So, what would you possibly expect to find in some fields in the sunshine in West Sussex?
What about 600 campers and 150 stalls of crafty inspiration? Well, that’s what we found at the weekend at the South of England Showground – the Carry on Crafting Festival!
This relatively new event is the dream of Justine, the owner of Little Box of Crochet. Having attended craft fairs and festivals over the years she wanted to establish an event that was relaxed, fun and embraced makers of all kinds. Not only this but enable visitors to stay overnight to soak up more of the festival atmosphere.
The first show took place in 2022 with 35 stalls and 5 classes. 2025 saw 600 campers, 150 stalls and 50 classes. It really was bigger than we imagined!
So, is it just crochet? Not at all!
There are three fields at the show, the first field was an amazing collection of vintage ephemera. Ribbons, trims, recycled wares plus a lovely vintage tearoom. Cream teas all served from a very cute vintage caravan. The dulcet tones of Dawn Gracie could be heard whilst browsing the field.
The other two fields were full to the brim with makers and crafters. Four large marquees – Doris, Edith, Betty and Vera – and many, many gazebos. There were lots of products to browse and buy, but you could also try your hand at a new craft in the variety of classes that were taking place throughout the weekend. These could be booked in advance, many were so popular they had already sold out, but there were also lots of drop-in classes. Leather work, crochet, pottery, macrame, needlepoint, collage, beading, painting, mosaic, paper craft, sewing, glasswork and more! There was definitely something for everyone! We tried lino printing and really enjoyed the chance to try something new!
It was also a fantastic opportunity to chat with some of our lovely designers and crafters. We met with Bex from The Pigeon’s Nest, Sam from Adventures in Crafting, Alice Tarry from The Burrow and Annah from Needle and Feather. It was great to chat with them all and see their fantastic projects looking glorious in the sunshine.
For those who found it all a bit warm, you could spend a moment to take refuge from the heat and crochet a granny square for the charity Woolly Hugs. They create beautiful blankets which are donated to children in hospital to provide them with some comfort during difficult times. Whether you were a beginner or someone with a bit more experience, help was on hand and the aim was to make an entire blanket of 80 squares during the festival.
For those that have travelled from further afield, there were pitches a plenty and bell tents to hire. We stayed overnight in our van and enjoyed the evening sipping a drink or two whilst listening to the evening’s entertainment. Music, quizzes and even a crazy version of bingo were on offer, but there was also the opportunity to soak up the sunshine in the peaceful fields around the festival.
All the stallholders we spoke to were super friendly and said it was one of the best festivals they have attended and many have already booked to go along again next year.
It was a great weekend, so roll on July 2026 – the 5th year of the festival! Would we recommend a visit? Definitely! Next year promises to be even bigger and better so get your tickets booked now!
