Another Awesome Day at the Spring Knitting and Stitching Show

I had the pleasure of spending Thursday at the Spring Knitting and Stitching Show in Olympia London. It was another fabulous day. We entered the show when it opened at 10am and left at 6pm packing in 3 workshops, lunch, 2 cups of tea and a biscuit..oh and a few purchased, we were shattered. 

So here's what I came home with

I was completely seduced by the fabric, there were almost too many choices, but picked these new fat quarters for patchwork. Got a couple of solids too (always find solids hard to find and they don't give me a that warm fuzzy feeling... but then I go to do patches and well sometimes you just need them don't you!) but they aren't very exciting so no photo

The workshops were fun too....

In 1.5hours I made a patchwork, quilted table runner - felt like I was on The Great British Sewing Bee with a time challenge - but just shows how much you can accomplish in a short time if there are no distractions

Love this picture - this wasnt a formal workshop but was on a stand they were offering the materials and instructions to make a picture for £5 (bargain). Love this. Not even sure it needs a frame - might just keep it in the wooden frame and hang it on the wall. 

My last class was "Sumptuous Surfaces" it was a strange title and quite a strange workshop - we painted some glue-like substance onto bubble wrap and then printed this onto a special fabric. Then with a heat gun (never used one of these before, such fun) we burnt away the fabric not covered in the glue-like substance - we were left with this strange surface which we then spray painted. Not something I think I'll be trying again, but great to spend an hour literally playing with materials and tools I've never handled before - that's what the workshops are all about really - trying something new and maybe you will like it.

Think this is the 4th time I've visited this show and always love it..... roll on October and the Alexandra Palace Show. 

Another fabulous #Giveaway

The lovely team at the Spring Knitting and Stitching Show have given me another 2 tickets to giveaway

These are 2 one day tickets to attend the event in London Olympia 13th - 16th March. 

You could go with a friend or attend 2 days on your own

I really love these shows, if you haven't been to this show or one of it's sister events in Harrogate, Alexandra Palace or Dublin you are in for a treat! 

I've been going to this show for a couple of years, there are stalls from big retailers and small enterprises; selling fabrics, yarns and accessories, its a crafter's paradise. But, the part of the shows I love the best are the workshops; I sign up for 2 every year, they are an opportunity to learn something new. This year I will be making a table runner in a 2 hour session and learning techniques to make Sumptuous Textiles (the mind boggles!). 

So all you need to do is leave me a comment on this blog post and I will enter you for the competition. 

For an extra chance follow me on Facebook and leave me a comment there. 

Competition closes Midnight Friday 14th February and I will contact the winner by email. 

Good Luck x 

Knitting and Stitching Show - October 2013

Yesterday I was at the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace, London. What a fabulous day.

As always with these shows, preparation is key. 

I booked in for 2 workshops - one on Shrink Plastic and another to make a make up bag

I'd made a list of what I wanted to buy 

had other project ideas in mind. 

I also went with a very good friend...crafting and a good chat...what could have been better. 

This was by far the biggest craft show I have ever been to, taking up 3 halls in Alexandra Palace. There was such a range of things to do and see.  Including an amazing yarnbombed taxi at the entrance!

One hall had a beautiful display of work from experienced and student artists

Whilst another had the opportunity to get involved in upcycling to make woven rugs and flower corsages

The third hall was by far the biggest and full of all types of knitting and stitching products, of course I didn't come home empty handed 

Campervan and Spotty Fabric

Cars Fabric

Elephant Fabric

Liberty Scraps Fabric

I also bought a fabulous quilt fabric which I will use the liberty fabric for...will share this soon

Looks like there will be a lot of stitching in my future!

Shrink Plastic Workshop

I've had a play with Shrink Plastic before, but always useful to learn from someone more experienced. I made these amazing buttons...so incredibly pleased with them and definitely learnt some new tips to help me make better items at home

Shrink Plastic Buttons

Sewing a Zip into a Makeup Bag Workshop

This was the workshop I was most excited about as I thought there was a dark art to inserting zips...turns out they are as easy as pie! 

Within an 1.5 hours I had made the outer bag with a zip inserted and box corners (also new to me!) then I slip stitched in the lining on the train heading home....great skills I will use again and again. 

From this....

...to this

Love it!

If you're crafty and can get to London would completely recommend the show, its on until Sunday so get there if you can.

I was sent the entry tickets to the show for free in exchange for writing a review, however, I paid for all travel, workshops and shopping myself. All words in this blogpost are my own. 

Knitting and Stitching Show tomorrow

I'm off to the Knitting and Stitching Show tomorrow. 

Excited

Me?

Oh, just a little

Shopping list written - check

Classes booked - check

Friday booked off work for some crafting time - check

Follow me on Instagram for photos of the show 

Knitting and Stitching Show

Quite excited....my tickets have arrived for the Knitting and Stitching show at Alexandra Palace in October. I was offered complementary tickets to the show by the organizers (#spoilt!)

But I've then been left with the decision as to what classes to take whilst I was there. I'm going with one of my best friends so going to be a day of crafting, shopping and chatting, I simply cant wait.  

I've booked myself into 2 workshops on techniques I've tried previously but would like to perfect by learning from an expert

Shrink plastic is something I tried earlier this year, had great fun but would love to learn some tricks of the trade and the workshop promises to help me make my own buttons, how cool would that be! I have a whole shrink plastic button making empire planned out in my head! 

Make up Bag with a Zip - zips terrify me! yes I've said it. Hi my name is Becca and I'm terrified of adding a zip to anything. I tend to avoid any task which involved adding a zip, they just look so complicated, using a machine zipper foot, positioning them correctly, remembering to unzip them and so on.....but its time to tackle this phobia. I'm so excited about learning this, and making a makeup bag too, a girl always needs a new makeup bag. And goodness knows I've got enough scrap fabric to make many practice ones at home! 

Well I'm counting down to my crafting day.... Are you heading to the show this or any other crafting show this Autumn? Are you doing any workshops whilst you're there?