I missed events during the Covid-19 pandemic and its many lockdowns. This November I had the chance to take a day off to attend a DIY exhibit: Abilmente Milano.
Well, it was really worth it! It’s an event I would recommend, absolutely!
Overall, I found the exhibitors balanced between crafters with their unique creations and suppliers selling tools and materials for DIY projects. I came with the idea of buying fabric, thread and similar items, instead I came home with lovely creations by talented artisans. Well, also a few supplies, I have to admit.
The main focus is what they call “female hobbies” (why, aren’t there men knitting or sewing, anyway?), so you could find there anything sewing, crochet, knitting, scrapbooking, jewels and related. No wood, no epoxy resin, no “hard” tools. So my husband decided to stay home and I went with my mum, the family crocheter. We both enjoyed a lovely experience!
As you could expect from a DIY fair, you could attend plenty of courses or see demonstrations. This time we decided not to attend, anyway, but judging from the outside they must have been interesting. Maybe next time!
What was new, though, for us and our experience with such events, were the art exhibitions. Fiber art was prominent, showing breathtaking artworks. One to be noted? “Inferno 3000” by Damss Art. Go on reading to discover more!
Note to self: tips for visiting the next fair
Before forgetting it, here’s my what-to for the next fair. So I’ll come more prepared!
- Wear comfortable shoes.
- Bring water.
- Don’t forget a large tote bag or similar to carry your purchases. A shopping trolley would be great, too.
- Wear what you crafted: it’s always a good way to start a conversation with interesting people.
About the exhibitors: crafters
As I said, I bought several items from crafters. The first one I want to talk about, though, is one I did not buy from, I have to admit. But I promised to myself to come back with my baby when she’s a bit older: I would love her to appreciate and own a creation by Angenia. I saw several Fimo crafters at Abilmente, but no one was like Angenia. Go check out her breathtaking fairies!
I’m usually not a jewel person: at markets, I often skip jewel stalls. For Lauvmade, though, I had to make an exception, and come home with a necklace and earrings. I was surprised when I knew her geometric jewels are made from cardstock! They seem so hard and durable! What attracted me were the hexagon shaped ones: they reminded me of the #LRCrafts logo!
And I also had to buy something for my baby! First, I found a mesmerizing fairy door by Cose dall’Altro Mondo. I could have bought all the items she had! I chose a fairy door to fit inside the present my husband and I are making for our daughter, plus a necklace for me. What do they have in common? They glow in the dark!
Last but not least, a handmade t-shirt for my daughter by Tamagocraft. I fell in love with this fox t-shirt the first time I met them at another event, I’m glad they had it now the right size!
And those listed here are just a few of the lovely creators I met! I could mention Il Cavallo a Dondolo, MalVestita Handmade, RiccieMici, Giuditta Mezzadri, and go on and on…
About the exhibitors: suppliers
Coming to suppliers, I found some interesting ones I collected for the future. I did not come with a specific DIY project in mind, so I didn’t have a shopping list, but I discovered a few sellers that have the right things I will for sure need for my next projects. For my mum, the fair was different: she bought a yarn supply to last for… well… she’s so fast I think that 2kg of yarn will vanish in projects in about a week or two!
First of all I have to underline that I saw a high quality in all the supplies I checked, from fabric to yarn to anything. Also in this part of the fair I noted a perfect balance in the items offered: a good selection of items for all tastes. Yes, if I had to sum up Abilmente in two words I’d choose “balance” and “quality”.
Coming to the suppliers I took note of for the future, here’s a small list.
First of all, I found a shop with anything Brother sewing: Filomania. Here I bought a new double needle and took a list of items I’ll need for my Brother sewing machine. I would have bought more, but I came there when the stock was running out, unfortunately. No bother, my shopping list is ready!
Also, they had wonderful machines in display to show the making of awesome embroideries and did quilting demonstrations as well. They made me want to try quilting myself!
What could be hard to find where I live, is fabric. I have a favourite shop, but it’s not so handy to visit. Now, I have one more: Merceriamia. I found a variety of fabric choice of good quality, as well as thread and sewing/embroidery supplies. But the fabric… well, those walls full of colored textiles… I could have remained there in awe for hours!
Another shop I noted down is L’angolo delle idee from Fiumicino (Rome), where I bought new elements for my crocheted bag. My mum crocheted a bag for me that I carried with me to Abilmente, so I was able to complete it with rings for its straps and decorations. I found lovely ideas for it at the booth of L’Angolo delle Idee.
About yarn, I could mention loads of suppliers! I spoke about yarn sellers at Abilmente with a fellow crafter, she agreed with me about the very good quality of wool and cotton we found around the fair.
One booth that you couldn’t pass without notice was Zucchero Filato, with a lovely display of Betta Knit yarn inside a colorful ice-cream parlour!
A thing that I loved about most of the sellers was that they displayed their yarn with examples of projects you can make, explaining you the technique and the quantity needed. Among the best examples of this, I noted Il Cerchio dei Sogni and UABStyle, which gave us the most interesting advices.
But the last (even if not least) supplier I want to talk about is Morelfil Shop, where my mum bought the largest ball of yarn I’ve ever seen: a 500g one by Big Star. I “hugely” love it!
The art exhibitions
Finding artworks and artists was the icing on the Abilmente cake! The main character behind all the art exhibitions was Dante Alighieri, because 2021 marks the 700th anniversary of the poet’s death.
What you could see at Abilmente? First, you could walk inside the “Selva Oscura” (the dark forest at the entrance of Dante’s inferno), an installation made by Sul Filo dell’Arte with crochet and tricot.
The forest made from scraps of fabric processing was the result of collective laboratories, and inside you could even meet a huge Dante, all crocheted! Well, you could or could not, because sometimes the poet was taken around the fair to take pictures at other booths!
But the most breathtaking piece was “INFERNO 3000” the huge panel made by Damss Art (Daniela Arnoldi and Marco Sarzi-Sartori).
Just have a look at the numbers!
12 meters wide by 4 high.
Surface 40 square meters.
200 square meters of fabric.
50 Km of yarn for the seams.
4500 hours of total work along 10 months.
How would have Dante represented hell if he had lived in the year 3000? This is what the artists asked themselves to make this artwork. The result is a dystopian narrative which summarises our most recent history, foreseeing and imagining its consequences through fiber art.
There is no photo that could give justice to such a piece! And I discovered it’s just one of huge creations by Damss Art. I would love to see the others in person! I love how they took everyday materials and techniques people always consider a granny’s pasttime and elevated them to become art at the highest level.
All around the booth you could also see the wearable sculptures inspired by INFERNO 3000. Awesome fashion and art creations that were the perfect match with the huge fiber art panel.
Final thoughts
In the end, was my experience good? Is Abilmente worth a visit? Yes! I would highly recommend!
In 2022, the fair will see not just one, but seven dates all around Northern Italy! I am happy to read that two of those events will take place in Milan again!
Here’s the 2022 program:
- Abilmente Vicenza 24th-27th February
- Abilmente Milano 10th-13th March
- Abilmente Torino 17th-20th March
- Abilmente Roma 22nd-25th September
- Abilmente Vicenza dal 13th-16th October
- Abilmente Torino dal 20th-23rd October
- Abilmente Milano dal 3rd-6th November
So, what do you think? Shall we meet at the next Abilmente Fair?
