Special Features include:

• Pearls of Wisdom: Quilters Guild Display
• 'The Duchess' Costumes
• Papercraft & Jewellery Making Demonstrations
• Sensational Stitches: Embroidery Display
• Stylish Stitches: NFWI Knitting Competition
• The Country Wife Textile Mural
• FREE Workshops
• FREE Lecture Theatre Programme
• Above & Below the Waves Knitting Project
• College & Guild Displays
• Programme of Talks
• Quick & Easy Mini Workshops

'The Duchess' Costumes

A superb capsule collection of stunning OSCAR and BAFTA winning costumes from the popular 2008 British film 'The Duchess', starring Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Hayley Atwell and Charlotte Rampling. The film traces the controversial life of Georgina, Duchess of Devonshire, who shared striking tragic similarities to Diana, Princess of Wales. Although, born two centuries apart, both women where Spencer's, married to older, wealthy men. Like Diana, Georgina suffered a complicated love life, but found consolation in the outpouring of public affection. Both charismatic women, they became celebrated fashion icons of their time, guaranteeing celebrity status.

Kim Thittichai - Experimental Textiles

Kim Thittichai will be at the Creative Stitches & Hobbycrafts show at Cardiff Arena 1-3 October 2009. Kim is a popular textile artist and tutor who specializes in experimental textile techniques, some of which she will be demonstrating at the show. Kim teaches at various colleges including West Dean, near Chichester and Denman, near Oxford and delivers workshops and lectures internationally. She will be signing copies of her new book 'Experimental Textiles' published by Anova Books which showcases the best experimental textile art in the world today. From three-dimensional work to large-scale installations the book has plenty of new ideas for designing with practical exercises and sketchbooks. The book combines a range of materials - recycled fabrics, papers and silks, felt, Lutradur, plastic, Pelmet Vilene and found objects - with a variety of techniques, from appliqué to collage.
(Cardiff Arena)

Papercraft Demonstrations

Are you interested in making your own personalised cards for friends and loved ones? Why not watch our lively demonstrations to learn new skills and develop existing ones! Try out cutters and score boards for cutting card and making beautiful boxes or greetings cards and then use stamps, glitter, decoupage, fabric pieces or stickers to decorate them!

In Celebration of Stitch

Many exhibitions have been put together on the subject of needlework and yet they differ from one to another, because handwork has limitless ways of expressing the same thing. The alteration of a stitch or colour, or the filling of a space gives variety; and even in the execution of the work can be found individuality, just as hand-writing reveals the character of the writer. This collection aims to show how various artists have expanded the horizons of stitch to create some incredible varieties of work.

Pearls of Wisdom

The 'Pearls of Wisdom' collection is the second 'In the Spotlight' exhibition from the Quilters Guild, who are celebrating their 30 year anniversary this year. The exhibition brings together quilts selected from each Quilters Guild region of the UK, therefore putting un-known quilters literally 'in the spotlight'. Here is your chance to see this fabulous showcase of quilts, each region represented with a quilt of their choice.

Stylish Stitches

In 2008, the National Federation of Women's Institutes (NFWI) launched a brand new competition, challenging members to pick up their knitting needles and crochet hooks to create an original home or fashion accessory, using fascinating fibres and tantalising textures. Sponsored by the UK Hand Knitting Association (UKHKA), this is the first venture that the two organisations have worked on together. Stylish Stitches will be displaying the winners of each category, plus the best of the rest.

The Country Wife Mural

'The Country Wife' Textile Mural was designed by Constance Howard and made by her, and some of her students at Goldsmiths College, for the Festival of Britain in 1951. Many of the craftwork features on the mural were made by members of the WI, who where experts in their field. After the festival the mural was given to the National Federation of Women's Institutes and housed at Denman College. However, after almost 60 years, this huge (4.5m x 5m) stumpwork textile art is in urgent need of repair and the project has now fallen into the capable hands of the National Needlework Archive to oversee the conservation, which is anticipated to take between three and five years. The NNA will be exhibiting details of this prestigious project at each ICHF show, visit their stand to find out more and see if you can help in any way.

Above and Below the Waves

Visit our 'Learn to Knit' stand to find out how you can take part in the brand new nautical knitting project 'Above and Below the Waves' by designer Alison Murray. Alison aims to create her most ambitious project to date: a tunnel, representing under the sea, which people can walk through - and above the tunnel: waves, lighthouse, lifeboat and the beach. The project will raise money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's (RNLI) 'Train One - Save Many Campaign'. All fishy things are needed from anemones to starfish, seagulls to shells, plus rectangles for the seabed and waves. Completion for the project is 2010 so there is plenty of time to get knitting! The finished project will be on display exclusively at ICHF shows during autumn 2010 and spring 2011.

FREE! Workshops Talks and Demonstrations

Each day there will be a host of exciting mini-workshops, talks and demonstrations with talented local groups and artists.

Details may change due to unforeseen circumstances.