Needlework exhibits at the Royal Easter Show

A few days ago we visited the Sydney Royal Easter Show. As a past winner several times over, I am always interested to see the exhibits in the arts and crafts section.

The Hardanger category seemed to only have 4 entries this year, but they were all amazing! Really detailed, huge projects, which were extremely admirable. Congratulations to all the entries in that category! The smocked dresses were, as always, very beautiful. Such pretty creations.

As we walked past one of the cabinets, my daughter said, “look Mum – candlewicking.”

Feeling very proud that my daughter was able to identify this particular type of needlework, I asked her “Did you recognise it?”

“No, I read the sign.”

OH…

Each year the needlework exhibits are fewer and fewer in number. Its quite sad really. Even the patchwork and quilting exhibits were down from what I remember in previous years (though I don’t go every year).

In the past it really has irked me that the patchwork and quilting classes get more prize money than the other needlework classes. Why? I wouldn’t say that the materials are any more expensive. Certainly the fabric needed for a quilt is expensive, but then fine evenweave linen for counted work, or lots of silk thread for a thread-painted picture is can also be extremely expensive. I wouldn’t say that there was necessarily more work involved in a quilt than a Hardanger runner either. So why the disparity in prize money? I was therefore very pleased to see in this year’s schedule that the prize money for each is now the same. Well done RAS!

On the way home on the train I heard a lady commenting to a fellow traveller that the exhibits in the craft section seemed fewer. She was quite disappointed, as she obviously looks forward to seeing these exhibits. I imagine that they are quite popular too. It would be good to see more needlework exhibits in the show. If you are a Sydney-sider, I therefore encourage you to enter the Sydney Royal Easter Show next year. Ring the Royal Agricultural Society and ask to be put on the mailing list for the Arts and Crafts Schedule, so that it is mailed to you later in the year for next year’s entries.

The more support the competition gets, the more likely they are to expand the categories, and make it a bigger and better show.