The Knitting and Stitching Show- my stashbuilding efforts rewarded!

So much for restraint, I staggered back from our coach trip to Alexandra Palace loaded with goodies! It was the best show I have attended, there were far more stalls selling dressmaking fabric than I have seen before. Raystitch, The Village Haberdashery, and Fabrics Galore were all new to me.

I bought real beeswax from Raystitch, some little storage boxes for machine needles and feet, and Sewaholic Alma and Megan Nielsen Kelly Skirt patterns from The Village Haberdashery. My friend bought some craft magazines and gave me the free Lisette pattern that came with it.

Woolyknit were selling some 500g hanks of pure merino wool for £12, so I had to have one in this light purple. My husband knows how to hold wool for winding into balls as he often did it for his grandmother.

I hadn’t yet found any fabric for Karen’s Apronalong, so I was delighted to see this Makower apron print and matching dotty print at The Shuttle ( a regular attendee from Yorkshire). This will be going in the wash tonight so I can catch up with cutting out and tailor tacking. All I need now is bias binding, and I’ll be looking for some in pale blue.

At Rosenberg’s Stall Mr Rosenberg senior caught me fondling the purple jersey, and sucked me in to buying 3m by saying it was half price as there is a fault in it,pale streaks across the width at about 700mm intervals. I can cut round that so that’s not a problem. It’s a nice hefty viscose jersey. I also bought 2m of scarlet jersey, but fended off his attempts to sell me some burgundy as well. I kind of wish I had, but do you realise how heavy jersey is to carry round an exhibition hall.

I’ve saved the best until last. I bought 2 fat quarters of silk organza in black and white from the Silk Route, in case I get the urge to go couture on a project. When I visited the two Fabrics Galore stalls I was overcome with the quality on show. Managing to resist the huge range of Liberty prints, I spotted what looked like wool jersey on a high shelf. There were several colours but I couldn’t resist this turquoise. It’s an acrylic wool mix and is beautifully soft. I think it will be a Renfrew cowl neck. I resisted the other colours though. Then I noticed a lovely patterned corduroy which is destined to be a Kelly skirt. It’s a swirly pattern with blue, purple and greeny brown in it, which reminds me of Edvard Munch’s The Scream.

I refuse to tot up what I’ve spent, but I have to go to Dunelm Mill’s for another storage box.

Next post; I’ll catch up with what I’ve been making lately.

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