A Wonderful Few Days at the Stitch Festival 2026

We’ve just returned from a fantastic few days at the The Stitch Festival, and what a joy it was to be back! 

Held at the ever-buzzing Business Design Centre in Islington from 19–22 March, the show once again brought together a vibrant community of makers, creators and textile enthusiasts from all over the world.   

A Stand Full of Colour (and Conversation!)

As always, our stand was bright, welcoming and full of energy. One of the highlights for us was our interactive stitch table, where visitors could quite literally “make their mark” using AppletonsWool. It was wonderful to see so many people sit down, pick up a needle and give stitching a go – some for the very first time. 

We welcomed a brilliant mix of visitors: 

• Passionate stitchers continuing their craft  
• Curious beginners learning a new skill  
• GCSE and A-level textile students getting hands-on experience  
• Even local workers popping by after a long day to unwind with a bit of cross stitch  

And perhaps our most impressive (and definitely cutest!) participant… just 7 months old, stitching alongside mum. 

Stories, Smiles, and Global Connections

One of the things we love most about the show is the people, and this year did not disappoint. 

We met stitchers from across the UK, the USA and northern Europe, with plenty of languages being spoken across the stand. It’s always special to reconnect with our loyal customers, and equally exciting to meet new faces discovering Appletons for the first time. 

A particular highlight was meeting Elizabeth, who had travelled from the USA and brought along her incredible “shade bag”, beautifully crafted using one of each of our colours. Seeing our wool transformed into something so creative and personal is exactly why we do what we do. 

First Stitches and Family Moments

There were so many lovely moments across the four days. We even managed to recruit a couple of first-time stitchers from the team at Freddie’s Flowers (who were exhibiting opposite us), always great to convert new fan. 

We also saw plenty of families enjoying the show together. One particularly memorable visit was from a mother and daughter duo (soon joined by granny), and there were countless mums and daughters making a day of it, learning, creating and spending quality time together. 

And of course, we were thrilled to see the now-famous shade card bag in person, meticulously stitched and finished to perfection. A real labour of love. 

Thank You… and See You Next Time 

A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by to chat, stitch, browse, or simply say hello. It genuinely means a lot to us, and it’s these conversations and connections that make events like this so special. 

If you’re interested in learning more about what we do at Appletons Wool, or you’re curious about becoming one of our partners, events like the Stitch Festival are the perfect place to connect, we’d love to talk. 

Until next time… keep stitching!