Yesterday I went into London to attend an AQA A-Level Textiles Art & Design Standardisation course - in a nutshell, this is the exam board ensuring that the teachers understand what an 'A' grade should look like (and other grades too!). It's a pretty intense day with lots of concentration required so as a bit of light relief afterwards, I decided to go to the Knitting & Stitching Show at Olympia.
I'm not sure what to make of it really. I've been to lots of shows over the years, Initially as a student participating in events like New Designers, then as a Buyer with visits to Top Drawer and the NEC and then as a Designer/Maker/Teacher to shows like Origin/Kirsty's Handmade Fair/Art in Action/Craft/MADE etc. Whilst I recognise that the K&S show is not selling itself as an Art Show but more somewhere for anyone with an interest in sewing to pick up resources and tips, I have to say I found it all a little confusing.
It took me (and others) a little while to navigate where the entrance was and after having a good look around I decided the whole thing was bonkers!
Firstly I looked around the exhibition area at the end of the hall and very much enjoyed talking to Louise Baldwin about her beautiful colourful mixed textile pieces.
....and then another established textile designer, Michelle House who I appreciated being able to chat with about her studio and the enormous print table she has which allows her to work on her fantastic pieces, many of which were on display.
I then braved some of the aisles of stands and I say braved because some of them looked like this.....
....nice signage stuck on with brown tape!
...really??? Certainly a sharp contrast to the beautifully presented work I had seen initially.
Some stands were literally just a pile of bags of wool on the floor (which most children would have wanted to just dive into ......and me too if I'm honest!), it was most bizarre.
Fortunately I then came across the lovely Tilly (from Tilly & the Buttons) and my faith was restored, so good to see someone promoting dressmaking for beginners in a clean, modern and accessible way.
It still shocks me how expensive it can be to make something for yourself these days, it's certainly not the cheaper option as used to be the case. Having said that, it does give you an amazing sense of achievement to have made something yourself and the feel good factor is priceless. I do remember working in a fabric shop as a teenager. I used to make my own clothes and spend all my salary on fabrics so I never had any money but I did have lots of clothes (of course there were some shockers, but it was the eighties!).
I could also see that there were lots of workshops going on at the K&S show which is fantastic and what the show should be about - encouraging people to have a go.
Firstly I looked around the exhibition area at the end of the hall and very much enjoyed talking to Louise Baldwin about her beautiful colourful mixed textile pieces.
....and then another established textile designer, Michelle House who I appreciated being able to chat with about her studio and the enormous print table she has which allows her to work on her fantastic pieces, many of which were on display.
I then braved some of the aisles of stands and I say braved because some of them looked like this.....
....nice signage stuck on with brown tape!
...really??? Certainly a sharp contrast to the beautifully presented work I had seen initially.
Some stands were literally just a pile of bags of wool on the floor (which most children would have wanted to just dive into ......and me too if I'm honest!), it was most bizarre.
Fortunately I then came across the lovely Tilly (from Tilly & the Buttons) and my faith was restored, so good to see someone promoting dressmaking for beginners in a clean, modern and accessible way.
It still shocks me how expensive it can be to make something for yourself these days, it's certainly not the cheaper option as used to be the case. Having said that, it does give you an amazing sense of achievement to have made something yourself and the feel good factor is priceless. I do remember working in a fabric shop as a teenager. I used to make my own clothes and spend all my salary on fabrics so I never had any money but I did have lots of clothes (of course there were some shockers, but it was the eighties!).
I could also see that there were lots of workshops going on at the K&S show which is fantastic and what the show should be about - encouraging people to have a go.
I certainly found it very hard to resist all the fabrics and ended up spending too much money AGAIN!
.
I came away with some lovely fabric but felt quite confused about the experience, maybe it was because I was a bit tired but I have a feeling the show organisers are confused too judging by the bizarre mixture of exhibitors. Time for a rethink and an update please.
www.julietteodesigns.co.uk
I came away with some lovely fabric but felt quite confused about the experience, maybe it was because I was a bit tired but I have a feeling the show organisers are confused too judging by the bizarre mixture of exhibitors. Time for a rethink and an update please.
www.julietteodesigns.co.uk
Interesting to read your thoughts on this show. I went last year and vowed never to go again. I found it exhausting and came away feeling really disappointed. It felt a bit like a slightly tacky indoor market for crafters with nothing to inspire and lacking any originality!
ReplyDeleteI would agree that some parts were definitely tacky and lacking in originality, I think it's supposed to have improved slightly but there's definitely still a way to go.
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