The knitted taxi took in the sights of London before arriving at this year's Knitting and Stitching show, which took place at the beginning of October at Alexandra Palace.

This 'Cab Cosy' took over 20 kilos of wool, and four months to knit by 20 women from The Materialistics knitting group and was used to launch a new children's book by Safia Shah, Carnaby Street's Great Uninvited, which ends in an increasingly outrageous knitting competition. Complete with a knitted picnic scene on its roof, the taxi was photographed at various famous London landmarks on route to the opening of the show.

Established over 20 years' ago, The Knitting and Stitching show set a record number of visitors this year with more than 30,000 visitors attending (8 per cent increase on the previous year). As crafts enjoy a huge surge in popularity with a 12 per cent increase in participants year-on-year. With 7.2 million knitters and 3.5 million sewing their own clothes, TV Programmes such as Kirsty Allsop's Homemade Home and The Great British Sewing Bee, along with the spirit of the 'make do and mend' culture, have all captured the nation's imagination. Emerging as a winner from the recession, the UK hobby craft and textile industry is now estimated to be worth over £3.5 billion according to research released from the Craft and Hobby Association (UK).

The Knitting and Stitching show saw the launch of the Bunting World Record attempt by the north London charity, Noah's Ark Children's Hospice. Aiming to beat the current record, which stands at 2.93 miles, over 20,000 flags will be created on a continuous line of bunting – with visitors making a donation to have a flag of their design included.

The show hosted an extraordinary collection of work from leading textile artists from all over the world in nineteen professionally curated galleries, along with a showcase of recent textile graduates work.

The amount of stands was visibly increased and the variety of products available during the show was amazing – the only problem is that a one-day ticket will not be enough!

Dates for your diary:
Next years show is 9th-12th October
www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/london

Posted: 30 October 2013

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