Crafts and Collecting

Our libraries have a range of resources to improve your craft skills and give you creative ideas. If you enjoy collecting, we have guidebooks, catalogues and online resources to help you identify and look after your collectibles, whether they be Star War figurines or Royal Albert china.

Events
Groups
Knitting
Crafts and Making
Paper
For kids
Collecting

Featured

Online Resource

Creativebug

Unlimited access to thousands of online art and craft video classes.

Crafting events

Event

South - Raranga atu, Raranga mai - Māori Paper Weaving

Apr 23rd | 1:00pm - 3:00pm

South Library

Learn basic techniques about Māori weaving for children. Create your own mini whāriki | mat, kono | small basket or a small kete.

Event

Super Crafty Club 65+ years @ Aranui Library, part of a series

May 2nd | 10:00am - 12:00pm

Aranui Library

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Drop in to our seniors' arts and crafts sessions. Each session will have a different project for you to try.

Event

Creative Crafts @ South Library, part of a series

May 13th | 10:30am - 12:00pm

South Library

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Come and join us for a fun craft session. You can tackle a different project each month.

Events

Featured

Online Resource

Creativebug

Unlimited access to thousands of online art and craft video classes.

Knitting

We have knitting and crocheting books and resources for beginners and experts.

Online Resource

Carter's Price Guide to Antiques

Prices of antiquities, antiques, collectables, retro, vintage and 20th century design.

Sewing

Whether you're making clothes, creating an amazing costume for Armageddon, or mending you'll find useful resources at the Library.

CINCH Community Information Christchurch

Browse the handicraft and the collectors and collecting categories in CINCH (Community INformation CHristchurch) for Christchurch craft and collecting groups and organisations.

Crafts in the catalogue

Crafting

Knitting

Fabric crafts

Paper craft

Arts and crafts for kids

Featured resources for kids

Website

Māori weaving for kids

Find out the different steps in weaving harakeke and different types of weaving (raranga).

Website

Making a putiputi

Step by step instructions on how to make a simple putiputi harakeke (flax flower).

Blog Post

The stars of Matariki / Ngā whetu o Matariki

Instructions and video on how to make a woven star from harakeke.

cclstaff

Website

Join us for school holiday fun and learning

We have bookable programmes & free activities on in libraries in the April school holidays. Bookings open now!

Websites

There are lots of websites that can help you with arts and crafts. Here are some we think you might like.

Crayola: Craft ideas and colouring sheets to print off or colour online.
Creative Junk: Rethink, re-use and recycle to make wearable arts and all sorts of other fun projects.
Enchanted Learning: Themed crafts for kids. Learn how to make things for Mother’s Day, Halloween, Christmas and school projects about Dinosaurs, Animals and Space

Collecting

Collecting in the catalogue

Online Resource

Carter's Price Guide to Antiques

Prices of antiquities, antiques, collectables, retro, vintage and 20th century design.

Magazines and catalogues

Find print craft magazines by searching for the name of the specific craft and the word periodicals e.g. pottery periodicals. Locate print collectors' magazines by searching for the name of the item collected and the words collectibles periodicals e.g. dolls collectibles periodicals. For catalogues, including price guides and handbooks, do a search for the item collected and the words collectibles catalogues, e.eg. porcelain collectibles catalogues.