They were attending a recent two-day workshop with United Kingdom artist and illustrator Louise Gardiner who, for the past 16 years, has used sewing machines to create bright, contemporary embroidery pieces.
She spoke at the Association of New Zealand Embroiderers' Guilds' national conference in Hamilton last month and has since been touring the country and teaching others her techniques.
Viewing the sewing machine as a "mechanised pen" was key, she said.
"I want to dispel the myth of embroidery being an older, more boring pastime.
"I'm breaking preconceptions about what it's all about," Ms Gardiner said.
Janine Smith, of Oamaru, said the workshop had been "really good".
Having embroidered for years, she had started off traditionally and slowly branched out into different techniques as the world of the craft grew.
It was great to see how the "slightly different approach" presented by Ms Gardiner pushed people outside their comfort zones, she said.
