Win ONE of FIVE pairs of tickets to The Stitch Festival!

Celebration of contemporary stitch craft returns to London in March 2023

London’s hottest event for contemporary stitchers, The Stitch Festival, returns to the Business Design Centre, Islington from 23rd-26th March 2023. We’ve got five pairs of tickets to give away, worth £33.00 per pair. 

The annual fabric-filled extravaganza is a ‘must go’ for textile craft fans, with 230 hands-on workshops hosted by top tutors, designers and makers. From beginners to experts, there are classes for every level of stitcher, with a vast range of textile crafts represented, from macrame and machine sewing to embroidery, needle felting and knitting.

Dressmaking, upcycling and slow fashion are a major focus, with a dedicated Dressmaking Studio, an overlocker workshop programme and a Dressmaking Competition that shines a spotlight on the skills of talented home dressmakers. Open to sewists of all levels, there are categories for Eveningwear, Loungewear, Childrenswear, Knitwear and Crochetwear, Upcycled or Repurposed garments, and new for 2023, Menswear. Eagle-eyed judges from the worlds of fashion and textiles will be looking for excellence in technical skills, stitching and creative flair, and there’s a Finalists’ Fashion Show on Sunday 26th March.

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Inspiring textile displays and creative collaborations are always an exciting feature of The Stitch Festival, and 2023 is no exception. Two iconic names from the dressmaking world, Fabric Godmother, the online fabric retailer, and independent sewing pattern label, By Hand London, will celebrate their tenth anniversaries with an exclusive joint retrospective exhibition of unique pieces that span the last decade. There’s an exciting competition too for visitors to win the chance to have their own pattern made up.

The ever-colourful crochet designer Katie Jones has designed a joyful Crochet Lounge where she’ll be hosting granny square crochet lessons and book signings. Textile artist Jen Cable’s Knitted Lives project will celebrate contemporary knitting, exploring the lives and stories of everyday knitters, and best-selling author and craft entrepreneur, Isabella Strambio, will be sharing her passion for macrame.

The Festival’s Stitch Stage features free demonstrations, presentations and Q&As with some favourite faces from the knit and stitch world, and on Saturday 25th March, the Instagram Makers’ Catwalk features garments made and modelled by talented Instagram makers, supported by independent pattern makers and fabric companies.

Last but not least, there’s shopping, with more than 150 specialist retailers under one roof, plus all that vibrant Islington has to offer with its stores, restaurants, bars and cafes.

Opening hours are 10am-5.30pm on Thursday-Saturday and 10am-3pm on Sunday.