Review: Handwerkbeurs Zwolle 2018

Gorgeous creatures of the internet, how is February treating you? I've been a busy bee this month but was lucky enough to receive a ticket to this year's Handwerkbeurs in Zwolle as an early birthday gift from my parents. I packed my trusty camera and set off to experience the biggest hand work fair within the Benelux, where I browsed for hours taking in all of the gorgeous stalls and workshop areas. From knitting and crochet experts, to patchwork quilters from across Europe, from quaint English indie pattern makers to a antique treasure trove- an exhibition hall packed full of all of my favourite things!

Of course, I couldn't resist treating myself to a few goodies along the way. I managed to rummage through heaps of buttons and vintage fastenings and eventually decided upon a handful of cute bits and bobs. I indulged in some hand dyed sock wool in a beautiful sea green/ blue colour with gorgeous imperfections and faded areas- I can't wait to get this on my needles! I scored a metre of the softest blue jersey and half a metre of a navy blue and white fine striped jersey to whip up a contrast yolk Coco, which I've already started putting together! But my favourite finds of the day were the two second hand pattern booklets. Just look at how dreamy they are! One is a French pattern from 1949 and the other is a French advertisement and dress pattern from 1911. Real life history, just sitting there waiting to be given a new home. I won't be cutting into these of course, perhaps I'll frame them or find some way of preserving and displaying them, but for now they serve as inspiration in my studio.

All in all it was a fabulous day! A real birthday treat, which I abused to the maximum by wolfing down a red velvet cookie on the train journey to the fair! Scandalous. I will be keeping my eye on future dates for this event as it was well worth the travelling and I look forward to seeing what other creative adventures I can get up to in the mean time! Keep an eye on the blog for my pattern hack review post featuring my new jersey and the infamous Tilly and The Buttons Coco dress.