Craft shows are usually pretty big events, jam-packed with workshops, talks, businesses showcasing their products, and competitions too, and they’re brilliant for professionals and hobbyists alike.
For small businesses, craft shows are a good way to get your brand out there to reach a new audience, and you can get customers to sign up to your mailing list or follow you on socials to stay in touch after the show.
As a small cross stitch business owner, I think it’s really fun to get out there and meet customers IRL. I love hearing real-life feedback about products and cross stitch designs. It’s kind of like playing shop for a few days.
Meeting and connecting with other craft businesses is a wonderful thing too – you never know, it could lead to a future collaboration.
And for visitors, it’s a great way to get inspiration for new projects. You might find a new craft or product you haven’t heard of before, and you can stock up on craft supplies - some exhibitors even have special offers available at shows.
You can also try out craft workshops, and meet a brand owner you love to follow on Instagram, and finally put a face to their name. It’s a really lovely and often affordable day out for all sorts of creative people.
If you’re thinking of exhibiting at or visiting a craft show this year, here are a few of the best crafting events for cross stitchers in the UK in 2024.
1. The Creative Craft Show
creativecraftshow.co.uk
@creativecraftshowofficial
📆 Glasgow SEC: 7-9th March & 24-27th October
📆 Birmingham NEC: 14-17th March & 31st Oct - 3rd Nov
📆 Farnborough International: 30th Aug - 1st Sept
📆 Exeter Westpoint: 26-28th Sept
🎟 Tickets from £12 (grants you access to a sister craft show)
This is a show for all kinds of crafts, including knitting, paper crafts, jewellery, dressmaking, cross stitch and loads more. They also hold workshops, talks, and fashion shows.
As you can see from the number of locations and dates, it’s a super popular one. I exhibited Meloca Designs at the Birmingham event and really enjoyed it.
Tickets often grant you access to their sister events that happen the same weekend in the same venue. Such as…
2. Sewing for Pleasure
sewingshow.co.uk
@sewingforpleasureofficial
📆 Birmingham NEC 14-17th March
🎟 Tickets from £14
This one is slightly more niche in terms of crafting, but still covers sewing, knitting, patchwork, embroidery and cross stitching.
At this craft show you can find the latest stitching supplies and lots of inspirational ideas. Exhibitors sell fabrics, yarns, patterns, threads, and more.
If you buy a ticket to the Sewing for Pleasure Show, it allows you access to sister shows The Creative Craft Show mentioned above, and Fashion & Embroidery too.
3. The Stitch Festival
thestitchfestival.co.uk
@thestitchfestival
📆 London 21-24th March
🎟 Tickets from £8.50
This is a newer craft show than some of the others, launching in Spring 2020, although it was actually known previously as The Spring Knitting & Stitching Show.
The Stitch Festival is for anyone interested in crochet, knitting, cross stitch, embroidery, and other contemporary crafts. They have a particular focus on dressmaking, hosting independent pattern brands and fabric designers, as well as a dressmaking competition.
The Indie Biz Village is a section of The Stitch Festival that’s full of amazing small businesses - they get a lower rate to exhibit, plus a support package from Untld Project, who help with PR, logistics and so much more.
As a visitor I think it would be so lovely to look around this area and discover exciting new brands and support small businesses.
4. Festival of Quilts
thefestivalofquilts.co.uk
@thefestivalofquilts
📆 Birmingham NEC 1-4th Aug 2024
🎟 Tickets from £17.50
This one might seem a little rogue on a cross stitch blog, but it’s actually a great place to get cross stitch accessories such as needle minders, and some of our very own stockists exhibit there.
Quilting accessories and cross stitch accessories often overlap, because there’s a whole lot of stitching involved in both crafts.
It’s the biggest quilting show in Europe, and even if you’re a devoted cross stitcher who hasn’t dabbled in quilting, you’ll undoubtedly find inspiration in the work of prestigious textile artists.
There are also workshops, classes, talks, demos and competitions, as well as lots of opportunities to shop.
5. The Knitting and Stitching Show
theknittingandstitchingshow.com
@theknittingandstitchingshows
📆 London 10-13th Oct 2024
📆 Belfast 7-10th November 2024
📆 Harrogate 21-24 November 2024
🎟 Tickets from
Established in 1987, The Knitting and Stitching Show holds hundreds of crafting workshops, demonstrations, interactive features, professionally curated textile art galleries, as well as over 250 of the leading specialist craft suppliers.
So of course, it's really popular with knitters, embroiderers and cross stitchers too. and it looks like a good day out if you like knitting and stitching.
I've never actually been to this craft show, but I’ve heard really good things about it, and I’ve followed them on Instagram for ages. It’s one I definitely have bookmarked for the future.
I hope to see you at one of these events soon! Let me know if you think there are any amazing craft shows for cross stitchers that I've missed, and any that you think Meloca Designs should exhibit at.