Craft Focus - Feb/Mar (Issue 65)

FRESH INSPIRATION FOR CONSUMERS Consumer show, Sewing for Pleasure will return to the NEC for four days this spring as part of The Creative Craft Show. It takes place from 15 th -18 th March and will include a host of new products and demonstrations, with thousands of crafters expected through the doors. The event will feature more than 200 stands selling the latest innovations in knitting, cross stitch, paper crafting, jewellery and dressmaking. This year’s hot trends are expected to include mindfulness, upcycling and the growing popularity of homemade crafts. “Mindfulness is everywhere for a good reason,” says Rebecca Randell, the show’s organiser. “It’s providing an antidote to our busy lives, which seem to be increasingly governed by screens. The show offers people the chance to step away from this, get hands on with new craft techniques and be inspired to take up a new hobby – a brilliant, mindful activity that can really help reduce stress.” Highlights will include the world exclusive of Gardens Around the World, a European-Afghan embroidery initiative. Visitors will be able to feast their eyes on exquisite textile art that reflects the skills of people from very different backgrounds. A three-metre wide knitted map of Llandysul in Wales will also feature. Designed and created by the Llandysul Tysul Knitters, the map took over a year to knit and contains more than 90 balls of knitting and yarn. It has already been displayed at the National Wool Museum, and visitors to the show will be able to find out how it has triggered a national ‘knit your town’ project. A host of experts will be on hand to give advice and share top tips, and there will be a programme of quick and easy workshops and talks. Korbond will also be running a sewing studio, with special guest Jeniffer Taylor from BBC2’s Great British Sewing Bee . To find out more, go to ichfevents.co.uk CRAFT4CRAFTERS STRENGTHENS POSITION IN SOUTH WEST After acquiring the Creative Craft exhibition at the Bath & West showground, Craft4Crafters events have become increasingly popular in the South West. “We realised early on that it was important to listen to our customers, whether they are traders or visitors,” says director, Andrew Thorpe. “We focused on our exit surveys and acted upon the feedback. I believe craft plays such an important role within communities and we have and continue to support many good causes and groups. From this we have gained a loyal following.” After another hugely successful Westpoint exhibition, the show will make its fifth appearance at the Bath & West Showground this April, with a larger selection of traders, workshops and displays than before. Set over two floors, there will be an expanded layout, new workshop rooms and a larger restaurant and café area. “Feedback has been outstanding for our last April show – so many visitors were impressed with the scope of crafts available,” says sales manager, Debbie Bailey. “For 2018, we have again increased the number of trader numbers on the main floor as well as filling all the space available to us on the venue balcony, making this a truly great crafting experience.” To find out more about the event, which takes place from 12 th -14 th April, go to craft4crafters.co.uk craft focus 27 shows and events