I can’t quite believe a year has gone by since I last visited The Stitch Festival at the Business Design Centre. I really enjoyed my day there (celebrating dressmaking, embroidery, crochet, cross stitch and quilting) so booked a ticket to visit, as well as three workshops so I could learn some new skills.

The Stitch Festival 2025

The Business Design Centre is a quick walk from Angel tube station, so pretty easy to get to from our corner of London. My first class was at 10.30 so I was able to have a quick look round some of the stalls before it started. I started my day with a 2 hour class, locker hooking for beginners with Elspeth Thomas from Ragged Life.

My mum is always keen to tell me that her grandmother furnished her own home with handmade rugs, out of necessity, not because she enjoyed it. So I felt this was a craft I should try. Locker hooking is just one way of making rugs and was fun but harder than it looks. We were given a square of rug canvas, a locker hook (a cross between a crochet hook and needle), yarn and fabric strips.

First we bound the edges, then worked around the rug canvas, hooking our fabric in and out, securing it with the yarn. The movement felt a little unnatural until it clicked into place, then there was no stopping me! I changed fabrics, wove my ends in, and ended up with a coaster – not bad for 2 hours work!

I had a break before my next class so headed back into The Stitch Festival, exploring the stalls, the Indie Biz Village and the Stitch Stage & Catwalk. I tried not to buy too many things but ended up with some supplies from Wimperis Embroidery, as well as a few small kits from Crafty Baba. It was great to see lots of people I follow on Instagram, as well as discovering new shops.

My second workshop was to make no sew year-round Liberty fabric baubles with Sarah Brangwyn. We made a bauble using pretty Liberty Tana Lawn which didn’t take very long. It was a little too easy for me but something I might make again.

My final workshop was how to make a fabric stitch book with Kim Edith. I love the stitch books she creates and was excited to make my own. She gave us all the parts we needed to make our own book, we used a pamphlet stitch to keep all the pages together, then decorated the front. You can embellish them with stitches, fabrics or even print photos on fabric. I’m excited to add to mine.

Three workshops was plenty and I was ready to head home by this time. I made sure to have a quick look round, visiting the beautiful Liberty stand as they are celebrating their 150th anniversary this year. I can’t wait to go back next year!