Aileen Stace

Aileen Mary Stace BEM (1895–1977) was a notable New Zealand craftswoman, spinner and spinning teacher. She was born in Stoney Creek, Manawatu/Horowhenua, New Zealand, in 1895.^[1] She founded and organised the Eastbourne Spinners and Weavers, taught people to spin and designed patterns for jerseys to be produced from the wool the group produced.^[2][3]

In the 1968 Queen's Birthday Honours, Stace was awarded the British Empire Medal, for services to the community of Eastbourne, particularly in the encouragement of wool handcrafts.^[4]