Favorite Moments from Maker Festivals Lancaster 2023

✓Let the Interweave Knits Winter 2024 issue transport you to a winter wonderland of cozy knits! This remarkable edition features 14 extraordinary projects to immerse yourself in the uniqueness of specially crafted yarns.

We’re back from the creative extravaganza that was Maker Festivals Lancaster! In a groundbreaking fusion of artistic passions, this inaugural event brought together an array of craft enthusiasts under one vibrant roof: Bead Fest, Yarn Fest, Stitch Fest, Art Fest.

While Bead Fest has long been an institution in the Philadelphia area, this year marked a milestone as it joined forces with Yarn Fest, Stitch Fest, and Art Fest, creating a symphony of crafting. The event was lively and busy, with hands-on workshops, a bustling multi-craft Marketplace, and a dynamic event stage where giveaways, demos, and captivating presentations wove together a tapestry of inspiration and creativity.

A Maker Festivals attendee adding a dot to our “Where Do Our Makers Make?” community map. Pink dots were from the Lancaster event, orange dots were from the Milwaukee event, and teal dots were from the Loveland event.

It was so special to see so many different makers learning new things, making new friends, and stocking up on supplies together. Here are a few of the special moments and unforgettable experiences that we will cherish for years to come.

Learn more about upcoming Bead Fest, Yarn Fest, Stitch Fest, and Art Fest events. We hope to see you at our Mesa, AZ, event in October or at another upcoming Maker Festivals event!

COMPLETE PHOTO ALBUM

Instructors at Maker Festivals Lancaster 2023 workshops — Instructors and students at Maker Festivals Lancaster (clockwise from top left): Robyn Cornelius teaching a student in one of her metalsmithing workshops, a student in one of Kimberly Payne’s garment sewing workshops, students with their finished projects in Lea McComas’ Pet Portraits quilting class, and Galina Khmeleva with a lace shawl in one of her Orenburg knitting workshops

New Skills and New Friends in Workshops

The sound of laughter joined the sounds of sewing machines and hammers in the halls of the Lancaster County Convention Center during workshop sessions. These workshops not only instilled lifelong skills four students, but also kindled the beginnings of lifelong friendships. And there was so much to learn, from those trying a new skill for the first time to experts learning new advanced techniques to challenge themselves.

Photos from the Designing with the Stars make and take benefit at Maker Festivals Lancaster — Meredith Roddy of Beadalon teaching a make-and-take at the Designing with the Stars benefit night for Beads of Courage (left) and the materials for Katie Hacker’s project (right)

A Fun Make-and-Take to Benefit Beads of Courage

We were so excited to welcome Jean Gribbon of Beads of Courage back to Bead Fest Lancaster and to host a special Designing with the Stars benefit for this very worthy organization. Instructors Laura Scott, Sara Oehler, Sandra Lupo, Meredith Roddy, Kerry Bogert, and Katie Hacker taught fun and simple make-and-take designs. We were so grateful to have amazing materials from generous sponsors TierraCast, Beadalon, Jesse James Beads, Soft Flex, and Wubbers.

Students left the event with six handmade creations, special artist-made beads from Beads of Courage, and new friends, with net proceeds going directly to Beads of Courage. This very worthy organization provides children coping with serious illnesses with a tangible way to record, tell, and own their stories of courage. Learn more in this episode of Jewelry Artist Podcast with founder Jean Gribbon.

Bead artist Sunday Olaniyi and his award-winning beaded sculpture, Here I Come — We were thrilled that Bead Arts Awards Grand Prize Winner Sunday Olaniyi joined us at Bead Fest Lancaster!

Special Presentations on the Events Stage

Our events stage was never idle, with special presentations, trivia, giveaways, and more.

JTV Jewel School presenters at Maker Festivals Lancaster 2023 — JTV’s Jewel School took over the Event Stage on Thursday and Friday. Wyatt White teaching a live demo (left) and Maker Panel with Sandi Rosner of *Interweave Knits*, Susan Thomas of Jewel School, Meredith Roddy of Beadalon, and Rita Pannulla of Impress Art (right)

Demos, Panels, and More with Jewel School

We were truly delighted to welcome JTV Jewel School to Maker Festivals Lancaster. Their captivating live presentations, streamed online, included tutorials, giveaways, a Makers’ Panel with industry experts, and a fun design competition.

Did you miss out on the fun? You can watch below:

✓

Jewel School Live from Bead Fest: Live from Bead Fest, join Robert Thomas and friends for Thursday’s and Friday’s shows.

✓

Maker Panel: Featuring Sandi Rosner of Interweave Knits, Susan Thomas of Jewel School, Meredith Roddy of Beadalon, and Rita Pannulla of Impress Art

✓

Make-Along Demo: Join Robert Thomas and Rita Pannulla of Impress Art.

✓

Wire Time Demo: Susan and Kaska from Parawire share a wire demonstration

✓

Create It Live: Join Wyatt White from Beadalon.

