Sewing for Pleasure and Hobbycrafts
Birmingham NEC
 13th – 16th March 2008

Britain’s biggest and brightest textile art show, Sewing for Pleasure and Hobbycrafts is at Birmingham NEC from 13th – 16th March 2008. With over 200 exhibitors offering beautiful fabric for dressmaking, threads in every shade, patterns for the most fashionable clothes plus provisions for many different hobbies. All the latest cutting edge designs plus inspirational displays and expert advice.
 Visitors to Sewing for Pleasure / Hobbycrafts can immerse themselves in a woolly wonderland at the life-sized knitted gingerbread house, join the nation and knit any picnic item for Shaun the Sheep’s Great British Picknit and then waltz over to see the exceptional costumes from the hit BBC TV series, Strictly Come Dancing!
Alongside the inspirational and exciting new features, those keen to learn a new craft or improve an existing one will benefit from and enjoy one of the several demonstrations and workshops at all shows. Then you can weave your way through the aisles, searching through thousands of the most innovative stitching and hobbycraft supplies to find the perfect materials for all your favourite pastimes.

There will be new and exciting displays and features. There will be a life-sized Knitted Gingerbread House with millions of stitches covering 140 sq ft, devotedly knitted by 1,000’s of knitters from around the world! With a full size bed, cakes and sweets, a Welsh dresser and cuckoo clock you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported into a magical world of make believe! Textile artist Alison Murray instigated the project over a year ago to raise money for Great Ormond Street children’s hospital and North Devon Hospice and over £3,000 has been raised already! Visitors will have the opportunity to peek through the window and study each individual stitch up close. Just try and resist the temptation to nibble on the gingerbread men!

Stars on the Dance Floor is a stunning display from the world-renowned couture company Chrisanne Ltd, costume designers for the BBC smash hit Strictly Come Dancing. Each beautiful, colourful and intricately designed costume has been encrusted with Swarvoski rhinestones to capture the lights of the dance floor. Lovingly created with individual care and attention to detail, designed to accentuate the dancers' actions and made to flow with every move. With costumes from the latest series including a stunning red dress worn by Kelly Brook.

Everyone’s help is needed for Shaun the Sheep's PicKnit! Visitors can take part in the amazing new project featuring ‘Shaun the Sheep’, the latest exciting character from Aardman Animations. You will be encouraged to knit something towards a life-sized picnic - this could be any type of food eg sausages, cheese or sandwiches – or a blanket, bouncy ball, plate, napkin – in fact anything at all which is picnic related! The project is in aid of Wallace and Gromit’s Children Foundation and supported by Simply Knitting magazine, UK Hand Knitting Association and ICHF.

A range of elaborate beadwork designs illustrating many different techniques will be part of the Beading Extravaganza display. Examine some professional masterpieces from world renowned company ‘Hand & Lock’, plus a collection of original 1920’s ‘Flapper’ dresses, African & Indian beadwork and work from the Beadworkers Guild’s group competition pieces as well as their exquisite private collection.
Textile Treasures of the WI is an exquisite display of textiles selected from The National Needlework Archive and National Federation of Women’s Institutes’ collection of nearly 9,000 pieces of work belonging to WI's, Federations, NFWI and Denman College. ICHF are offering visitors a chance to view these unique and fascinating textile pieces. The WI was founded in 1915 and many stories have been collected and recreated along the way. Textile Treasures of the WI represents many of these remarkable tales and captures the very essence of the WI!

A series of fashion shows hosted by Brenda Killigrew from Inkberrow Design Centre will take place at regular intervals during the four days, giving students a chance to showcase a range of their colourful and exciting designs on the catwalk. A range of themes will be explored through various garments of clothing from hats to gloves, dresses to corsets, with intricate stitching, exquisite appliqué, bright and bold patterns and luscious fabrics. Expect to see what will be in vogue next season and maybe meet the next Gucci!
To unravel all the mysteries of dressmaking, visit the Dressmakers Forum – a specialist area supported by Sewing World Magazine and www.isew.co.uk . Visitors can view all the latest pattern books with professionals offering information and guidance about new products and where to find all your sewing 'notions' at the show.

There will be a series of talks from some of the most influential and experienced people in the industry as well as a vast array of Quick and Easy Mini Taster Sessions, to learn new skills and develop existing ones! Discover how to make personalised greetings cards for friends and loved ones, with pressed flowers or fabric and buttons! Be encouraged to knit a jumper, add some beads and sequins, or if you’re a beginner challenge yourself to make a beautiful, cosy scarf for the winter!
You’ll also find the most innovative supplies from all around the UK to create your very own unique items, with options for people of all ages. Use Fimo to create beautiful sculptures, jewellery or broaches and teach the children as well! You can even buy a cutter and score board to cut card and make beautiful boxes, then use stamps, glitter or decoupage to decorate them or buy some clay or pottery and produce your very own bowls. There really is something for everyone at  Hobbycrafts and Sewing for Pleasure!

Sewing for Pleasure / Birmingham 2 Shows for 1!
NEC from 13th – 16th March 2008 Open 09.30 – 17.30 (17.00 on Sunday)
Tickets:
Adults £9.90 on door (£8.40 advanced price)
Seniors £8.90 on door (£7.40 advanced price)

Ticket Hotline: 01425 277988 or buy tickets on-line at www.ichf.co.uk 

For your chance to win a pair of tickets to this year’s show in Birmingham, simply answer the following question:

Which BBC smash hit series is featured in this year's show?

CLICK HERE to e-mail us your answer.
 Please put "Hobbycrafts" as your subject and remember to include your name and address so that we can send the lucky winners their prizes. The first five correct entries chosen will each win a pair of tickets.
 

The draw will take place on 3rd. March 2008

Good luck !