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The Stitch Festival returns to London’s Business Design Centre

Photo credit: Aidan Synnott
Photo credit: Aidan Synnott

We’re big fans of anything crafty here in the Prima offices, which is why we’re thrilled to announce that The Stitch Festival is returning to Islington’s Design Centre from the 3rd-6thMarch this year.

The Stitch Festival is a hotbed of creativity, textile talent and inspiration and has a line-up of some of the UK's top tutors and stitch VIPs, who will share their skills and secrets in a packed programme of nearly 250 workshops and daily sessions on the Festival’s Stitch Stage.

This year dressmaking will be a major focus, with BBC Great British Sewing Bee judge Esme Young and contestants Lawratu Patton and Mark Francis joining dressmaking gurus Katya Essery, Claire Tyler, Jenni McGill, Janice Croft, Sarah Brangwyn, Kim Suleman, Anne Drittler and Fiona Hesford.

Pattern designers, Sew Over It, will host a display of garments from their pattern archive, and founder Lisa Comfort will be chatting live on the Stitch Stage.

For contemporary dressmakers looking for a challenge and an opportunity to share their designs, The Stitch Festival’s Dressmaking Competition features categories for Eveningwear, Loungewear, Childrenswear and Knit- or Crochetwear (sponsored by Stylecraft), with a standalone category for Upcycled or Repurposed garments. Great British Sewing Bee judge Esme Young will judge entries on The Stitch Festival’s opening day, and Festival goers will get the chance to vote for their favourites too.

If you’re not a huge fan of dressmaking there are plenty of other classes and talks about every textile craft imaginable, from sewing, quilting, crochet, knitting and embroidery, to needle felting, weaving, patchwork, printing and jewellery making.

Contemporary embroidery fans will be thrilled to see acclaimed designer Jo Avery’s exhibition of graphic, modern crewel work (embroidery with wool). Jo will also be hosting several crewel work workshops. Other leading embroidery tutors and designers include Georgina Bellamy, Molly Brown, Jill Kipnis, Rosie McKellar, Leslie Delanty, Zoe Bateman and Fi Oberon.

For quilters, The Great British Quilter Hope Mini Quilt Challenge exhibition is sure to be of interest. Making these miniature beauties kept quilters across the UK busy during the pandemic while raising funds for NHS Charities Together. Patchwork and quilting workshop tutors include Sarah Ashford, Angela Daymond, Sukhbeer Dryden, Cait Lisle, Janet Goddard and Debbie Harris

For crochet enthusiasts, TOFT will be marking International Women’s Day (8th March) at The Stitch Festival with the Making Women Who Made History exhibition – a celebration of inspirational, brave and talented women, all made in amigurumi. TOFT launched its first design, Emmeline Pankhurst, on IWD in March 2020. Crocheters and knitters will also find workshops with Monica Russel, Diana Benstead, Molly Brown, Susan Burns, Debbie Harris and Eleanora Cugini.

Photo credit: Aidan Synnott
Photo credit: Aidan Synnott

For cross-stitch fans, designer and author Emma Congdon (@stitchrovia) will be live at the Festival showcasing colourful new work, including designs from her second book, Cross Stitch for the Earth. With inspiring and motivational slogans, Emma’s work combines her love of stitching with her love of the planet.

Sewists can sign up for a wide range of workshop makes, from applique designs, pin cushions and bags to cushion covers, pencil cases and purses. Meanwhile, needle felting and wet felting enthusiasts will find animals, birds, butterflies and landscapes to make with workshops by Steffi Stern, Laura Guida and Helen Moyes.

Whether you’re a first-time crafter or a seasoned expert, there’s truly something for everyone, like Q&As with well-known stitchers, demonstrations and textile installations, not to mention more than one hundred exhibitors under one roof selling fabric, materials, equipment and other specialist supplies.

*Prima readers can quote PRIMA2022 and pay £12.50* instead of £15.50.

To book visit www.thestitchfestival.co.uk

*Discount applies to standard advance adult and concession tickets only. Booking fees and T&Cs apply. Discount expires 11.59pm Wednesday 2nd March 2022.


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