✓

Rockstar Design Challenge: Rita Pannulla from Impressart and Meredith Roddy from Beadalon each led a team of designers in a challenge to creatively use a variety of materials in a jewelry design. Who will triumph?

✓

Make-Along Demo: Join Wyatt White from Beadalon for a fun bracelet demo.

2023 Bead Arts Awards Winners

The 2023 Bead Arts Awards winners and honorable mentions were announced, and we welcomed several to celebrate in person. Entries ranged from life-size bead art sculptures and decorative works to wearable art.

The Grand Prize Winner, Sunday Olaniyi, won for his spectacular beaded eagle sculpture titled Here I Come. Sunday and his family attended the award presentation, where he dedicated his award to the people of his home country of Nigeria.

Five of the Interweave Top 20 Beading and Jewelry Awards Winners joined us for a special presentation in Lancaster: Patti Bullard of Wubbers, Sandra Lupo, Sara Hoehler of Soft Flex Company, Rita Pannulla of Impress Art, and Susan Thomas of JTV.

Top 20 of 2023 Beading and Jewelry Awards

Last year, we premiered the Interweave Top 20 Awards to honor the best and brightest in the beading and jewelry making industry. This year, we honored 20 more industry leaders. We also added Top 20 awards in Yarn + Fiber Arts, Quilting, Sewing, and Fine Art. Stay tuned for the complete lists of the honorees!

Five of our Beading and Jewelry Awards honorees joined us for a special presentation to receive their awards in Lancaster: Patti Bullard of Wubbers, Sandra Lupo, Sara Hoehler of Soft Flex Company, Rita Pannulla of Impress Art, and Susan Thomas of JTV.

Austin Rivers of Knit the Rainbow at Maker Festivals Lancaster 2023 — Austin Rivers of Knit the Rainbow giving a special presentation at Maker Festivals Lancaster 2023

Knit the Rainbow: Presentation and Award Ceremony

We were thrilled to welcome Austin Rivers of Knit the Rainbow to Maker Festivals Lancaster! He joined us for a special presentation and to accept his Interweave Top 20 of 2023 Community Leader Award. Knit the Rainbow also accepted donations of handmade knitted and crocheted items to donate to houseless LGBTQ+ youth.

You can watch the presentation here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Interweave Yarn Fest (@interweaveyarnfest)

The Fashion Show at Maker Festivals Lancaster 2023 — Riane of Sew Daily and Quilting Daily modeling the Cilin Sweater from *Interweave Knits* Fall 2023 (left) and Sandi Rosner of Interweave modeling the Evergreen Goddess Wrap Dress cover project from *Sew News* Fall 2023 (right)

A Fun Community Fashion Show

The Maker Festivals fashion show was a high point on Saturday! Team members modeled beautiful garments from the latest editions of Interweave Knits and Sew News. This unique and special preview offered attendees a closer look at these exquisite pieces that just hit newsstands.

Various vendors at the Maker Festivals Marketplace at the Lancaster 2023 event. — Vendors at the Maker Festival Lancaster Marketplace (clockwise from top left): C&T Imports, Capital Quilts, Dakota Stones, Knitty Gritty Fiber Arts

Shopping a Multi-Craft Marketplace

Witnessing knitters, beaders, jewelry artists, quilters, and sewists in a collective quest to fuel their artistic endeavors was so inspiring. Vendors offered an extensive range of items, spanning from vibrant yarns to sewing machines, beaded jewelry kits, and jewelry findings. Knitters found novel beads to incorporate into their knitting projects, jewelry makers embraced the idea of sewing garments, and quilters discovered inspiration amid a trove of mixed media crafting delights.

The Marketplace also hosted a selection of community activities, including our free Measuring Station sponsored by Ditto. Talking with attendees about upcoming projects and assisting them in achieving the perfect fit was so much fun! The Marketplace also included a quilt gallery of projects from recent quilting magazine issues and a quilt appraisal station.

Instructors and students at the Makers Playground at Maker Festivals Lancaster 2023 — Making needle-felted pumpkins with Lisa Haldeman of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen (left) and Scott Maier of Artists Network reaching a watercolor class (right) in the Makers’ Playground

Laughing and Learning in the Makers’ Playground

New to Maker Festivals this event was our Makers’ Playground, a low-cost, low-commitment opportunity to attend casual classes. The workshops covered everything from cookie decorating to needle felting to watercolor painting! The students had so much fun trying new crafts. We especially want to thank the instructors from the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen who joined us in the Makers’ Playground.

The Fashion Show crew—members of the Maker Festivals staff. We’re so grateful to all who came to Maker Festivals Lancaster and made this event so special: students, teachers, vendors, Marketplace shoppers, volunteers, and hotel staff.

Our Maker Festivals Lancaster event was so much fun. We can’t wait to come back next year—and for our next event in Mesa, PA! We hope you’ll join us.There’s always more to learn!

COMPLETE PHOTO ALBUM