WIN! Calling all craftaholics – we have five pairs of tickets to the Knitting and Stitching Show, November Thursday 1st to Sunday 4th [COMPETITION CLOSED]

The show at the RDS is the largest textile and crafting event in Ireland and hosts one of the largest exhibitions of patchwork in Europe. It is estimated that over 25,000 will indulge their quilty pleasures at this year’s event. Over four jam-packed days the event has courses on everything from the basics and getting started to more advanced master classes in felt making, cross stitching and millinery techniques.

Alexa will be showing fashion enthusiasts’ how to customise clothing

Highlights include the Secret Seamstress workshops held by Alexa O’Bryan, owner of A.Rubanesque. Fashionistas won’t want to miss out as the daily customisation classes take inspiration from the couture houses and runway shows of designers Givenchy, Ellie Saab and Chanel.

As well as the guided classes there will be over 150 specialist retailers, from Ireland and the UK, offering visitors a haberdashery with the widest range of yarn and crafting materials available all in one place.

The winning entry at the Knitting Minature Village competition last March

Exhibitions at the forthcoming show include the Irish Patchwork Society who will be presenting the work of its members in Bricks, Blocks and Building; NCAD’s Tribe that showcases the textile students’ garments that used both hand-crafted and digital approaches to surface pattern, colour application, construction and embellishment; the Colour Improvisations exhibit offers viewers an exclusive look at 26 of the most daring exponents of colour working in the contemporary quilt world.