I love a day out, a break from being a mummy and a wife and a chance to just be ‘me’. So a chance to combine a day out with my insatiable appetite to create was the highlight of my year.

My close friend, Becca Manning of Blazing Needles, and I have had this date in our diaries for a while, and after not being able to go a few years, we were going to go to the Knitting and Stitching show this year!

On Saturday, we caught the train to London full of excitement and anticipation, clutching our shopping list and tickets – we knew that at the show you can get hold of suppliers that it is difficult to find otherwise. After a beautiful walk up the the hill to Alexandra Palace we paused to take in the view before taking on the crowds to soak up all the inspiration we could.

If you have never been to the Knitting and Stitching Show, and always wanted to, it is more than worth the effort. There is such a huge range of stands that I couldn’t possibly list them all here.

My personal interest in dressmaking and vintage fashion is more than satisfied. I treated myself to a new pattern from Sew LaDiDa Vintage – a funky all-in-one suit for next summer. I had my eye out for some fabric for a pinafore and came home with the softest linen/cotton blend from Cool Crafting.

For my dollmaking business I picked up a couple of fat quarters of Liberty fabric for my Martha dolls’ dresses from House of Alistair, a new book on Doll Clothes written by Mette Jøregensen and some excited pens for facial details – I’m thinking freckles – from Amazing Craft.

I was also looking out for some wool felt, and I came across this brilliant company called Amica. They sell very reasonably priced thick wool felt sheets which has been handmade by skilled crafts people in Nepal. It is beautiful and I plan on making holly badges to decorate and sell at my Christmas Craft Fairs.

Did you go to the Knitting and Stitching show this year? Please share your highlights with me below.