Sunday 11 October 2015

A Trip to the Knitting and Stitching Show

Hello all!

Yesterday I visited the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace, London. It's about seven years since I last went so was a perfect opportunity for a browsing day out.

My daughter accompanied me as she was interested in soft wool for making scarves and fabric for her quilting and dressmaking hobbies. It was also her 14th birthday so mummy's credit card was an added incentive for her to accompany me!

I tried not to stash too much as I really don't NEED anything else (I know, I know, what's NEED got to do with it?) and I was aware of my virtual SFS budget.

I bought a little box with individual screw-top jars for my spare Mill Hill beads, two cute little charts from an independent retailer and five over-dyed Threadworx threads suitable for Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter and Christmas projects. These are (shamefully?) the first over-dyed threads I have ever bought. Now all I have to do is find projects suitable to use them on!

Charts - Odd Dog - Sleepy Book and Balloon by Lili of the Valley
Threadworx colours - 10592 Mercy's Spring Bouquet, 11511 Jam Rock,
1076 Honky Tonk, 1140 Moonlit Skies and 1085 Christmas Time


I also bought a couple of other things which I cannot show as they are gifts for people who I know read this blog - hi girls!

Budget wise, so far so good. But then I found the sewitall fabric stall. Uh-oh!

Some of you may recall that a number of my Challenge pieces are stitched on over-dyed aida by Fabric Flair. When I discovered the only supplier that I knew of in the UK had stopped selling it I was devastated. But a bit of sleuthing led me to sewitall.com who, I found out, are the actual manufacturers of Fabric Flair! At the moment they don't have over-dyed on their website but they do have a similar cloud-effect fabric as well as patterns such as snowflakes, holly leaves, paw prints and love hearts. AND everything comes in various aida or evenweave counts AND with the choice of added sparkles. Heaven! Go check them out - you will not be disappointed.

I could have been a very naughty girl but, luckily for me, their selection of my favourite 16ct aida and 32ct evenweave was limited and very few had sparkles. Nevertheless, I bought a good selection, even doubling up on some. Not all are in the photo, nor are all for me as I was purchasing for two others as well. So in fact I think I was actually very restrained!

Aida - Antique White with Sparkles, Cloud Green, Cloud Lilac and Cloud Brown

Evenweave - Cloud Blue, Cloud Blue and Pink, Cloud Lilac, Cloud Grey


Talking of being restrained, I did NOT buy these two kits. I cannot express how much I love the autumnal-coloured artwork of Leonid Afremov. I know that Love Thy Thread and Heaven and Earth Designs have charted some of his pictures but these are by Golden Fleece (Zolotoe Runo in their native Russian) and were £54 each which I could not justify. If they are ever released as just charts I may reconsider.

Romantic Walk and Aura of Rain (my favourite!) 


And here are some more, slightly smaller kits, by the same artist which I may purchase one day:

 Autumn Melodies, Tryst and Autumn Blues


So all in all a good but tiring (and financially fairly restrained) day out! Now to use some of my goodies.....

Happy stitching :)
Rachel x

11 comments:

Pull the other thread said...

Amazing new stash, those fabric are beautiful. I too love Leonid Afremov work and have a few of the charts from Love Thy Thread which I would really like to make a start on, but can't justify another large start right now.

Justine said...

You were very restrained! Those fabrics are beautiful. I've never heard of Golden Fleece but really like those kits - bet they look very effective stitched up. Your purchases look good too. Nice to be able to support a previously unknown designer!
Glad your daughter had a good day too and hi back to you!
You've made me want to start stitching now!

Mii Stitch said...

Wow, wish I was there, the fabrics are so sweet and your little kits look like they will be fun stitching :)
I have never heard of Leonid Afremov but the designs certainly look superb. I too love autumn colours and these are just perfect!!

Linda said...

My goodness Rachel. I love everything you bought. The fabric is beautiful.

Linda

Heather said...

I love the fabrics and the charts are adorable. Great new stash!

Mrs Milkybar Kid said...

Nice stash Rachel 💜! Threadworx cottons are lovely to work with and great value as you get 20 yards of the stuff per skein!

Thoeria said...

You were definitely very restrained Rachel! I would have been the kid in the candy shop :D
That fabric is beautiful....and the kits.....yes I can see why you love them! But oh my.....that is a rather steep price! Looking forward to seeing what you do with that fabric and threads :)

Katie said...

I love Threadworx threads. Beautiful colors. Love all the fabrics!! I wouldn't have been able to control myself. You did fantastic. I just LOVE the two dog charts you bought (of course). Can't wait to see your work on them.

Stitching Noni said...

Oh wow.... those kits are stunning! Fingers crossed someone releases just the charts as I am with you on the cost of the kit.... Love the fabrics! Gorgeous colours :o)
A day at a craft show is always very dangerous to my credit card!!
Hugs xx

Emma/Itzy said...

Great new stash!

Joan said...

Hi - I have popped over from Justine's blog. I love the romantic walk kit. You seem to have a nice stash. Joan at www.aviewtothefells.com