Forty-seven years ago an advert in the window of an Ashburton craft shop in The Triangle established the Ashburton Embroiderers’ Guild. Initial support and guidance came from the Christchurch Guild who encouraged the Ashburton members to join the Association of New Zealand Embroiderers’ Guilds in 1978. Ashburton was then the seventeenth guild in the country to be affiliated. There are currently 58 guilds affiliated in New Zealand.

This biennial exhibition aims to encourage embroidery in all its forms. The pieces demonstrate both innovation in design and excellence in stitching and comprise a variety of objects to view and admire.