Editor’s Note: Earlier in the autumn, the Knit + Stitch organisers donated three pairs of Giveaway tickets to our followers. The recipients did not need to write a blog post, but we genuinely appreciate that longtime member Breda Fay has written one for us!
By Breda Fay
Thank you, Feltmakers Ireland, for the prize of two tickets to Knit & Stitch. I combined the visit with a two-night stay in Moira, County Down.
I was barely in the door of the Eikon Exhibition Centre when I met two of our guild members, Helene and Annika – it was lovely to share a coffee and a chat to catch up on our busy lives. Coincidentally, we had chosen the same workshop.
Breda’s Samples from her Workshops
I attended three very interesting workshops:
- Introduction to Textured Embroidery with Ruth Hughes – https://wildfloss.co.uk/
- The craft of making Singleton Buttons with Kat Moleswort (and hearing their interesting history)
- Stumpwork Leaf Embroidery with Alice Cummins – https://www.bealice.ie/
It was surprising that there was so little about feltmaking. Sandra Coote from Crafts of Ireland seemed to be the only one flying the flag for felt with her lovely display of needlefelting. Feltmakers Ireland always had a stand when Knit + Stitch was at the RDS in Dublin*.
However, it was still very easy to spend money, and I came away with ribbons, threads, fabric, and some books on quilts and the gallery artists.
Quilt Displays
I found the two quilt displays very emotive- The Craftivism for Palestine Quilt project, a 32-country project to raise awareness of the death of children in Gaza, and the SEFF Memorial Quilts display commemorating death in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
Textile Galleries
There were only three textile art galleries this year:
- Material Alchemy (Sarah Cathers) https://www.sarahcathers.com/
- Commit to the Process (Hazel Bruce) https://www.textileartist.org/hazel-bruce-make-do-and-mend-pieced-fabrics-connected-by-repeated-stitched-pattern-blocks/
- Symbolic Textiles-Symbols, Archetypes and Myths (Vivienne Beaumont) https://www.viviennebeaumont.co.uk/
Each one was inspiring, and each artist was available to discuss her works and inspiration.
The Live Stage provided demos and talks throughout the days. I just needed a sit-down and was lucky enough to hear Anouk O’Connell of Ollanmor speak about Landscape Weaving.
I enjoyed my two days away, spent more money than I intended, but had the opportunity to try some new crafts.
From the editor: Thank you, Breda, for sharing your experiences at the Knit + Stitch Show in Lisburn, United Kingdom. It is wonderful to experience a taste of the show!
* Editor’s Note: Last year, when the event took place in Belfast, Feltmakers Ireland, Feltmakers North, and the International Feltmakers Association staffed a booth generously provided by Knit + Stitch. Because coordinating the staffing was a significant undertaking for our organiser, Jane Fox—who is a member of all three guilds—we decided not to take on a similar commitment for the 2025 show. But we can certainly think about participating next year.
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