Live it: Knitting and Stitching Show Spring 2015

Last Friday we went to the Knitting & Stitching show in London, it's a bit of a pilgrimage for us and usually a good excuse for some lunch and some other shopping - well, when you are in the big smoke, it would be rude not to!

The show is on twice a year and this time of year it is Kensington Olympia's time and so an easy jaunt for both of us.

The show showcases lots of different shops, magazines and crafters in rows and rows of stands.  From Fabrics Galore and Abakhan Fabrics to Mr X Stitch and the very famous knitted farm.

We found some new products too from Crossstitch City Cushion covers from Hannah Bass to Maud's Fabric Finds and Floss & Mischief's bug crossstitches - some amazing new products.

Mr X Stitch had his usual delights of embroidery artists work, the Parrot above had embroidery around paperclips to make the feathers - ingenius, and the stitched chocolate bars were a real treat.

We saw some other familiar faces with By Hand London, with their new Sophia Dress pattern just about to launch.  Talking of dresses, there was the usual fashion awards they have every year and I noticed this purple number looked familiar, it was part of the Woking College show last year at The Lightbox, well done Hannah.

The lovely people at TOFT had made a knitted jungle where you could go and sit and knit.  We just loved the look of this jungle, how cool to be knitting in it?!

We came away full of new ideas for the blog and some extra fabrics of course - who can resist a fat quarter or 5!

Did you go to the show, what did you think?  Have you been to shows like this before?  Let us know in the comments.

H


Bloglovin / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Google+ / Instagram

Link for the week: TOFT

Just over a week ago, we popped along to the Knitting and Stitching show at Alexandra Palace.

When we were there we visited TOFT UK's stand which is a great brand that sells alpaca wool to make all manner of things, our favourites were the new animal crochet patterns they have on offer.

http://www.thetoftalpacashop.co.uk/

You can crochet all manner of animals, from Zebra's and Monkeys, to Bat's and Bears.

They are sooooo cute and the wool is so soft, they would make great presents, whether as a kit or all made up for someone.

Love it

H

Link for the week: Knitting and Stitching Show Autumn 2013

Photo courtesy of www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com

It's that time of year again when the Knitting and Stitching Show comes back to Ally Pally in London for another round.

http://www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/london/

We like to go to this show as it gives us chance to catch up with some faces and buy a few treats for ourselves aswell.

It's also good to see the exhibitions and what's new in the knitting and stitching world, any excuse hey!

The show runs from the 10th to the 13th of October and from some areas you can get the coach - just check out the website above, or just get the train like us.  Alexandra Palace where it is held is a beautiful building too and its nickname of Ally Pally is just as cute.

Hope to see you there!  Let us know if your going and maybe we can have an imprompu meet-up!

Love it

H

P.S. Friends of Sew Crafty Jan and Jean of 'Double Trouble' who produce the most AMAZING embroidered pieces are exhibiting this year, if you are going pop in to say hi and check out their new exhibition called ‘Rhythms and Counter Rhythms’ Sammy xxx

Make it: Fabric Haul

I promised pics of the fabrics I bought last week in London, So here they are.  These pastel sewing themed beauties were from Antique Angel at the Knitting and Stitching show.

  These were all from The Make Lounge, I am hoping H got commission.

And these Japanese cottons were from the Gorgeous Ray Stitch

This photo courtesy of http://www.raystitch.co.uk/

I have a fabric addiction... I'm working on it. What should I make with these gorgeous fabrics, add your suggestions in the comments below....

Make it

Sammy xxx

Live it: Knitting and Stitching show at Ally Pally 2011

I have always wanted to go to the Knitting and Stitching show at Ally Pally, my customers are always talking to me about how great it is, but it has always been on a weekend when I have been working, So this year when the dates were announced I booked holiday!

I have to say I may have set my expectations a little too high. Don't get me wrong I was glad that I had visited, the displays of creative embroidery and handmade textiles were stunning, but it was soooooo busy I found it really hard to see any of the stores properly. I felt like I was missing a lot of things and I didn't feel like there was much in the way of new trends or products that I really wanted to get my hands on.

This was the decopatch stand, lots of people covering papermache in little bits of paper, looked really cute.

The thing I did love was that there was colour everywhere! Gorgeous displays of fabric, threads and beads!

So I decided to get some fresh air and walk back to the tube station, and I am so glad I did, I got a lovely view of London in the Autumn sunshine.

And a really good look at the outside of Alexandra Palace, oh yes and the old BBC radio tower.

I jumped Back on the tube and headed over to visit the lovely H, Interning at The Make Lounge.

I had been meaning to check it out for ages. So I scooped up Heather and we popped down the road for Tea and Cake....obviously!

We ended up at Fig & Olive, where they have the most amazing Lampshades and Awesome Cakes!!

On our way back we popped in to Ray-Stitch which has also been on my want-to-visit list since it opened its doors a few months ago. I gave in to temptation and bought some fabrics.... bad Sammy!

Back at The Make Lounge, H showed me round, and yes I bought some more fabrics, before heading home.

It was a busy day, and I was glad I had visited the knitting and stitching show. Maybe I have been spoilt by having my own business by going to trade shows as opposed to public shows and being in the industry, But I feel as a consumer that I much prefer visiting independent stores to buy crafts and haberdashery than a big show like this one, it is nice to see lots of businesses all in one place, but it was so overwhelmingly busy I felt I didn't get to see anything properly. Maybe I will try and go again next time and head in earlier to beat the crowds.  

So now I just have to come up with some lovely things to make with all the fabric I bought.

Sammy xxx