Hanne gets nod to stitch for the nation

Knitting: Seamstress Asbey picked for Scots

An award- winning Aberdeen seamstress has been chosen to represent Scotland at a national knitting event when it comes north of the border for the first time.

Thousands of enthusiasts from across Britain are expected to attend the Knitting and Stitching show at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh from April 28 to May 1.

And, among those representing Scotland’s anticipated 600 knitting representatives is Hanne Asbey from Westhill, who has been sewing beautiful quilts for the past 30 years.

Mrs Asbey will help showcase Scotland’s e x p a n s i v e works of dressmaking, embroidery, home furnishing, felt making, tapestry, knitting and crochet to visitors from across the UK. The 69- year- old said she thought it was a stitch-up when she first heard the news, but felt proud to have been chosen to represent her country.

Mrs Asbey, who has set up quilting and knitting clubs across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, the Highlands and even Stornoway added: “I’ve been quilting for many years, and I’ve been amember of the British Quilters guild for many years as well.

“So I am actually very honoured that I have been asked to represent the around 600 members of the guild in Scotland, especially because I’m originally Norwegian.

“It’s a great opportunity and it’s going to be a real challenge, but I can’t wait to show the rest of the UK what Scotland’s quilters have to offer.”

MrsAsbey saidshehopes the Edinburgh event will bring in similar numbers to large knitting events in England.

She added: “This is the first time they have held it in Scotland. When they hold similar festivals in Birmingham every August they have about 30,000 people coming to the door, so we might get something like that if we’re lucky.

“It’s not just for people in the sewing industry. There will be all sorts of people coming in, there will be lots of things to see and things to buy, and of course a lot of inspiration for everybody who comes along.”

For more information and to buy tickets for the show, visit www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/ edinburgh or call 01473 321827.

“Honoured that I have been asked to represent 600 members”

NEEDLECRAFT: Hanne Asbey hopes she’ll have the competition all sewn up at the Knitting and Stitching show in Edinburgh