Creative Stitches & Crafting Alive comes to Victoria
Western Canada’s largest sewing and crafting show, Creative Stitches & Crafting Alive, is making its way to Victoria on March 13 and 14. Sewing, crafting, needlework, knitting, quilting, paper arts, fibre arts, and just about anything else that makes you think “crafty” will be present.
“You get the ultimate shopping experience because you’ve got everybody under one roof. Everything you need from a sewing machine to fabrics will be at the show. We have over 70 classes offered at the show,” says Nori Richens, the show’s producer. “We also have a fashion stage with three stage shows.” One will be demonstrating garments sewn by children aged seven and up, and one features garments sewn by adults (The Material Girls), along with other demo shows.
Zoë Collier (Graphic contributor)
Class topics range from Whimsical Garden Figures to the Intermediate Tunisian Stitch. There are options for children, beginners, experts, and every body in between. “There’s something for everybody at this show,” says Richens.
This includes lots of fabrics: something Cloth Castle has no shortage of. A fourth generation family business, they have been providing Victoria with all its soft and silky needs since 1969.
“Well, if you’re into any kind of creative sewing, we sell fabrics for quilting, for garment sewing, home décor, prom dresses—just about anything that you need for sewing, we would have it,” says Natasha Cloutier. They will have a booth at Creative Stitches & Crafting Alive—they’ve done so for as long as the craft show has been coming to Victoria.
They have been preparing for the past six weeks for the upcoming show. “We’re very excited. Everybody, all the staff have been working hard to be ready for it,” Cloutier says. “It takes lots of planning and samples, ordering and cutting pre-packaged fabrics, and making kits and bundles.” They will also be demonstrating sewing machines, with an abundance of sample kits and projects.
Other attendees include Katharina Doyle, a founder of Canadian Scrapbooker magazine; Ron Collins, a Canadian television sewing personality; and many more.
Creative Stitches & Crafting Alive is not a place to go to feel intimidated by the talent around you; it is a place to learn. “Definitely come to the show for your creative inspiration,” Richens says. “It’s amazing to see what people will actually make by hand, and you have an opportunity to learn how to do that at the show.”
Tickets are $10 in advance and can be ordered at creativestitchesshow.com and $12 at the door. As well, this website provides a fully detailed schedule of the array and times of classes offered.
