Authors at the Knitting & Stitching show – Q&As

The London Knitting & Stitching Autumn show is just around the corner and we’re very excited! We’ve got a stellar list of craft authors visiting our stand this year and we’ve had a chat with them about their favourite things at the show – and got some tips for new visitors!

Vanessa Mooncie

1. What is your favourite thing about Knitting & Stitching?

There are so many beautiful yarns available and I enjoy finding new ones that inspire fresh ideas for my designs.

2. What are you most looking forward to about this year’s show?

I’m looking forward to stocking up on yarns and haberdashery. I don’t have anything particular in mind that I would like, but am looking forward to bringing something new home that I can start working with.

3. Aside from your event, do you have any other plans at the show?

As well as a bit of shopping, I shall be browsing the stalls and seeing what other designers and makers are creating.

Vanessa and her Monster Hats join us on Wednesday, 5^th October.

 

 

Jemima Schlee

1. What is your favourite thing about Knitting & Stitching?

Meeting like-minded people – and to see such a wealth of textiles, yarns books, enthusiasm…!

2. What are you most looking forward to about this year’s show?

I love talking to people about all sorts of crafts – I’ll be doing a little demonstrating on making mattress rosettes, it’s not often one gets the opportunity to do that in an environment where it’s not unusual!

3. Do you have any tips or pointers for new visitors?

Let’s face it, the exhibition is HUGE. From my experience teaching in exhibition environments, it’s always beneficial to go outside for fresh air, just for 5 minutes, now and again. It’s surprisingly refreshing and gives you the strength to enjoy a longer visit.

4. Aside from your event, do you have any other plans at the show?

Nothing specific – I will no doubt discover a myriad of things to inspire and tempt me!

Meet Jemima on the stand on Wednesday, 5^th October.

 

Susan Pinner

1. What is your favourite thing about Knitting & Stitching?

A fabulous gathering together under one roof, all the suppliers you can get too as they are often too far away, all the squishiness… you can’t beat it.

2. What are you most looking forward to about this year’s show?

Meeting up with online followers and friends I’ve not met yet, and getting to chat face to face.

3. Do you have any tips or pointers for new visitors?

Go for 2 days if you can and what you can’t get out of your head…BUY, BUY, BUY.

4. Aside from your event, do you have any other plans at the show?

I will be with a yarn company Stylecraft again for 2 days… always busy, always fun as you get to chat to people about your patterns and explain thing they might find a little difficult or not understand.

Susan will be on the stand on Thursday, 6^th October.

 

Matt Chapple

1. What is your favourite thing about Knitting & Stitching?

I have been coming along to the Knitting & Stitching shows for a couple of years now, it’s incredible the amount of different stands you have under one roof, you can literally source everything that you need! I love the community too, always a friendly crowd with lots of stitching chatter.

2. What are you most looking forward to about this year’s show?

Showing off my book, Make it Own it Love it. It will be the first time I will be face to face with people with it in their hands. I honestly cannot wait to hear what people think of it.

3. Do you have any tips or pointers for new visitors?

Give yourself plenty of time and plan which demos you want to attend. There is so much to see and do that time quickly flies by and before you know it the day is over. Also bring a decent shopping bag for all those fabric purchases.

4. Aside from your event, do you have any other plans at the show?

Sadly I can only make it on Thursday, I have 2 demos planned and 2 book signings so won’t have much spare time, but I hope to have time for a wonder round the fabric stands in between sessions.

Matt will be signing books with us on Thursday, 6^th October. Take a look at his blog here: www.sewwhatsnew.co.uk

 

Emma Varnam

1. What is your favourite thing about Knitting & Stitching?

I always love going round the stands and seeing the yarn and spotting new designs. So many designers visit the show so there are opportunities to bump into real life yarn heroes; people you have admired virtually but you can meet in the flesh.

2. What are you most looking forward to about this year’s show?

I’m excited to see my book on display on the GMC stand and I will also look out for new yarn and shade combinations. I am hoping to see some work by small indi-designers, I find new work and new designers really inspiring.

3. Do you have any tips or pointers for new visitors?

Have a look where you favourite stands are placed and go straight to those stands. You can then criss-cross the aisles and look at the rest of the show when you have done your must-do visits. Remember to wear really comfortable shoes, bring a water bottle and some snacks and don’t forget to bring a cavernous bag with you so you can carry home all your treasured purchases!

4. Aside from your event, do you have any other plans at the show?

I always take the opportunity to meet up with friends and yarn companies I have worked with in the past year– it is great fun. I will hope to share a few coffees and chats with my lovely yarn friends who I don’t get to meet in person during the rest of the year.

