Apparently ... it was SEW ME! I've been going to these kind of shows for quite a few years. Generally I find that they are a variety of crafty pursuits - mainly attracting females. There have been a number of name changes over the years - either with the Newcastle or the Sydney shows / expos / fairs - "Stitches and Craft" "Craft and Quilt" etc.
I think that variety in any pursuit is a good thing. So these shows cover patchwork, quilting, beading, scrapbooking, yarns, dyes, laces, haberdashery, bag making, and so on - essentially just about every craft need is generally covered. When this show was advertised - I noted that the name had changed to "Craft and Sewing Show", well, at least I didn't think it was called that last year? Anyway, with the word "sewing" featured prominently and the fact that "It's Sew You!", I was a bit more excited than usual this year - sewing - YAY!
OK. Well it didn't take to long to realise that this was just another craft show. Yes, there was variety, but I am perplexed about the lack of attention to the dressmakers amongst us. How many sewing blogs are there out there in the sewing world? How many great new exciting independent pattern makers are there out there? How great is the interest in sewing clothing? Well, from my perspective - HEAPS and HEAPS and HEAPS!!!
Why aren't the pattern companies interested in promoting their products in these arenas? All of the sewing machine brands were there .... and, as I did my time on the
Sewing Guild stand - the question we were most often asked was "Where is the best place to buy good fabric?". The Craft and Sewing Show had tonnes and tonnes of fabric to buy .... patchwork fabric that is .... where were the fashion fabric retailers?
Of course, there aren't many independent fabric retailers left in our local area - but there are a few. I know that we have a large national store that sells fabric and just about everything else that sewing folk need - and that's great - but where were they? I just see so much need in our community for people who want to learn to sew, and for those who want to sew clothes and learn new techniques and to get great results .....
so many opportunities .... the
TEXSTYLE exhibition (a selection of the Senior Textiles Students major projects) is a case in point - fabulous creativity and technical skills - this section of the Craft Show attracts hundreds and hundreds of high school students - they come to be inspired and to go home ready to create ..... after the exhibition they wander around the rest of the show - do they see fabulous fashion inspired creations, tools, materials?
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| http://www.craftfair.com.au/Sydney2011/app/pages/view/texstyle8/ | |
I know that it is very expensive to have a stall at these shows - and that the energy involved in setting up and organising is quite immense - I also realise that internet shopping has changed the way people prefer to purchase - and for many people they really don't have the luxury of choice .... but I do see these shows as a great opportunity to promote garment making skills.
So there you have it - my rant for the year ....I'd love to know what you think ......
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I am so with you. I can't see why we can't have a show like the Sewing Expo in Puyallup. It's fantastic. Very much like our craft shows but only dressmaking & quilting. Yay!
ReplyDeleteInteresting perspective.
ReplyDeleteA Quilt, Craft & Sewing Fair with more of a balance in the products offered would be the bomb!
Puyallup sounds amazing - with all of those sewing experts sharing their knowledge.
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog and LOVE it!!! And I agree...we NEED more sewing shows!!!!
ReplyDeleteOne year, one of the shows, had fashion parades of sewn clothing - one by Stitches mag and another by Burdastyle (?) It was great but I haven't seen anyting like it since then. I don't understand either why it is such an ignored part of the craft shows.
ReplyDeleteSue - yes I think that was the one that Living Creatively did - Burdastyle had a big presence - it was very good - very promising - not sure what happened to Living Creatively?
ReplyDeleteThere is a definite emphasis around these parts for mostly quilting. Even the magazine racks lack dressmaking magazines. Dress making supplies seem to be limited in quality and variety.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all the sewing blogs out there where are the suppliers and vendors to support the interest?
Thanks for the update, I was intending to go but decided to do some sewing myself instead.
Agree with Alison, Puyallup was mind blowing and why can't we do it here, or at least get more "sewing" into the Craft show.
ReplyDeleteIn Melbourne, when the show was called Stitches and Craft, few years ago there were fashion parades of garments made from commercial patterns as well as a stall called 'perpetual patterns' and a stall with the sewing guild, but even then that was about all there was for dressmakers. This year's Melbourne show had a couple of workshops catering for sewers but on the whole, I agreewith you, there's not much in these shows for the dressmaker.
ReplyDeleteI went to Newcastle on Thursday. I only stayed two hours! It wasn't very crowded although I imagine it was on the weekend. I thought that they could have positioned the guilds tables a bit better - it must have been a big crush, since I couldn't get near the tables when I was there.
ReplyDeleteWhen Stitches was at Rosehill (the craft show there is now run by another firm) the fashion parades where organised by Sue Neall, who was the Editor of Sewing With Stitches magazine at the time. She now runs a sewing travel company (Sew Inspirational Events) and is a sewing teacher. She'd be a good person to ask about setting up a sewing expo. Also recently the quilters held an event at the Penrith Panthers club, called Mad Quilters. They had retailers come from far and wide, and they had some classes as well. The event was so successful they are holding it again next year.
Agreed. More sewing would be great! Unfortunately the trend today is more for simpler 'craft' activities (not that they're all easy), which I guess is why Scrapbooking now has a place there. Maybe garment sewing is still disappearing, even with increased popularity of craft... The Guilds were great!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree! As someone who has recently made the move from Sydney to Newcastle, I was quite disappointed with the show. It was very quilting and scrap book heavy with nothing much else. I am interested to know where in Newcastle you can buy dressmaking fabric? I am not crazy about Spotlight - do you have any suggestions? Sam xox
ReplyDeleteHi Sam - lovely to meet a fellow Novocastrian! Yes, the show was disappointing, and the consensus of opinion of my students who attended the show was the same reaction! I was quite amazed that there were stalls there of ready made goods - handbags, scarves and clothing - what's that all about??? Anyway, for local fabric - apart from Spotlight, try Needles and Pins in Hamilton on Tudor Street - very nice lady and she can order in fabric for you, also, Block and Roll and Belmont and Charlestown usually have a decent enough selection - I go to Belmont more often than Charlestown - and Belmont has a good selection - wide variety. McElwaines at Kotara has mosty home furnishings but apparently some Dress fabrics (so I've been told), also Boolaroo - Pins and Things - she has a small selection - but I love this neat shop!! Further out there is a fabric shop in Toukley on the Main Road - heaps and heaps - like a Cabramatta shop and one of my very favourites is Chic Fabrique at Springfield near Erina - opens Saturdays mainly - other times by appt. I think that's about it ... I also buy online from time to time or when I'm in Sydney. I shall keep my eye on your blog to see how you go!!! Cheers!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. I went to the show (with my 11 year old daughter) this year thinking (or hoping) that maybe there would be more for people interested in dressmaking. No such luck. What about stalls with dressmaking dummies, the latest interfacings, fabrics, fashion parades of the latest patterns etc etc etc. I too was very disappointed and didnt stay long.
ReplyDeleteHi, I just stumbled across your blog and read this post. I live in Adelaide and have had the same thought every time I attend the big November craft show. I am always on the younger side of the attendees (and I am not that young!), and I think they would attract younger people if they did pay attention to sewists and cater more for them. I can't believe that in this day and age of so many talented and keen younger people, they neglect them. The show is the same old same old and I don't think I'll bother this year. We've had two independent fabric stores close in Adelaide recently, and there is really only one decent one left.
ReplyDeleteBTW I love your sewing, you do some great work.
Ingrid