About Us

We are a 100% New Zealand Owned and operated Family Business.

Founded in 1971 on the great kiwi values of a positive attitude and an entrepreneurial spirit by the then 34-year-old John Q. Goldingham, Knit World has been serving the knitting and sewing communities of New Zealand for over 50 years. Before creating his own very successful company, John spent the previous 20 years working for the Singer Sewing Machine Company, building his knowledge and connections in the industry, and gaining a nation-wide reputation.

Knit World began as Creative Fashion Centre, which was located in High Street in Lower Hutt. John and his wife Lorna Goldingham’s five children were still young, and the business was a family affair with everyone helping out. The store was a hit with the local community and John soon opened branches in Wainuiomata and Petone, as well as expanding the range to include haberdashery products.

In 1984, Creative Fashion Centre shifted its headquarters to a new Epuni shop, which stocked the full product range of creative tools, including knitting yarns, fabric and haberdashery in a factory-style shop welcoming customers with various needs and desires.

In 1987, with the purchase of Devon Wools Ltd., a Christchurch-based company in receivership, Creative Fashion Centre began its mail-order offering, which opened up the company to the rest of the country. Now, all New Zealanders could experience the friendly and knowledgeable service that had defined John’s business and his success in the local community.

Knit’n Save stores, specialising in knitting yarns only, opened in September 1989 in 6 areas after Woolly Weavers went into liquidation: New Plymouth, Levin, Hastings, Masterton, Hamilton & Upper Hutt. With the acquisition Crucci store in Palmerston North.

In 1994, the opportunity presented itself to open the largest knitting yarn centre in the Southern Hemisphere, and we called it Knit World. Opening up New Zealand to a world of knitting yarns in 7,500 sq. feet of retail space was a hit with the Christchurch community where the store was, and still is, located. The vision that Knit World Christchurch presented became the main focus for the company, and other stores progressively began to change their names to Knit World.

John’s son, David Goldingham, joined the company full time in 1992, and then later, in 1996, his daughter Anne Goldingham (who had worked for the company on leaving school for about 6-8 years) also took on responsibility. The brother-sister duo now run the company together, with the support of Karyn Goldingham in the media and marketing for the business. Retaining the family-focused approach is key for Knit World’s success, ensuring a friendly and welcoming culture in all the stores throughout the country.

Knit World is renowned for having a range of quality products, and providing customers with specialist knowledge and service in all their stores. We also focus on innovating in the creative space, releasing our own in-house knitting patterns, boasting our own John Q knitting ranges of knitting yarn, and even having a coffee bar next to the Lower Hutt store to bring a social experience to knitting and sewing.

Now with 9 stores around the country and a comprehensive mail-order system with both national and international customers, Knit World continues to be New Zealand’s leading specialists in knitting, sewing and accessories. We actively grow the knitting community with knitting lessons for all ages, as well as knitting meet-up groups and yearly charity knitting projects to support local community organisations. Keeping the community at the heart of what we do, Knit World welcomes you to the world of creative fashion, whether you’re a beginner or an expert! We look forward to hearing about your creative projects in store or online soon.

Anne and David Goldingham