Needlework

The Durham Fair Needlework Department exhibits knitting, crocheting, quilting, sewing, cross stitch, embroidery & other needlework crafts. With over 900 individual entries, these exhibits make up one of the largest displays of needlework exhibits across country fairs nationally. We are proud of the talented crafters that exhibit their projects with us, and each year we look to expand participation with new and creative exhibitors, and even new categories. In addition to our exhibiting activities, we also hold an annual charity drive to support our community.

New for 2026

Slow Stitching: This new category in wall hangings and embroidery is about using the needle and thread in the same way you’d use a paintbrush. It’s about creating art, and about enjoying the process rather than worrying about the product.

Needle Felting: Needle felting is a craft that uses specially designed notched needles to sculpt wool into shapes and designs.

Crocheted Amigurumi and Knit Amigurumi: These are cute animals, toys and holiday treasures that are crocheted or knit.

“What Can You Make With a Fat Quarter?” is sponsored by the American Sewing Guild, Connecticut Chapter. What is a fat quarter as it relates to fabric? A “fat quarter” in fabric is a pre-cut piece of fabric that is essentially a quarter yard of material, but cut widthwise to create a larger, more square-like piece, typically measuring around 18 inches by 22 inches; it’s considered “fat” because it’s wider than a standard quarter yard cut which would be much narrower along the width of the fabric. Each of these entries uses at least 1 fat quarter in the project. All entries are judged using the Danish system. The American Sewing Guild will Award the Best in Show for this Class.

2026 Challenge Class

This year’s challenge class theme is “America the Beautiful” to Celebrate the Country’s 250th Anniversary.” This is a common theme class in all departments under Personal Skills. A Special Ribbon is awarded to the Best in Show in this class under the Needlework Department.

2026 Community Service Projects

The Durham Fair Needlework Department has had a long tradition of supporting the community by holding a donation drive each year at the fair. This annual Community Service Project not only helps those in need but has also become a source of pride in having won an AIFE Award of Excellence for this program. We will be collecting items for veterans, the homeless, and children in crisis. Make sure you check out Art Bra which supports “After the Storm.”

• Art Bra
• Prayer Shawls/Veterans Shawls
• Mittens & Gloves
• Scarves
• Socks
• Hats
• Lap Blankets
• Pillowcases
• Sensory Mitt: Needlework Crochet Sensory Knit (PDF) or Knit Sensory Mitt
• QOV Block: Echoes

Please consider making an item to enter in the Durham Fair, or get together with friends, church groups, or community organizations and donate them. We will be collecting them and displaying them at the fair. Although an exhibitor can enter only one item per category, participants in our drive can donate as many items as they want.

After the Storm

The winning art bra creation will have their entry in next year’s Art Bra Runway Show where it will be auctioned to raise money for breast cancer survivors. In addition, the winner receives a Budvase for the Durham Fair Art Bra Award.

Quilt of Valor

The Quilts of Valor Foundation is a national organization founded in 2003 by “Blue Star” mom Catherine Roberts. With a son deployed in Iraq, a ‘Gunner’ sitting atop a Humvee she felt “only 10 seconds away from panic”. She had this vision of a post deployed warrior struggling with his war demons at 2 in the morning. She saw him sitting on the side of his bed wrapped in his quilt. The quilt not only comforted him but warded off the demons. Thus, the QOVF was founded. The Quilts of Valor Foundation’s mission is to cover ALL combat service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor. QOVF celebrated another award milestone recently by awarding the 350,000th Quilt of Valor to a former Army Ranger and Bronze Star Recipient. Without the support of our members and the many individuals, guilds, and organizations, we would not be as far along in our Mission of wrapping our military veterans and service members in comforting quilts.

• The Quilt of Valor Quilt Block will be used by QOV State Coordinators to help fill outstanding requests for a Quilt of Valor not covered by local groups and will ease the waiting list of requests.
• The 2026 Quilt block square is: Echoes.

Join Our Needlework Community

• Facebook Group: Share your projects, ask questions and get engaged with local needlework enthusiasts like you!
• Twitter: Stay current with announcements, shared patterns and more.
• Ravelry: Join our page and get access to a library of knit and crochet patterns that are especially useful for community service projects.

Patterns from the Needlework Dept

• DAG Sundress (PDF)
• DAG Skirt (PDF)
• No-Sew Fleece Poncho (PDF)
• Needlework Crochet Sensory Knit (PDF)
• Knit Sensory Mitt

Patterns for Prayer Shawls/Veteran Shawls

If making a Veteran’s Shawl you can use the same patterns listed below, but in a patriotic color.

Crochet:

• Heart Crochet Kaleidoscope Shawl
• Orla Sideways Shawl

Knit:

• Sing the Song Prayer Shawl
• Sugar Pie

Calling All Exhibitors

Learn more about exhibiting at the Durham Fair by visiting the 2026 Exhibitor Information page. You will find a listing of categories, rules and regulations, as well as special awards available for our winners.

Become an Exhibitor