The Stitching, Beading & Knitting Show

Stitch Diva's Den

Come along and join the Stitch Divas in their den! You will have the opportunity to watch textile designer and author, Charlotte Liddle, and friends as they demonstrate some of their favourite techniques as well as taking part in some of their free mini Make & Take workshops.

The Stitch Divas will be holding short 45-minutes workshops throughout the day teaching you how to make easy projects such as: Wet and dry felted jewellery; Recycled fabric brooches and corsages, and Simple honeycomb patchwork.

The Make & Take workshops will run on a first come first served basis so make sure you get there early and put your name down to ensure you have a place.

Sewing Machine Clinic

Overcome your fear of using a sewing machine, with our mini-workshops run by Alison Smith, who runs the UK�s largest sewing schools �Alison Victoria School of Sewing�, based in Leicestershire. These workshops are perfect for beginners, or as a refresher for those returning to sewing. Workshops are free of charge, with places for a maximum of eight people at a time, booked on a first come, first served basis.

CLICK HERE to view a detailed Workshop timetable.

Dressmakers' Pattern Bar

The Dressmakers� Pattern Bar gives you the chance to peruse and order patterns from all the latest books, by companies such as Butterick, McCalls, Simplicity, Style and Vogue. Plus our Dressmaking Advisor, Thelma Judge, who worked for many years as Dressmaking Advisor for John Lewis�s flagship store in London�s Oxford Street, will be on hand to advise you on fabric quantities, cutting out and demonstrating how to apply and use Vilene interfacings correctly for a professional dressmaking results.

Possibilities of Patchwork

Visit the Coats/Cotton Patch stand and open your mind to the possibilities of patchwork. Learn tips and techniques for creating your own patchwork quilt with our demonstrations on rotary cutting, piecing, appliqu� and finishing your quilt. Learn about the tools that will help you create fast, accurate and rewarding patchwork. Test drive one of our machine quilting frames and discover the creative possibilities of quilting.

Come and be inspired by our display of quilts and lifestyle projects in the latest, freshest fabric collections from the designers of Rowan and Free Spirit. Unleash your creativity on Stand A18 - the possibilities are endless!

Ruth and Belinda will present Knitting for the Record, a 'wall of knitting' to record a 'made census' of hand-knitters' and new-hand-knitters' work, resulting in a knitted structure or record. Come and take part; the most enjoyable and meaningful of knitting social experiments. Visitors can also have their hands filmed while knitting (shown simultaneously on a live display � adding people's personal knitting style to the record) and leave their thoughts in the big visitor�s book.

Ruth and Belinda invite you to join them, especially if you are not yet a knitter, there will be wonderful people on hand to show you how.

Ruth and Belinda's own hand-knitting design company will be nearby, reflecting their own work and knitting journey, all in natural and undyed yarn. They feel passionate about passing on hand-knitting skills and techniques and encouraging people to become independent and confident knitters. They are also supporters of the Campaign for Wool, encouraging people to buy �home-grown� fibre and yarn. They are in the process of having their own R&B yarn range �grown� and spun in Devon. �

Click here for more information on how to get involved with Knitting for the Record project.

Mr X-Stitch Inspiration Station

Jamie Chalmers, aka Mr X Stitch, who recently featured on 'Kirstie's Handmade Britain', is recognised as an authority on new trends of embroidery and needlecraft, and this year he wants to show you his view of the world of stitch! Enjoy an exhibition of pop culture-inspired amateur embroidery from around the world, with the opportunity to relax for a while at the stand and learn the basics of cross stitch.

The Media Teams

Here's your chance to meet the staff behind your favourite sewing magazines, including such names as Sew, Cloth, Sewing World, Sew Hip, Flair, Sew Today and many others.

Sewing Experts

Want to find a course that's perfect for you? Meet our talented Sewing Experts who each run their own schools and workshops throughout the year. They will be on hand throughout the show with their expert tips and advice.

Gill Arnold offers inspirational training for beginners and professional dressmakers at her studio in Birmingham.
Alison Smith is the owner of Alison Victoria's School of Sewing, in Leicestershire, and TV Dressmaking expert for 'Ladette to a Lady'.
Sheila-May Green offers courses in Dressmaking, Pattern Cutting, Corsets,Tailoring and Soft Furnishings from her sewing school in Birmingham.
Michelle Pye is based in Leicestershire, and runs dressmaking and tailoring courses up and down the country.
Sara Radford teaches informal dressmaking workshops on boned bodices and period corset making at her home in Devon.
Judi Evan runs Stroud School of Sewing in Gloucestershire and offers courses in beginners sewing, pattern cutting and soft furnishings.
Barry Rogers, a successful tailor for over 26 years offers sewing workshops for all levels from his studio in Southampton.

PLUS

Nina Corey will be demonstrating the ultimate in recycling, with her charming handmade rag rugs.

FREE Workshops & Demonstrations

The Sewing for Pleasure Workshops are the perfect opportunity to indulge your passion for stitching, patchwork and quilting and pick up top tips and advice from the experts. Just be sure to book your places early to avoid disappointment!

• West End Embroidery (Stand A08)
• Coats Crafts UK Patchwork & Quilting
• More to follow!

Fashion Design Competition - Design for a 1960's Icon!

