With just weeks to go until the industry event of the year, exhibitors are busy finalising plans to wow the crowds with innovative and inspirational new products. Visitors can expect to see everything that's cutting-edge in the craft market as well enjoy a brand new fashion show, bringing crafts to life on the catwalk.

Exciting new launches
With leading publishers attending the show, visitors will be able to meet the people behind leading craft magazines and discover new titles. For instance Practical Publishing will be using the show to launch Simply Homemade - a new inspirational craft magazine for creative minds. With beautiful and stylish projects for papercrafters, seamstresses, knitters, beaders, plus other crafters whose hobbies such as soapmaking, candlemaking and feltmaking are often neglected, Simply Homemade offers something for everyone. The new monthly title covers stylish brands such as Cath Kidston, Amy Butler Fabrics and Emma Bridgewater Designs, plus a pinch of recipes, baking ideas and homestyle tips and advice.

Simplicity (Stand M17) have added a selection of must-have gadgets for the home dressmaker and quilter, scrapbookers and card makers. "The fabulous four includes a bias tape maker, sidewinder, and two rotary cutters - standard and deluxe editions. All are electrically operated, are great crafting aids and make perfect presents. The bias tape maker folds and presses bias strips automatically, the rotary cutters will cut strips to varying widths fast and easily and the sidewinder is a stand-alone bobbin winder that quickly winds bobbins without interrupting your sewing. "Of course, we also still continually add new patterns to our pattern ranges of Simplicity, New Look and Burda. Here the trend is for packs with value - so we include lots of wardrobe packs of separates that can be mixed and matched as well as garments that can be made unique with trims, buttons and stitch detail," Jackie Braid said.

Husqvarna Viking will be launching the new H|Class 600E sewing and embroidery machine at the show. The machine delivers an expansive suite of features, intuitive controls and user-friendly computer connectivity for exceptional design freedom without additional hardware, helping to make the art of embroidery more accessible to all levels of sewers.

Cutting-edge products
Jesse James Buttons and Beads from the USA will be showcasing its beautiful potpourri stranded bead mix which includes vintage jewellery manufacturer's extras, unique shapes and finishes and special effects from the Czech Republic. The beads are jewellery grade and are the same beads used by top designers and accessory manufacturers.

With scrapbooking becoming increasingly popular, Letraset, the UK manufacturer of ProMarker will be bringing its new AquaMarker to the show, an acid-free, water-based marker. The key difference with AquaMarkers is that the ink is water-soluble, so they're great for water-colour style colouring and illustration.

Aurifil, the Italian thread company, will be talking to buyers about its high sheen and superior-strength thread, Aurifil Cotton Mako thread and will also be showcasing an expanded range of racks and fixtures for quilt shops which display a wider variety of colours.

Bead Time will offer one of the largest ranges of findings in a choice of four finishes - soon to be six. They will also be showcasing a new range of Greek ceramic beads and wooden beads from a sustainable source in the Philippians and running a make and take demonstration at the show.

With brand new features, the latest supplies and innovations, FREE business seminars and workshops, a fashion show and sample area the 2011 Craft Hobby + Stitch International show is not to be missed!

For information visit www.chsi.co.uk

Posted: 13 January 2011

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