The 2025 Beanie Festival has wrapped up for another year — and what a celebration it was! Mparntwe came alive with colour, creativity and community spirit, as thousands of visitors, locals and craft-lovers came together to honour the humble beanie in all its wild and wonderful forms.
Over four joyful days, Central Craft became a hive of hands-on making. From workshops to drop-in craft stations, our studio buzzed with laughter, curiosity, and a few (brief!) moments of frustration as participants wrestled with new skills. But more than anything, there was a sense of generosity, creativity and connection that shines especially bright during Beanie Festival.
It’s hard to explain to those who haven’t experienced it firsthand — Beanie Festival is something truly special. It’s a place where people from across Australia and the world gather to reconnect with old friends, share stories, and celebrate the power of making. For many, it’s the mecca of craft and community.
Workshops, Creativity & Community
This year we hosted 20 workshop sessions across a range of mediums including crochet, felting, weaving, eco-dyeing, and a strong focus on sustainability — with sessions on mending, repurposing, and recycling. Led by incredible tutors from across the NT and beyond, the program offered nearly 60 hours of hands-on learning to over 300 participants. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us — whether it was your first time felting or your fiftieth, your energy and enthusiasm brought the space to life.
One of the most exciting additions this year was Lucy and Lorraine from the Bunbury Weavers (WA), who delivered two beginner weaving workshops. In the days leading up to the festival, they spent time warping one of our floor looms and two table looms, so participants could learn directly on our own equipment. Their generosity, knowledge, and warmth sparked a wave of enthusiasm among first-time weavers. As Central Craft currently doesn’t have any active weaving tutors, it was a true gift to have such experienced weavers share their skills with our community — and we’re already looking forward to a potential return visit to keep the weaving momentum going!
We were also honoured to host the Tjanpi Desert Weavers for a sold-out fibre art workshop series. Their sessions were a clear highlight of the program, with long waitlists and overwhelmingly positive feedback. The opportunity to learn from Tjanpi artists — whose work is deeply connected to Country, culture, and community — was incredibly special, and we hope to welcome them back for future collaborations.
Of course, Beanie Festival wouldn't be the same without our long-standing Central Craft workshop tutors — Margy Alexander, Pam Mills, Jan Black, Mandy Webb, Siri Omberg, and Jude Mapleson — who bring a wealth of experience, heart and creativity to our studio every year. Their continued generosity and dedication to skill-sharing are at the very heart of what makes our Beanie Festival program so special.
We were also thrilled to offer free drop-in kids' paper weaving sessions with Nina, Scarlett and Ellen over three days — thanks to the support of the Northern Territory Government through the Unleash Creativity grant.
Big Thanks to...
We want to extend a huge thank you to the tutors, volunteers, Central Craft members and visitors who made this year’s festival such a joy.
A massive thank you to the incredible crew of volunteers who helped bring the Beanie Festival to life this year. Whether you were on the in the shop, in the studio, wrangling felt, or helping behind the scenes — your time, care and energy made a huge difference.
Special thanks to: Amelia, Bethany, Carol, Cecilia, Chloe, Chris, Clare, Emma, Jenny, Judy, June, Lyndal, Margy, Morgan, Pat, Phoebe, Regina, Rita, Roberta, Ruby, and Samantha, and to anyone else we may have accidentally left off this list! We’re so grateful for everything you brought to the space, and the support you provided — thank you!
None of it would have been possible without the support of the hardworking Beanie Festival crew, particularly Jo Nixon, who continue to build one of the most vibrant, inclusive arts festivals in the country.
Beyond the Festival
Many of our Beanie Fest tutors and makers continue to run workshops and share skills throughout the year, sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop or apply to rent our space to host your own workshop!
Got feedback on a workshop you attended or ideas for next year? Complete this quick feedback form here — we’d love to hear from you!
See You Next Year!
We’re already dreaming up ideas for 2026. If you’d like to be involved as a tutor, maker or helper, expressions of interest will open early next year. Until then — keep crafting, keep connecting, and keep your head warm.
– The Central Craft Team
Photo Credit: Thank you to George Loram, for generously volunteering to take some beautiful photos for us this year