The Knitting and Stitching Show, Harrogate November 2017

Several years ago, when I was in my dressmaking dormancy but knitting and crossstitching regularly, I visited the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate. I lived a bit closer to Harrogate at that time so it felt a reasonable day trip.  When I started to think about going this year to my delight I discovered that whilst I live a bit further away; the total journey time is much the same.  I was lucky to have been given a press-pass and so I enlisted my crocheting daughter as company for the day and we set off relatively early on the Sunday morning.

We arrived in Harrogate just in time to the show’s opening time.  My trusty sat nav helped us find where to park and we excitedly made our way to the venue.  As we got closer we just followed the steady stream of crafty looking people to the entrance.  It is a fascinating building, it looks very modern from the outside, but inside we discovered there is a wonderful old theatre.

Where we found a seat to drink tea and eat cake.  Energy was going to be needed for the day ahead.

It is a place with a lot of history and I loved that so much of the original building was kept intact.

My memory of the event was that is was large, I need to correct this, it is huge!  I think there were five large halls full or stalls and workshops. I say I think there were five as I am pretty sure that we actually didn’t find one of them. This is despite the plentiful extremely helpful staff on hand and lots of large maps and a Show programme. We had run out of oomph when we realised there was still a hall to find and decided that next time we would find that hall first. 

It is the most eclectic show you can imagine. There was plenty for me as a sewist and knitter, my daughter was in crochet heaven and I managed, just, not to buy any crossstitch, but only just.

One thing we did both buy was a guide dog.  Ok, we didn’t actually buy a dog, but we did both sign up to sponsor a puppy.  The man who was trying to convince us to do this convinced us both with one sentence, that they receive absolutely no government or lottery funding.  Think about that, think about the job that these dogs do - we were shocked and signed up straight away.

I went with a set budget.  I took the amount of money I wanted to spend and in a very disciplined way managed not to resort to card payments.  I felt a little proud of myself.  So what did I buy?

Well:

I came away with a rather good haul.

Firstly I bought some thread.  It might not sound the most exciting thing in the world, but I needed some this colour and it was a good opportunity to buy it.

I also bought these bargain buttons, I think you can never have too many buttons.

I had to buy these ones with poppies on.  Readers who follow my gardening exploits know that poppies are a very favourite flower of mine.

These kits from Til the Sun Goes Down were at a bargain price.  I love their patterns so I had to buy a couple, it was rude not to.

The fabric for these kits is perfect, I am in a paisley mood at the moment so I am really looking forward to making up the dress in particular.

I also bought these wonderful fabrics, I am thinking of using them for linings.  I am having a bit of a thing at the moment about lining in general and being more adventurous when lining.

Yes this is exploding Tardis fabric, how exciting is that?!

I also bought this amazing birdy fabric, which is already being made up into the lining of a jacket.  The birds are clearly very realistic as Esme was happy to help me when I was trying to cut out the pieces.

I do enjoy a good knitting pattern, and I love a good vintage knitting pattern.  So this little booklet had to be bought.

I really want to knit this suit soon. Isn't it fantastic?

I also bought this large ball of wool, no this is not to knit the suit from, but I will enjoy finding something exciting to make from it.

Finally I bought these very pretty little scissors.  Perfect for snipping threads.

We made our way homewards, tired, but very happy.  I think I probably have enough sewing projects now to keep me going until the next Knitting and Stitching Show in spring, which is at Olympia 1 - 4 March 2018.  The show returns to Harrogate in 22nd -25th  November 2018.  The show also takes place in Dublin and Alexander Palace, see their website for more details.

When I got home I found my daughter had left her trademark reminder of her presence, did I mention she crochets all the time?

The pink trousers of happiness

Fairly recently I had to throw away my favourite stripy linen trousers.  I had had these trousers for many years and they finally decided that enough was enough and they wore thin.  They were brilliant trousers as they had a very forgiving tie-waist that meant that as my weight fluctuates, (a polite way of saying I sometimes get quite big and then if I am lucky I get smaller again),  I was still able to wear them comfortably.  I was therefore sorry to say goodbye to them but decided that I ought to be able to make some replacements.  A very brief scouting about on the internet and I found the pattern that was almost identical to the trousers I had just discarded.

