Visitors to Sewing for Pleasure, Fashion and Embroidery and the Creative Craft Shows at the NEC, Birmingham can pick up sewing tips and advice from former contestants of BBC’s The Great British Sewing Bee this March

The UK’s favourite TV sewing show has completed its eighth series, with a host of contestants passing through its doors all vying to be crowned Britain’s best Sewer. Some of the most talented sewers from the popular series can be found at the Juki Sewing Celebs workshops, passing on their passion and expertise to visitors. Showcasing their expertise at the show this spring will be past contestants; Mercedes Ferrari-Plumridge, Jen Hogg, Mark Francis, Adam Brooks and Janet Poole.

As well as picking up hints and tips, visitors will also have the chance to see the experts sewing skills up close and personal, with a collection of the competitors’ favourite makes from the series.

Also joining the show this year for the first time is sewing extraordinaire, Clive Bruder’s ‘We Sew Too!’ was born out of the shared experience for the love and passion of sewing. Inspired by the movement of Boys Sew Too, ‘We Sew Too’ aims to challenge the gender stereotypes attached to craft and sewing world, by encouraging everyone of all ages to pick up a needle and thread. Clive will be running workshops throughout the show.

Packed with the latest stitching supplies, fabrics, yarns, patterns and threads Sewing for Pleasure, and sister show Fashion and Embroidery, is the destination for needlework beginners and experts alike. Other specialists in the world of sewing joining the show include:

SHREE DESAI
Shree is a textile designer and workshop leader who is dedicated and passionate about teaching. Her background includes a Master’s in Textile Design in India, after which she experimented with the construction of fabrics in order to create unique pieces of artwork.

BEX OXIDE-TUCKER
Bex is an award-winning textile artist and tutor. She is an avid environmentalist and works with natural processes and dyes plus textured yarns, unconventional materials, and various weaving and dying techniques to create innovative fabrics.

ELNAZ YAZDANI
Elnaz is an embroidery artist and educator based in Yorkshire. She is dedicated to sharing her skills and promoting the importance of embroidery as an art form for the future and for wellbeing.

JESSICA GRADY
Jessica is a mixed media embroidery artist based in West Yorkshire. Her colourful and creative works uses combinations of recycled materials to create hand stitched wall art and sculptures. She teaches workshops and gives talks across the UK and beyond.

From macramé, silk painting and lace making to quilting and needle felting, visitors can find features and get involved with demonstrations and bookable in advance workshops offering the chance to try something completely different or extend their skills with specialist crafters.

As regulars to the show will know, The Creative Craft show is a haven for paper crafting, art materials, jewellery, ribbons, floristry, and other hard crafts including willow weaving and pottery workshops, so there are plenty of opportunities to gain advice from industry experts, as well as the chance to try something new in the Creative Den workshops. From needlefelt animals to paper quilled earrings, to Peaky Blinders style baker boy hat making workshops, the show is packed with every type of craft only limited by imagination.

Taking place from 16-19 March at NEC Birmingham, visitors to the shows get 3 shows for the price of 1 with their tickets, giving them access to Sewing for Pleasure, Fashion & Embroidery and The Creative Craft Show. For more information visit: creativecraftshow.co.uk