Come and meet Emma and her Cute Crocheted Animals on Friday, 7^th October.

 

Mandy Pattullo

1. What is your favourite thing about Knitting & Stitching?

The Gallery spaces. I like to see how the work of established artists is progressing and am always delighted when there is a gallery of work by makers outside the UK which adds an International flavour to the show.

2. What are you most looking forward to about this year’s show?

Seeing the work of Debbie Lyddon up close. I included a little section on her in my new book Textile Collage and her work particularly resonates with me because I also come from Norfolk and know the landscapes she describes through her collages very well.

3. Do you have any tips or pointers for new visitors?

Wear thin clothes and have a bottle of water. It is hot and exhausting. Take a break and admire the view of London from the terrace. Have a budget in mind of what you are going to spend that day as it is easy to be tempted by all the delights on offer.

4. Aside from your event, do you have any other plans at the show?

I will stock up on threads. I like to visit the stalls selling hand dyed threads in interesting colours and particularly cotton threads and sashiko threads which are difficult to source from ordinary sewing shops.

Mandy will be joining us on Friday, 7^th October.

 

Little Button Diaries

1. What are you most looking forward to about this year’s show?

We’re really looking forward to Creative Living Theatre as the line-up looks brilliant. We’re hoping to catch the Queen of tulle Jade Earley and to see the Nudinits show. We also can’t wait to see what fabric we can buy whilst we’re there and of course having a visit to the tea room!

2. Do you have any tips or pointers for new visitors?

We’ve not been to the event before so we’d love some tips please!

3. Aside from your event, do you have any other plans at the show?

We’re planning to see if we can get someone to teach us knitting as we’re clueless and would love to be able to knit a scarf this winter! We’ve always wanted to learn arm knitting, we love that you can make big chunky stuff quite quickly, but it looks a bit of a tangle to us. And not so good for tea drinking!

Laura and Tia of Little Button Diaries join us on Saturday, 8^th October.

 

Lucinda Guy

1. What is your favourite thing about Knitting & Stitching?

It really is the knitting and stitching event of the year! Where else are you going to find so much to inspire you under one roof – with galleries showcasing textile art, textile experts on hand, plenty of workshops to learn all sorts of new things and of course, lots of shopping opportunities for new and essential supplies…

2. What are you most looking forward to at this years show?

I’m really looking forward to seeing and hearing people’s reactions to Kids Learn to Stitch – everyone loves Kids Learn to Knit and Kids Learn to Crochet and children are always drawn to the books because of Francois’s wonderful illustrations, so it will be great to spend time chatting to new and old stitchers alike.

3. Do you have any tips or pointers for new visitors?

Plan ahead – just so that you don’t miss out on anything really special that you wouldn’t want to miss. But leave plenty of time for discovering new things and being inspired by the unexpected!

4. Aside from your event, do you have any other plans at the show?

I really admire Alice Kettle’s work and will look forward to seeing her new pieces in the Alice Kettle and students: Significance – Gawthorpe Textile Collection with Manchester School of Art.

Kids can learn to stitch with Lucinda on Saturday, 8^th October.

J. Francois-Campbell

1. What is your favourite thing about Knitting & Stitching?

Being able to view and buy a wide variety of interesting quality items from knowledgeable suppliers based around the United Kingdom and beyond. All under one roof, just a tube ride away from home. It’s also great being able to seek advice on items purchased at the show, as well as being shown how to use them effectively. That and the camaraderie of the visitors and the sharing of tips and ideas between sewing professionals and enthusiasts.

2. What are you most looking forward to about this year’s show?

Discovering new pieces of equipment with which to work, and new courses to join. I am also looking forward to meeting my sewing friends to peruse the aisles as we catch up on the latest gossip.

3. Do you have any tips or pointers for new visitors?

Set a financial limit and stick to it. It is very easy to overspend at the event. Take a sturdy foldaway bag or compact trolley. By the end of the day, it is highly likely your hands will be full of purchases and very tired from carrying it all day. Try to pocket as many flyers and business cards as possible for future reference. Make a note of the items which interested you on the back of it. If you contact them at a later date, you may have forgotten what prompted you to pick up their card. Try to have lunch outside of the popular time of 12-2 pm. It will be less busy so you will not have to queue for a meal for too long hopefully. A packed lunch is far more convenient and cheaper. Try to view the stands systematically, using a visual marker to orientate yourself. It is extremely easy to lose track of where you are even if you have a map to hand. It is a very large and busy venue. Try to be at patient as possible. Some stands are extremely popular, so it could take some time to get close enough to view anything!

J. Francois-Campbell will be demonstrating simple alteration techniques on the stand on Sunday, 9^th October.

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