12ème l’Aiguille en Fête, le Salon International des Arts du Fil
Theme:  Au Fil de l’Orient
Sponsor: Côté Salons (http://tinyurl.com/oc53ohh), which also edits the online magazine “l’Aiguille en Fête”
Date: February 12-15, 2015
Place: Parc des Expositions, salle 6
1, Place de la Porte de Versailles, 75015 Paris, France
Hours:
Thursday, 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM
Friday, 9:30 AM to 9:00 PM
Saturday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Entrance fee:  12.50 EUR, with many discounts available for groups.
Age 12-20 and students with valid ID, 6.00 EUR. Children under 12 free.
Flyer for public show: laiguille en fete
Web Sites: http://www.aiguille-en-fete.com
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/k5oyc86
Email: info@aiguille-en-fete.fr, info@cotesalons.com

l’Aiguille en Féte is a yearly craft show in Paris devoted to needlework (embroidery, couture, quilting, knitting, lace, and others). It has two forms – a 4-day public exhibition, expecting 250 vendors and 45,000 visitors, and a 3-day professional trade show. The professional show “AEF PRO PARIS” will run March 8-10, also at the Porte de Versailles (http://tinyurl.com/melbvcn). However I’m mainly concentrating on the public event in this post.

There will be two competitions, one in speed knitting (the record is 244 stitches in 3 minutes), and one in couture sewing.  There will also be numerous demonstrations and exhibitions, http://tinyurl.com/llegjkn, many on this year’s oriental theme.
There are some classes associated with the public event under the title “Universit du Fil’ (http://tinyurl.com/k87ghs6)  including “Atelier Dentelle aux Fuseaux” by Florence Quinette,  “Atelier Réaliser une broche en dentelle de Venise” by Myriam Benamo, and “Atelier Broderie à Reticello” by Guiliana Buonpadre.  Participants are limited in the classes, and cost is extra.