Knitting and Stitching show 2021

I have been going to the Knitting and Stitching show for many years – always in Harrogate. But this year, now I live in the South of England, I went to Alexandra Palace in London, just seen in the photo, beyond the lily pond in the park.

This was my first visit to the place where the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) first sent out a signal. There is a blue plaque to mark this.

There is an extensive view out over London from the terrace around the building.

I met my friend Rose at the entrance; it was nice to enjoy the show in her company. Now, I will share some of the highlights for me of this year’s show.

First of all, we encountered this astonishing wall of trees:

The ‘Stitch a Tree’ project was part of a bigger project called ‘Thread Bearing Witness’, started in 2017 by Alice Kettle. Participants – who included refugees and others who are seeking asylum – were asked to stitch a tree. ‘The Refugee Resilience Collective inspired this project; they worked with children at a refugee camp to create ‘a forest of tree drawings’.

This extensive piece ‘[De]Constructed Cloth’, by Hannah Lamb, caught my eye. It explores the rise and fall of the West Yorkshire textile industry, using cyanotype printing.

I loved the wit of this piece ‘I do believe we are muted’ by Philippa Moggridge:

This beautiful embroidered chair was just one of the delights on Kate Wells stand.

This close-up of the stitching reveals the extensive stitching which has produced the rich result above.

On The Embroiderers’ Guild stand, this richly embroidered piece by Erin Ledsom ( a Hand Embroidery Degree graduate.

Once again, the detail of the stitching shows the astonishing variety of stitch techniques providing the texture in the piece.

The richness and variety of techniques in this embroidery ‘Spoon Fed Love’ by Maria Thomas about the task of feeding her family drew me in.

…And just look at the row of Maria’s jackets with their wide variety of embellishment. I just loved these.

Winners from this year’s Festival of Quilts were also in the show (so consider this a ‘follow-on’ to the FoQ post I wrote here).

This was such an attractive and cohesive group quilt, made by members of Bristol Quilters, to celebrate their 40th (ruby) anniversary.

This quilt, by Valerie Mullally, was The Quilters’ Guild Challenge winner. It was inspired by a trip to Skellig island, Ireland and a Cornwall cliff walk. I liked the combination of impressions and images in the quilt.

This quilt by Sandra Newton was made during lockdown, using (according to the maker) ‘old print samples and leftovers’. Sandra was in the year above me when I did my City & Guilds Patchwork and Quilting course taught by Barbara Weeks. She went on to do the Diploma course and I watch her output with interest. this quilt won the Contemporary Category.

Finally, here are some gems from the 2020 Self Portrait Gallery. this redwork portrait is by Catherine Hill.

This delicate and emotive piece is by Lesley Wood.

This charming piece was by Aran Illingworth.

And this quirky, modern embroidery was by Deborah Collum.

What a rich and enjoyable day!

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For a pattern with some appliqué and some embroidery, go to my ‘Quirky Birds’ pattern, available here