Knitting Shows

In September I went to iKnit, a delightful knitting show in the RHS Halls, Victoria. It had all the feel of a local fair and I half expected to hear the sound of baa-ing from sheep. What struck me most about this show was how intimate it felt, how raw and passionate it was. It was here that I met Alison, of Lana Pura, the fabulous, well stocked online knitting supplies shop. I love that she doesn't charge postage. Most of the other stands that I liked don't do mail order, but if you want to visit their farms then they'd be pleased to see you.

The Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace last week was an entirely different experience. It was vast, crowded and somewhat overwhelming. I spent the whole day rummaging through to find some wonderful jewels of inspiration.

My first port of call was to the Graduate Show of the best coming out of the UK's textile departments. This country has always produced very talented designers, with some great ideas which then percolate into the mainstream over coming years. I just love the work of This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it which was inspired by the Queen's Coronation Celebrations, with all the nuance of the early fifties tweaked to give it a very wearable and updated feel. Similarly, the quirky style of Hannah Lamb (not in the graduate show, but young, highly talented and teaching in renowned art colleges), with purses made from vintage opera gloves, beautiful hand embroidery, for example on wall hangings, full of wit and outstanding craftsmanship, show that the edge of creativity is alive and very well.

The main hanger of Ally Pally reminded me of one of those bustling markets in India, where each little booth potentially is an Aladdin's cave of treasure. It was great to see Laughing Hens here with an enlarged range of wools, including some rare breeds, and the Button Box, from whom I've been buying buttons in Covent Garden since ever (no mail order). My favourite stands here were Euro Japan Links with the most magnificent range of cotton fabric from Japan, ideal for making patchworks, bags and wall hangings, Daisy Chain Designs with its kits of cute toys, tapestries and quilts, and One World Button Supply Co, an American woman selling buttons made from vegetarian ivory (but with no retail outlet, only wholesale). Somewhere too I bought some lovely Injabulo buttons too. They have so many different designs from teddy bears and angels, to geometric and floral, which would uplift any garment, handmade or customise any mass manufactured one.

Then there was the trip down memory lane. One of the very first things I ever made was a Cloth Kits Doll in the very late 1960s. I can visualise her still with her lumpy stuffing giving her rather athletic arms. And now Cloth Kits has been given a new lease of life and their kits for making clothes too are back again. These are ideal for anyone who's never done much sewing before, and all those who just love that 70s retro feel.

If you always thought that knitting was dainty and for small projects then think again. Rachel Johns' Extreme Knitting and Crochet uses huge needles and hooks which she makes herself. I'm going to make a door mat and a curtain. The interactivity and sheer vitality of this stand was totally infectious.

We also had demonstrations in lace-making, tatting, and felting. It was the last of these that had us enthralled. There's something so primal, simple and divine in how felting happens. We've been felting for millennia, ever since women decided to make caves into homes and line the walls with felt to make them all snug and cosy for their menfolk to come home to. Felting is easy, so easy that little children can do it at birthday parties, and it so creatively effective in become art. I loved the work of Jill Denton in particular, especially a seascape wall hanging. I also picked up some hand crafted old-fashioned wooden clothes pegs at the stand of the chic textile magazine Selvedge.

I wholly recommend going to events such as these fairs to see what is creatively going on, to be inspired to pick up some new ideas, ways of looking at the world, and how you too can make something.

Yesterday I made a bag for all my knitting needles with the Japanese fabric and the big pink natural ivory button.