The 101 Trousers from Merchant and Mills were quickly purchased.  I have fallen in love with their patterns as they have great style and are so straightforward and easy to use.  It was really pleasant to feel fairly confident that this project was doable before I had started the make.

The fabric I chose also came from Merchant and Mills, it is a rather delightful red chambray.  It cut out nicely and is quite a well behaved fabric.  It is not too slippy and whilst it does fray a bit at the edges, it was straightforward to sew.

The pattern made up quite quickly and I love the finished trousers.

The fabric is quite light so I think these are very much for warmer days.

I still need some stripy linen trousers to replace the lost loved pair so you can be fairly certain I will be making this pattern again.

A day at the Great British Sewing Bee

Like many people I loved the Great British Sewing Bee (GBSB) and as I mention in my prologue, the programme inspired me to dust off my sewing machine and get making my own clothes again.  I have started reading some sewing magazines and I saw an advertisement for the Great British Sewing Bee Live which was to be held in London.  I looked at the dates and it was possible to go.  I checked the ticket prices and thought them reasonable.  Finally I checked the location and decided it was definitely driveable.  I felt in need of a treat so I booked the tickets there and then.  There were lots of workshops and shows that could be booked as well, sadly the workshops I was interested in were already booked up (lesson learned, next time book early).  I decided I would book for one of the shows.  As readers of my gardening blog will know, I visit gardening shows quite often but I rarely if ever go along to any of the talks.  A sewing show was a new adventure for me and I wondered if I would find enough to look at (don't laugh) so I booked the show as that would make sure it was worth my journey.  That was my reasoning anyway.

The day arrived and I set off fairly early so I could be there when it opened.  I found the venue (ExCel) easily and parked with no problems at all.  All was good.  I then wandered into the huge complex where the show was and then had no idea where to go.  Thankfully there was a constant stream of women who looked liked they sewed heading in one direction so I followed them.  Now don't ask me what a stream of women who look like they sew looks like, I'm not really sure and there was a danger I would have ended up in the bodybuilding for beginners show (no such show).  Thankfully my gut-feeling was right and I ended up in the right place.  I headed first for a coffee and a moment to collect myself.  

There was much to see.  I enjoyed seeing some of the makes from the TV series.

and also displays from educational institutions like this one from the University of East London.

and there was shopping to think about, 

much shopping.  But I had my show to go and see so I wandered towards the theatre area and took my seat. 

Having been unsure whether I really wanted to see a show or not, it turns out it was a great idea.  It was hosted by Jenny Eclair, someone who I have always found very funny, and consisted of a makeover challenge with three contestants from the GBSB and three pre-selected members of the audience.  They had to makeover three shirts.  Esme and Patrick were the judges and there was also a demonstration on how to fit an invisible zip from Heather Jacks, a GBSB winner.  It was hugely entertaining and interesting.  There was a discussion about the lack of dressmaking in schools, which I was very interested in.  My first time with a sewing machine was in dressmaking lessons at school.  It taught me the basics I still use today and started me off on my sewing journey.  It is a great loss if that no longer happens.

Show over and it was lunchtime.  A sandwich consumed later and I was ready to start shopping.  I had a list with me and I had photographed the back of some patterns I want to make so that I had a quick easy way of knowing what fabrics I needed if I found something I liked.

If - ha - of course I found something I liked.

This is my haul, fabric, patterns and ribbons.  So watch this space as they get made up.

I also had a major reason for wanting to attend.  I wanted to look at sewing machines and I knew there would be many to look at and talk to people about there.  I really needed to talk to someone as whilst I have a machine and I love it, I was wondering whether it was still the right machine for me.  So guess what, I bought a new machine.  When it arrives I will write more about it and why I made the decision.

I came home with many projects whizzing around in my head, slightly over-excited and very happy.  Good days are made like this.  I hope they do this show again next year, I know will be buying my ticket quicker than quick.