Saturday 19 March 2022

A Mammoth Event

Once again it was time for the Makers Festival at The Forum in Norwich. Click on the pictures for a larger view

First stall, spotted just inside the door, was Heather the Smocking Lady. She had some beautiful pieces, and I discovered she's only 5 miles away from Cornerstones. The pandemic proved difficult - her 'regular' job is stitching wedding dresses- and so many weddings were cancelled or 'simplified'

We chatted about agricultural smocks and how every piece of fabric is a square or triangle, and all the 'fitting' is  dependent on the elasticity of the smocking stitch,



On the other side, a display of Ganseys from Sheringham The jersey has become a general name for a piece of sleeved knitwear, but a gansey/guernsey is much more specific.

The ladies explained how the bodies and sleeves were rectangles and trapezium shaped, and the gussets under the arms were squares. No intricate shaping.

The blue buttons were on another display but I just loved their colours!

5 Minutes that Matter- a campaign by the WI to encourage cervical screening, in pretty pinks with some explanatory text embroidered between the roses. 

Whenever I hoover, the machine emits tiny spores of resentment..."

There was a string of yellow dusters embroidered with red slogans. The lady standing next to me said she found some of the feminist statements quite offensive! [I was more bothered by those with stitching which had clearly taken hours, but contained basic spelling mistakes]

Quilting is on my "to-do-again-one-day" list. 

Inevitably there were lots of pieces relating to the pandemic.

Some were quite simple, others very intricate.

This year there was more opportunity for 'hands-on' crafting. You could knit or crochet a small flower, or stitch a Suffolk Puff to be fixed on to the woolly mammoth - whose 'coat' gradually increased throughout the show.

The woolly mammoth was officially named the first part of the 2022 GoGo Trail. There will be 25 of these, plus 21 T-Rex's from the 2021 Trail and nearly 100 Breakasaurus' - all in support of Break, the Norfolk children's charity. Rosie and I will definitely enjoy that this summer


I did not have time to try my hand at the Potter's Wheel, it did look fun. There were also sketching tables, and a stall where you could stitch a postcard [Kirsten and I already have our own Postcard Project]

I think this year's festival was even better than previous years. Lots more to see. Margaret "Norfolk's Queen of Knitting" was sent across the way, and her miniature buildings were on display in St Peter Mancroft Church [just in case you missed them last year] 

And all free too. 

13 comments:

  1. Some beautiful crafting on display! One of my aunts did beautiful smocking. I learned the basics, but, haven't done any in years!

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  2. I made a smocked dress for Liz in 1985. I still have it - but is not the sort of style worn by little girls now (except Princess Charlotte and her aristo friends)

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  3. I had a smocked dress when I as about 7 yrs old. I loved it so much. I have never learned the art, sadly.

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    1. I love the intricacy of the stitching, and the clever elasticity

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  4. That all looks brilliant, isn't it great that we can all be out and about and almost 'normal' again now.

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    1. There was a mixture of masked/nonmasked visitors [Heather took hers off briefly for the photograph] But yes it was good

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  5. I smocked pastel ice cream cones on the upper chest part of a little overall with short legs that I made for our older son when he was two. He outgrew it in a heartbeat so no more smocking for me! His little brother got a bit of wear out of it but it's still virtually new. Those boys are now 42 and 37!

    Hurry back to quilting, the grands need quilts from you!

    Hugs!

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    1. I hope to do some quilting in the summer

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  6. What a great event and I love the Woolly Mammoth and his clothing of artistic contributions. It's a delightful project for all to enjoy. Your mention of the knitting lady reminds me of a visit years ago to Verwood Fayre, where there were knitted foodstuffs including hamburgers and chips!

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    1. But what can you DO with these knitted items afterwards?

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    2. I feel the same way about them! The older I get, the less I want a lot of stuff around, however decorative or interesting it may be. Looking back on old photos of our house interior is fascinating. So much no longer there now to need dusting!

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  7. That looks so much fun. I love the woolly mammoth!

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    Replies
    1. I'm looking forward to this year's Gogo trail. Always colourful!

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