NEWTON Abbot Racecourse was turned into a riot of colour on Saturday, as it welcomed back Stitch Fest once again. Now in its seventh year, the event brings together England’s finest artists, spinners, knitters and dyers came from across England to exchange ideas and inspiration, sell their produce and partake in the shows, workshops and stands that the festival had to offer. 

After its founding in Totnes in 2016, the show outgrew its original home in the Civic Hall and moved to the Racecourse last year, gradually becoming what is now the largest yarn festival in the South West. Now, with over a thousand attendees, hundreds of pounds raised for Cancer Research, 65 exhibitors, 25 workshops and one fashion show, there was plenty on offer. 

Saj Collyer, the show’s organiser, said: ‘What Stitch Fest does is it enables small independent craftspeople to show and sell their work while enabling people to see these independent, micro-creators’ art. 

‘With craft and particularly textiles, there’s nothing better to be able to see and touch the art. Coming together like this really helps to stoke real inspiration.’

Despite the poor weather, the Racecourse was splashed with colour, while students from Arts University Plymouth mucked in and modelled the festival’s first-ever catwalk.

‘It’s an opportunity for a giant community meeting’, San continued, ‘Newton Abbot racecourse is a fantastic venue. We filled it with beautiful coloured stalls and big installations of fibre art which made a really nice space which is accessible and easy to get to.’

‘It was pretty inclement weather, but despite everything, there was a great turn out and it was a pretty jolly day. I’d like to thank Newton Abbot Racecourse who has been fantastic to work with. Of course, a big thanks to the exhibitors and all the visitors, without you, we wouldn’t have a show!’ 

Stitchfest will return next year, see https://www.stitchfest.co.uk for details.