celebrating its 40th anniversary last Thursday.

Guild member Helen Scanlan said the craft was therapeutic: “When you just concentrate on what you are doing, you’re not having to worry about all the other things that are going on. It’s very satisfying. We get to the end and marvel that we’ve done something we expected to be so hard, but there it is finished.”

Ann Paynter, now of Whanganui, joined the guild in about 1990, learning the craft before going on to serve on the guild’s national body.

“It’s a wonderful artform going back thousands of years when they used bone needles,” she said.

“It’s very satisfying and there are so many things you can make. I’m drawn more towards traditional designs, but younger members are using embroidery for many end-uses in the art world. A lot of embroidery shows up in wearable art as they introduce various kinds of stitches into fashion garments.

“There’s a surge of the stitching techniques from India and China now being used to extend the life of clothing decoratively.

“Embroiderers love new ideas – they tend to adopt anybody and everybody’s style of stitching. The evolution of embroidery has been like that of fusion food, as it includes ideas from all over the world.

“I like the Norwegian Hardanger technique, but I also like surface stitchwork, which allows use of many kinds of embroidery stitching. You can create pictures, tableware or whatever you like with these.”

Ms Paynter said works created ended up as wall hangings at home and sometimes gifts for others.

“Since they are hand-crafted there is an intrinsic value involved. Embroidery embodies all the love and care the person puts into the work, so embroidery can create special gifts.

“On the other hand, if you create these works for somebody and then give them away you must be prepared to let them go. What people do with your creation later is up to them, so choose wisely where it goes.

“Getting involved begins with contacting your local embroiderers’ group. The first thing I do when moving to a new town is to join the local one. When I do this, I’m taken right in – I become one of them.

“You don’t have to be an expert to make a start. Don’t look at what everybody else has done and say, ‘oh I can’t do that’. This is the place you come to learn how to do that. Learning is enjoyable; just come along and they’ll look after you.

Member Kay McLeod added that embroidery was ever fresh: “Nothing in embroidery is formulaic. You’re not working on set systems – you start creating and learn all the skills required so you can produce what you want.”

Ōpōtiki Embroiderers Guild president Anna Bixley said local women had quietly been stitching away since 1985.

“Now with the average age 70-plus it would be nice to get a few younger people,” she said.

“Our group is friendly, ready to share their extensive knowledge and help new chums.”

The guild formed with a nucleus of six women: Joyce Jerram, Jill Collins, Freddie Brascamp, Jean Caves, Lorna Morice and Audrey Sears. Membership grew to 11 that year and one of those foundation members, Audrey Sears, remains a member to this day.

By 1989, guild membership had peaked at 56. For several years both day and evening sessions were held. Early sessions were held at the Rose Garden Cottage, moving to the Opotiki Masonic Lodge Hall in 1991 to accommodate growth.

Today, the membership fluctuates between 15 and 20. Weekly daytime meetings are held every Thursday from 10am-2pm in the Masonic Centre, 125 St John Street. Over the past 40 years, annual subscriptions have risen from $15 to $55.

The guild held its first display in Wilson’s Wool Shop and Gallery. Displays have been held mostly bi-annually ever since.

In recent years displays were held in the Ōpōtiki Arts Hall.

Jan and David Stansbury designed the guild logo which adorns the guild banner.

Significant projects stitched by guild members included: the Galleria which now hangs in Te Papa and the Millenium Project. This was based on the pou in the main street of Ōpōtiki and is now located in the town’s museum.

Ms Paynter served as the guild’s Waikato/Bay of Plenty regional representative from 2012 to 2016, the only member of the guild to hold that position. Jean Caves, now deceased, and Audrey Sears were made life members.

Whakatāne and Gisborne Guilds regularly join the Ōpōtiki members for a day of stitching and chatting always accompanied by a shared lunch.

“In 1993, our member, Jill Collins, summed the group up as, “warm, friendly and relaxed, but with a very high standard of stitching,” Ms Bixley said.

“It’s a sentiment that is as true today as it was then.”