Why did I do it? Why did I leap at the chance to display my textile wares on a Xmas Fair table at my local Women’s Institute meeting? The answer is easy: the table was FREE.  Of course I completely understand why venues need  cover their costs and to charge for tables at their events, but sellers have to be very confident to fork out £25, or £30 or even £50 for a table.I love going to Craft Fairs myself, searching for that little something handmade that I can give my nearest and dearest as gifts. But I feel so guilty as I browse each stall then walk on by. It must be so disheartening for the stall-holders as each potential customer passes on to the next table without making a purchase.

 I last took a stall at a Women’s Institute craft fair some ten or so years ago and at that event I had only sold one item. Oh yes, I received many compliments on the neatness of my bunting or the uniqueness of my knitted “mug hugs” but no paying customers. To add insult to injury, one browser at my stall admired  my mug hugs then enquired , “How many stitches did you cast on?” She went on the explain, “I am off to visit my aunt and I could knit mug hugs on my long train journey.” It would not have been quite so bad if she had just bought a mug hug then copied it.

This year I resolved to concentrate my efforts on two main items that I  thought might sell: wrist warmers for the threatened cold winter ahead of us. And teeny Christmas pudding  tree decorations which each contained  a Ferrero Rocher  or a Lindt chocolate. I was right about the wrist warmers but not about the little knitted Christmas puddings. My experience reminded me that the items I make are not for sale. My carefully crafted items  are to be given as gifts to my family and friends.

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