In a mad moment several months ago Susan Crawford and friend and fellow craftswoman, Helen Chatterton, made the rather impetuous decision to organise an event which would finally bring top class vendors to Liverpool. Both Susan and Helen spend a great deal of time travelling up and down the country attending other people's shows and really wanted to do one which meant they could sleep in their own beds at night.
The venue chosen is a grade II listed school in Wavertree, just outside of the city centre. Along with it being a truly beautiful building with fantastic light even in the darkest days, it has the advantage of both off and on street parking.
 Bluecoat school, main entrance |
 Bluecoat school Chapel |
There will be a shopping area in and around the main hall, where as well as offering beautiful products for sale, some of the vendors will be holding demonstrations - Ingrid Wagner will be crocheting with her giant hooks and recycled yarns, Ruth Singer will be making Suffolk Puffs, Hooked on Design will be showing us how to make hooked rugs. Spinning will also be being demonstrated. We also have some exciting different stands for a knitting and making fair. We have the Hope House Costume Museum from Derbyshire who will be selling surplus treasures from their collection and Maureen Needham a vintage button expert and collector. Amongst vendors making the trip from Scotland are Scottish Fibres, DuppDupp and Hinnigans who specialise in beautiful tweed and velvet fabrics. One of the few UK retailers of the amazing Signature Needles, Yarnbox, will also be with us.
Along the corridor and through the Cath Kidston themed cafe you will reach the circular stone chapel where knitters are encouraged to sit, relax and knit 'in the round' and enjoy the fashion shows to be held twice daily and the unfurling of the 13 metre long Knitted Poem.
The fashion shows will include several garments, on display for the very first time, from A Stitch in Time, Volume 2.
Home cooked hot food and delicious cakes will be on sale throughout the day from the cafe along with fresh soup and sandwiches, tea, coffee and cold drinks. One of the house specialities is real liverpudlian scouse with red cabbage!
Woolly Wormhead is travelling from Italy to be with us and to sign copies of her new book Twisted Woolly Toppers - as well as her other books Going Straight and Wee Woolly Toppers. Susan Crawford will also be available to sign copies of A Stitch in Time and Vintage Gifts to Knit.
All in all we think it will be a fabulous weekend with lots to see and to buy and we do hope that, if you can, you will join us in Liverpool. Advance tickets are still available for a few more days, costing £3.50 for a day ticket (£4.00 on the door).
You can find out a lot more about the event from the website - www.makedoandknit.com
We hope to see you there!
