Last week craft enthusiasts flocked to Alexandra Palace in North London for one of the biggest craft events of the year – the Knitting & Stitching Show (www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com). A few months earlier, the Ragged Life team had been asked to run rag rug workshops at the event so armed with hoards of fabric, latch hooks aplenty and gauges for everyone, we headed to Ally Pally on Wednesday to get stuck in. Rag rugging at Alexandra Palace is not one of those events you forget quickly!

Over the course of the five day show, we taught both beginners and experienced rag ruggers how to make the most out of this great craft, making along the way rag rug trivets, rag rug letters and rag rug hearts. Thanks to everyone who took part in a class – you were wonderful company and we can’t wait to see your finished pieces.

Rag Rug Letter Workshop at the Knitting and Stitching Show

Although our main priority for the week was to teach rag rugging in the Learning Curve Centre, we couldn’t resist slinking off to take a look around when we had a spare minute (and spending all our earnings of course!) Below were some of the fabulous crafters, makers & designers we came across:

We said a quick hi to ‘Sincerely Louise’ whose stall looked animal-tastic!

We thought the Wool and The Gang knitted hats were super cute!

When we were there on the Wednesday Wool and the Gang had a fabulous selection of fabric yarn to choose from…

They’d obviously done very well because when we went by on the Sunday they had sold out of all of it except two lonely cones.

It took all our willpower to resist the beautiful wool at Yarn Stories

We loved the new designs from the Isager team – such gorgeous detail

A rainbow of vintage hemp thread.

Sherril Jennings figurines were a particularly fun display to look at.

We were particularly in awe of the gorgeous textiles on display at the show.

We can only imagine how much work goes into making one of these pieces!

Ally Pally in all its glory!