As thousands are set to flock to a crafts show this week Susannah Wright explores why needlework has never been so popular.

Katie Pirson is a crafting devotee.

The 29-year-old embroidery fan restores antique clothing for the Royal Family and the National Trust: “I've always loved stitching,” she says, adding: “My mum and both my grandmothers did embroidery.”

“There are a lot more young people doing things like this now.”

Katie, from Surrey, is travelling to the Creative Crafts Show at Trafford Park's EventCity this week to hold embroidery workshops.

She studied costume design at the London College of Fashion and then did a three-year apprenticeship with the Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court Palace.

“I love getting to restore old long-loved items and giving them a new lease of life,” she says. “It means they can be seen and appreciated for more generations to come.

“And I also love teaching these skills to others. We live in a throw-away culture and if we don't pass on this traditional knowledge, those skills will be lost for ever.”

Katie believes that the recession has meant a re-think in our approach to “fast fashion” and disposable living.

“More and more of us are adopting the make-do-and-mend philosophy that our grandmothers had,” she says. “But also, they can see that if they make their own clothes or customise what they have, they'll have something original they can be proud of.

“Period dramas like Downton Abbey have given viewers an interest in how we used to live as has Kirstie Allsopp.

“It's important to teach these skills and preserve them for future generations, and the crafts shows are a great way to generate interest.”

Margie Jenkins, from Marple, has enjoyed needlework for many years. And she took a City & Guilds course in patchwork and quilt-making after retiring as a primary school headteacher.

She now teaches courses in the craft at Patchfinder, a specialist shop in Cheadle Hulme, and is the North West co-ordinator for the Quilters' Guild.

“I enjoy creating something new from other bits of fabric and I find it quite therapeutic. It's also a sociable thing, where you have groups that sit and chat while sewing.”

The Quilter's Guild was formed in 1979 with the aim of promoting knowledge of the craft's skills and preserving historical fabrics. It is a national body and provides quilts for Project Linus, a charity which offers comfort for traumatised and ill children.

The guild has a Young Quilters branch which encourages children to learn the skills.

“It's a good way of promoting respect of the heritage as well as looking to the future to ensure the skills carry on,” says Margie.

“I think through the 1980s and 90s we missed a generation having these skills, but it's come back again.

“Fashions always go in cycles but I'm pleased more people are getting into crafting again.”

Sharon Lindley, from South Yorkshire, attends nearly 40 craft shows a year selling beads and jewellery from her shop, Silver Orchid Beads.

She says: “The recession has worked in two ways really – it's meant people saving money by creating things themselves, but also many are starting to make money because they realise they can make some lovely one-off pieces.

“The whole area of crafts-making has really snowballed.”

The Creative Crafts Show, EventCity, Trafford Park, is on from tomorrow (Thursday) until Saturday, 10am-5pm. £7.95, £6.95 concs, under-16s free, call 01822 617744 or go sccshows.co.uk

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