London Day 4 - The Knitting and Stitching show & The world premier of Made in Dagenham

I have a late start today at the show, my first class isn't till 2.15pm, so no hurry this morning.

I arrive at the show with plenty of time to look around some of the stalls, I only got 1/4 of them done yesterday so time to get some more in. There are a few more people around today, it is a lot busier that is for sure.

I have been pretty well behaved so far not spending too much money, and the moment I think that to myself I turn a corner and find a stall where I spend £50!!!!

My first class is on Introduction to Trapunto Quilting, again a traditional method dating back to the 1300's, originated out of Italy.  It is where you stitch through two layers of fabric, cut an opening in the back layer stuff it and then sew up the cut, this gives a very 3D look to the piece. Here is my sample piece. A bit of pratice required but I like the technique and I will be able to do some cool designs on my sewing machine.

My second class is a 2 hour workshop, my most favourite thing to do is Mixed Media and this workshop is all about Mixed Media. I learn so much from these classes, products on the market, and techniques which we just don't get at home.  We are a pretty full class, the tutor is pretty well known and there are even 3 kiwis in the class.

Here's a photo of my project partway through, I won't get to finish this until I get home, I need to do a lot of machine embroidery on it yet.

I leave class a bit early. I have a show this evening at 7.30pm and I need to make it back to the hotel to drop off all my stuff.  I arrive at the bus stop at 5.10pm to take the bus to Wood Green now you have to understand this is normally a 7min trip on the bus, well tonight it took 50 mins!!! I could have walked quicker, I managed to get to the hotel by 6.30 drop my stuff off and grab a change of clothing.

I am off to the opening night of Made in Dagenham.  I need to take the tube to Covent Garden.  On arrival at Covent Garden I find they are doing major renovations to the lifts in the station.  This station is only being used as a drop off station.  This is the crowd for my train.

It turns out I can't use this station after the show so will need to walk Leicester Square probably.

On my arrival at the Theatre I find out this opening night is a pretty big things, and I am still not sure how I managed to get tickets.  There are camera crews, celebs, faces I recognise but can't put a name too, what a buzz.

We are asked to turn our phones off and no photography but I managed to get one photo in before too many people sit down.

So this is the World Premier of this musical, as it turns out. I am sitting next to the producer and director and across the row from us are three ladies who worked in the Ford factory in Dagenham when this all happened. The show is based on the film. The lead character is Gemma Arterton, I can now say I have seen a Bond Girl with my own eyes.

OK this is the best show I have ever seen, I think even without all the hype of the night.  The story and dialog is just great, and very very funny, if you are heading to London, put this on your must see list.

Being opening night the show ran a little longer than normal and we didn't leave the theatre until 11pm. I haven't eaten since 12 and as I need to walk to Leicester Square, I think I had better find a restaurant.

Arrive at the hotel by 12.30am, I was beginning to wonder if I had missed the last tube to Kings Cross as half of Leicester Square station was closed already.