Sit & Knit at Corelli’s Cafe in Devonport
We love sharing stories from our incredible community. Allison Rice-Korban and her husband, Camille, are the owners of Corelli’s Café, a much-loved establishment in Devonport, Auckland.
Throughout our Stitching Together Aotearoa campaign, Allison and the Corelli’s team have been wonderful supporters of our project, regularly hosting casual Saturday ‘sit and knit’ knitting meet-ups where customers could pick up their needles, stitch a square and connect with others. Allison’s own whanau even got involved and what resulted was a very special community effort that gained momentum throughout the campaign.
A heartfelt thank you to Allison, the team at Corelli’s, and the entire Devonport community for your generosity and support.
What inspired your café to get involved in the Stitching Together Aotearoa campaign?
Allison Rice-Korban: I am a crafter, I do all sorts of crafts. When I saw there was this wonderful opportunity, I thought, I could do that. But knitting on the sofa can be a little lonely.
I already stitch quilts for NICU babies with a group here in Auckland, and the best thing about that is doing it with other women, all working and chatting for such a good cause. So, with that in mind, I thought, why not gather people together to knit?
Your café made knitting available at the tables for customers to pick up and have a go. How did that idea come about, and what was the response from your customers?
Allison: Corelli's has a loyal community, and knitting is something many of our customers have been doing for most of their lives. The great thing about this project was that you could manage garter stitch, even if it had been years since you had picked up a pair of needles!
Did your café host any knitting meet-ups or special activities as part of the campaign?
Allison: Yes, we hosted Saturday "Sit and Knit" sessions. We advertised them on our community Facebook page and among friends, and it was wonderful to see people pop in and stitch a square.
It encouraged those dining with us to come over, ask about the project, and sometimes join in too. It also helped bring the project to the forefront of the local community through the publicity it generated. Some people couldn't join us in person, so we became a conduit for the project, providing information and details about how they could participate from home.
What stood out most about the way your community embraced the project? Are there any memorable stories, moments, or feedback that capture the impact it had?
Allison: The most wonderful part of my own participation was the support of my twin sons. They grew up watching me craft but had never really delved into anything more creative than building Lego. Now, almost 30, they joined me.
They sat for hours learning how to knit and made some pretty decent squares. They shared it on social media, and soon their friends joined in too. These young people, both men and women, had never knitted before. With the support of the more seasoned participants, they learnt a new skill.
They told me how good it felt to learn something new while doing it for the benefit of someone who needed it. Flat movie knitting nights seem to be the new favourite pastime! Watching people of all ages, stages, and backgrounds come together and natter over knitting was wonderful.
Does anyone in your café team, or among your regular customers, have a personal connection to premature babies or the NICU that made this campaign especially meaningful?
Allison: We had people commenting on our social media posts and even popping into the café to thank us for participating. One woman told me she had received a blanket when her baby was in the NICU and how much it still means to her.
I should also mention that I am a nurse, and I have travelled the world caring for mothers and their babies as an obstetric nurse. I know what it is like to deliver a premature baby and to worry about what comes next.
Why do you think this project resonated so strongly with your local community?
Allison: I'm not sure, it was just the right thing at the right time. Devonport is at the end of a peninsula, and it's nice to have an activity you can simply walk to, one that leaves you feeling good.
What would you like families with babies in the NICU to know when they receive blankets made with squares knitted by your café community?
Allison: For me, as I create a square, I'm knitting my best wishes for a safe journey into every stitch for those babies and their families.
The blanket wraps them in warmth, but it also carries the very best thoughts and hopes from a stranger who simply wanted to help.
Photo / Dean Purcell via NZ Herald
