The Craft & Quilt Fair is returning to Melbourne from 24-27 July at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre with four incredible days to feed your creativity and crafting passions.
Back with a lineup of some of the best textile artists and quilting talent from Australia and around the world, you can immerse yourself in a crafting haven and learn new skills, shop from independent Australian retailers and witness spectacular displays and exhibits.
There are many opportunities to learn a range of skills to take your skills to the next level to help influence self-expression and contribute to sustainable practices amid a cost-of-living crisis.
Here are five workshops/classes that visitors (beginners & seasoned pros alike) can up-skill, learn something new and get inspired for their new crafting projects:
Get tips from textile artist and knitting designer – Jake Henzler
10:15 am-11:15 am daily
Guest artist, Jake Henzler (@Boy Knits World) has been practising and exhibiting his work internationally since 2006. He gained worldwide popularity on Instagram for his knitted blanket designs featuring delightful Copenhagen houses.
Working primarily with yarn and needlecraft techniques, his creations range from knitted cityscape and landscape blankets to individual sculptural portraits and original characters. His work is influenced by folk art traditions and popular culture, with an emphasis on collectability, reproducibility, and practical pattern-making.
Darn It! With Erin Lewis Fitzgerald from Modern Mending
Wednesday, 24 July (10:30 am – 1:30 pm)
Transform your worn-out woollens into wonderful pieces with modern mending techniques. Erin Lewis Fitzgerald will guide you through the art of darning, a method that uses yarn or thread to create new fabric where there are holes and to reinforce threadbare clothing to extend its life.
In this class, you’ll learn two darning techniques that use blanket stitch as the foundation: honeycomb darning and Scotch darning. These methods are more enjoyable than traditional woven darning, and once you try them, you won’t want to stop! Fee: $150.
Make a Felt Bird Brooch with Bree Thomas
Thursday, 25 July (1:45 pm – 3:45 pm)
Create a little piece of wearable textile art for every day with this cute Bird Brooch with hand embroidery stitches. This little bird can be adapted to become a handbag charm, or Christmas tree ornament. All materials will be supplied in a kit – wool fabric, thread, wooden feather wing button, brooch back, pattern and stitch guide. Suitable for all skill levels. Fee: $65.
Make a Leather Wrap Journal with Michelle Lackenby from Paperazzi Studio
Friday, 26 July (10:30 am – 1:30 pm)
Do you put pen to paper? If journalling is your jam, learn how to make your own. Guided by a bookbinding expert, create a handmade lush leather journal with a long stitch spine. You will learn the skills to inspire you to create your own hand-bound visual diaries, portfolios photo albums and notebooks. No experience is necessary. All materials will be provided. Fee: $95
Introduction to Modern Calligraphy with Lyn Tran
Saturday, 27 July (1:30 pm – 3:30 pm)
This introductory class is perfect for beginners and covers type anatomy, grid structure, assembling your nib and pen holder, understanding ink flow and nib pressure, and how to create simple strokes to develop basic letterforms. At the end of the class, we’ll create a beautiful postcard that you can send to someone special (or keep all to yourself!). Please note if you are right or left-handed when booking
To register and see the full list of workshops running at the event, visit here.
Tickets: Buy Online or at the door. Adults $26 and seniors and pensioners discounts available
