The stitch Festival

Yesterday I spent the day with my friend Michelle at the stitch festival at London's Business Design Centre in Islington. Unlike the Festival of Quilts or the Knit and Stitch exhibition, the stitch festival doesn't have an exhibition of quilts or embroidery or other stitching crafts on display in a separate area. It is essentially a show that celebrates independent businesses and give visitors the opportunity to see and buy a wide range of crafts. There are also a wide range of workshops to attend or free demonstrations and talks. There is a lot to see and a large choice of fabrics, threads and other notions to buy. I like the show because it is a quick journey for me to be able to attend and it has businesses I want to buy from. Yesterday it was busy and at times we seemed to be going against the streams of people but it was fun talking to the exhibitors, checking out the fabrics and embroideries and Michelle had booked us into a workshop.

I had gone with a budget, part of which was for food and drink. As I didn't have a long list of items I needed to buy I went home having spent well within my budget.  It makes me feel good when I don't over spend and the left over money will go into my budget for spending at The Festival of Quilts. There were a couple of bits I did buy.

Early on in the day I visited a stand with crochet patterns. I was just browsing but then I saw this pattern and couldn't resist it. Made for a baby or young child, the dog opens out to become a play blanket or could be folded so the child can play with the dog and cuddle it.  There were a lot of other animal style patterns but I liked the dog pattern. I have also ordered the yarn I need to make it. 

I loved this fabric to make rompers for youngest grandson. It's a really soft baby needlecord.

This one will make older grandson a pair of tracksuit trousers.  The fabric is also a soft needlecord.

I am on annual leave from Thursday 26 March for two weeks so I have lots of time to get these made. I will also be making time to sew this summer dress.

I spent a little time going through the small packs of Liberty Tana Lawn plus the scrap box. I will be using these fabrics to make cloths for a couple of soft toys I've made. According to their young owners they need new clothes.

At the end of the day Michelle and I made our way to the workshop area. We were booked in for pattern alterations and basic design changes. This was a really good workshop which explained how to alter darts, move seams and make a range of alterations.  The tutor had printed bodice, sleeve and skirt shapes for us to work on. I had read how to do these alterations in sewing books but it is much easier when you do a practical exercise to learn how to do it. The tutor was very good at explaining the process.

At the end of the workshop we had 15 minutes left of the show. We both visited the chocolate stand. The same guy has this stand at all the shows I visit. The chocolates and sweets are very good. I bought salted caramel chocolates for daughter, rum truffles for my son and dark chocolate and ginger for John

Michelle and I parted company at the tube station as we were going in opposite directions. Thank you Michell I had a fun day with you. My journey home was noisy. A group of young men from a football or rugby team got on the same train with their large sports bags and beer cans. As soon as the train started, they started singing and continued until they got off nine stations later. They all had good voices and everyone in the carriage was smiling and enjoying their vocals. 

By the time I got home I was feeling tired and it was lovely to relax in the armchair with a cup of tea. The evening was nice and quiet and restful with the family.. Today Has been quiet but busy as I had a pile of ironing to do. Once that was out of the way I started on some slow stitching. A perfect way to spend Sunday.

Take care

Lyndsey