Sew Grey Lynn
Sew Grey Lynn started in 2018. They run the Stitch in Time repair group.
History
2017 -Over 100 "BYO Bags Grey Lynn" were sewn by our team with more than 70 donated to help businesses in the West Lynn and Richmond Rd retail areas become Plastic Bag Free. More bags were given away at the Grey Lynn Farmers Market on 1st July 2018 for the worldwide Plastic Bag free day.
On Saturday 7th July 2018, the sewers joined in the Boomerang Bag Sewing Working Bee for Plastic Bag free July. 31 bags were completed and given to participating Grey Lynn businesses.
Christmas 2019 a bundle of bags was given to the Grey Lynn Library to protect the books when people forget to BYO bag.
2025 Update - A Stitch in Time mending bees
On the last Sunday of each month, a regular group of volunteers gather at the Grey Lynn Community Centre, where they spend the morning repairing clothing.
‘A Stitch in Time’ community mending events are run by local group Sew Grey Lynn. They were started in September 2022 with funding from the Waitemata Local Board.
The aim is to extend the life of clothing and to teach people basic sewing skills to empower them to do their own clothing repairs. Anyone can bring in clothing that requires a simple repair or adjustment and the skilled volunteers will patch, darn, shorten, replace a zip or repair seams, either while you shop at the adjacent Grey Lynn Farmers Market, or you can join in and learn how to mend.
We provide a safe and inclusive environment for our local community to come and have a chat, a cuppa, and to learn that repair and increasing the longevity of clothing are sustainable habits that have many benefits. We encourage unique repair techniques such as visible mending and fun patches, for example, crocheted flowers.
The events run from 9.30 to 11.30am on the last Sunday of each month, from February to November, with a ‘learn to mend’ workshop session from 11.30am to 12.30pm. Bring along an item you wish to have repaired and we will teach you how to mend them.
- Tools: We have a sewing machine, overlocker, extension cord, pins and scissors to do repairs.
- Tasks for non-sewers: There are tasks to do if you are not a sewer.
Monthly updates are included in the Grey Lynn Farmers Market Facebook page.
Sew Grey Lynn
Project activities and updates
Lynn Green – Waste Champion
Lynn was one of the founders of Grey Lynn 2030 in 2008, Her passion has always been waste and she quickly started Grey Lynn Waste Away. Lynn has been involved in most of our waste initiatives. Lynn had researched into Zero Waste NGOs so we were lucky to have an expert like her. So why…
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Sew Grey Lynn – Update
Over 100 “BYO Bags Grey Lynn” have been sewn by our team with more than 70 donated so far to help businesses in the West Lynn and Richmond Rd retail areas become Plastic Bag Free! More bags were given away at the Grey Lynn Farmers Market on 1st July 2018 for the worldwide Plastic Bag…
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Children’s Art Competition “NO MORE PLASTIC BAGS”
The Children’s Art Competition is part of the Grey Lynn Plastic Bag FREE July campaign to promote ‘NO MORE PLASTIC BAGS’ when shopping and prevent plastic pollution in our environment. The competition is open to children (five to fifteen years) from Grey Lynn. You have until 31st July 2018 to enter the competition. All you have…
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Plastic bag free Auckland
Colinda Rowe, Chair of Grey Lynn 2030 spoke to the Plastic Bag Free New Zealand Auckland meeting on 21 August. The meeting was organised by Denise Roche, MP to highlight problems posed by single-use plastic bags and to announce an upcoming community coalition to reduce and ultimately phase out their use. Here is Colinda’s presentation: Hi, my…
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Update on the campaign to ban single use plastic bags in Auckland
As California moves to ban single use plastic bags and the threat of plastic in our oceans grows greater the campaign in Auckland builds momentum. Grey Lynn 2030 Waste Away is supporting Steph Borelle’s petition to ban plastic bags. Last week she presented to the public forum of the Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee. In…
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Look who’s signed up for Plastic Bag Free Day!
Both Countdown supermarkets in Grey Lynn are supporting Waste Away’s Plastic Free July initiative as well as many of the other fantastic retailers in Grey Lynn – NO plastic bags on 31st July …. and if you feel truly inspired, try cutting them out of your life altogether!! Other retailers to sign up include: Farmville…
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Plastic Bag Free Auckland
This article first appeared in the June edition of Ponsonby News Waitemata Waste Away is an action group of Grey Lynn 2030 comprised of passionate locals tackling issues around waste minimisation and education, particularly in our area. We have been called “Eco Ninjas” which is a pseudonym we feel perfectly reflects our mission lower emissions…
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Making Auckland Plastic-Bag Free
There is growing public opposition to single-use plastic bags and many cities and countries around the world are introducing bans to reduce litter and conserve resources. Recently an on-line petition has been circulating calling for Auckland to follow suit. Denise Roche, waste spokesperson for the Greens is hosting a public meeting on Tuesday 6th May…
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