On Friday 23rd March the schools 'Design for a 1960's Icon' competition finalists showcased their designs on the Fashion Embroidery & Stitch Catwalk, with the winner chosen live at the show! We're delighted to announce the winners of the competition as:

1st Rosie Trouson - Wigmore High School Herefordshire
2nd Zoe Poole Invicta - Grammar School Kent
3rd Jemina Jenkins - Greenbank High School Southport

Runner up Lauren Pataki - Wolverhampton Girls High School

The lucky winner received the coveted prize of a Brother Innov-is 1250 sewing and embroidery machine, (rrp �1,299) plus a one week work placement at the I.D.C. Academy for Fashion and Textiles. Second, Third and Runners up received a box of threads from Madeira Threads and books from Search Press. Click on the relevant link below to view the list of finalists together with the Competition Brief and details of the judges who decided on the winning design.

Sponsored by: Brother, IDC, ICHF, Madeira Threads and Search Press

• List of Finalists
• Fashion Design Competition Brief

Guilds, Federations & Societies

UKHKA Craft Club; Beadworkers Guild; Guild of Machine Knitters; Guild of Silk Painters; Ring of Tatters; International Feltmakers.

Exhibitors List

NEC, Birmingham   22-25 March 2012

D09 Abakhan Fabrics, Hobby & Home
D22 Ali Crafts Designs
G07 All Craft Media Ltd
D04 The Amaze Brush
ZB20 Gill Arnold
P04 Ashlie Craft
D15 Babylock (The World of Sewing)
B12 Bee Bee Wools - Fancy Yarn Specialists
Y10 Belinda & Ruth`s Knitting Parlour
C19 The Black Sheep
G06 Brother Sewing Machines Europe Ltd
C15 Bulldog Krafts
E04 Butterick, McCall & Vogue Pattterns
B07 Button Lady - The `ooh aah` Stand
ZE14 Jamie Chalmers
A16 Choices
R05 Chyna Design
A04 The Clogmaker
G04 Clothkits
ZA12 Coats Crafts UK Patchwork & Quilting Wor
B11 Coles Sewing Centre Ltd
ZC14 Nina Corey
A18 The Cotton Patch
F24 County Needlecraft
A09 Craft Lines of Essex
A33 The Craft-Light Company
R07 Crafts Beautiful, Sew and Lets Knit
ZC02 The Cross Stitch Guild
B09 Daisy Chain Designs
E01 Ingrid de Vane
E18 Debonnaire
B26 Dickory Dock Designs
ZK19 Wendy Dolan `Stitched Textiles`
D06 Dots N Stripes
A21 Doughty`s
Y12 Dressmakers Pattern Bar
B14 Esther Rose Designs
D01 The Eternal Maker/ButtonCompany
F12 Fabrics Galore
R02 Fabrics Galore
C22 G J Beads
ZR01 Girlguiding Birmingham
ZB18 Shiela-May Green
C01 Jane Greenoff
ZA03 Guild of Machine Knitters
ZC11 Pen Harrison
F02 Historical Sampler Company Ltd
A28 Husqvarna Viking
G02 Itching to Stitch
David Jaggs - Guitarist
G10 Janome UK Limited
D16 Juki Sewing Machines
ZF08 Knit 1 Pass it On / Craft Club
F22 Janie Lashford`s School of Millinery
E21 Leamington Spa Sewing Machines - Elna
P10 Lili Fabrics (UK) Ltd
A29 Linden Lady Chocolates Ltd
F03 Linton Tweeds Ltd
P01 Love Yarn
A05 Manteaux
The Marquetry Society (Southern)
G01 Michael Powell Cross Stitch Art
P40 Mobile Massage Events Ltd
P18 Molten Designs
P05 Needlethreader
A11 The Nimble Thimble
A26 NKM Shows
E22 The Nutmeg Company
P16 Oliver Twists
G12 Pauline Paul (UK) Ltd
E16 The Pearl Girl
E12 Pfaff
Y07 Possibilities of Patchwork
ZC12 Michelle Pye
ZC10 Sara Radford
ZB16 The Ring of Tatters
E30 Jaynie Roberts
ZB17 Barry Rogers
B27 M Rosenberg & Son
ZF07 Ruth and Belinda
E23 Sew Enchanting
A01 Sew It All Ltd
E05 Sew Today Magazine
Y11 Sewing Machine Clinic
ZF24 Sewing World Magazine
E26 The Shuttle
B01 Siesta Frames Ltd
C05 Silver Fairy Design
D12 Silver Orchid Beads
C06 Simplicity Limited
ZD07 Alison Smith
K36 Soluble Film.co.uk
F01 The Southampton Bead Shop
D25 The Spellbound Bead Company
P08 Steam Demon
Y14 Stitch Diva`s Den
F21 Stitchtastic
A06 The Bead Scene Studio / Vintage Stitch
D05 The Toft Alpaca Shop
P02 Totallybeads Ltd
F15 Trixa-Bella
R03 Uwe Raw Cotton
A08 West End Embroidery
E28 WOW Trade
B03 X Stitch Crafts
A31 Yorkshire Book Co

Exhibitors List

NEC, Birmingham   21-24 March 2013

Sorry, the Exhibitors List for this show is not yet available.

Past Shows Exhibitors Lists

Click on a show below to view the exhibitors list:

• Sewing for Pleasure @ NEC, Birmingham
  22-25 March 2012