FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fiber + Fabric Craft Festival Partners with Crochet Guild of America to Celebrate Creativity, Connection, and Community

Chicago, IL – 12.15.2025– Koelnmesse Inc., organizer of the Fiber + Fabric Craft Festival (FFCF), proudly announces its partnership with the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA), marking a significant step toward uniting the fiber and fabric craft community under one inclusive, inspiring event.

Through this collaboration, CGOA members will receive discounts on crochet classes, member-only pricing, and dedicated meet-up opportunities at the 2026 Fiber + Fabric Craft Festival, taking place May 1–3, 2026, in Rosemont, Illinois, with classes beginning April 30, 2026.

“FFCF is partnering with CGOA to support crochet, crochet education, and crochet community.”
— Crochet Guild of America (CGOA)

This partnership underscores FFCF’s mission to embrace every form of making from knitting, crochet, sewing, and quilting to cosplay, needle arts, and mixed media. By welcoming CGOA, the festival continues to expand its vision as a comprehensive fan celebration for makers, creators, enthusiasts, novices, and professionals alike.

“We’re thrilled to welcome the Crochet Guild of America as part of the Fiber + Fabric Craft Festival,” said Darrin Stern, Vice President of Koelnmesse Inc. “Together, we’re celebrating the entire spectrum of craft artistry. This partnership reinforces our commitment to inclusion, collaboration, and the joy that comes from creating something by hand no matter your experience or medium.”

As part of this collaboration, CGOA will host a booth and meet-up space on the show floor, offer member-driven charity activities, and co-present a series of co-branded crochet classes featuring CGOA-approved instructors. Additionally, a percentage of co-branded class registration fees will be donated to CGOA, further supporting the guild’s mission to promote the art of crochet and connect its growing community of members.

“CGOA is proud to partner with the Fiber + Fabric Craft Festival to showcase the diversity and passion of the crochet community,” said Melissa Hall, President of CGOA. “This event is more than a show it’s a space where creativity thrives, friendships form, and all makers feel welcome.”

The Fiber + Fabric Craft Festival is designed to bring together the entire craft industry from yarn and fabric enthusiasts to educators, retailers, influencers, and manufacturers in a shared celebration of creativity. With hundreds of hands-on classes, community meet-ups, and exhibits, FFCF promises an inspiring and interactive experience for every attendee.

About the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA)

The Crochet Guild of America provides education, embraces innovation, and creates connections, while setting the national standard for crochet. Volunteer led, CGOA is the only national nonprofit organization dedicated to crochet. We bring a diverse audience with a passion for crochet. CGOA facilitates charitable work, offers education to help build crochet skills, provides professional mentorship and nurtures aspiring professionals, creates Master’s skill-building programs and evaluates portfolios, promotes crochet as an art form and honors accomplishments in the craft. Learn more at: www.crochet.org.

Koelnmesse – trade fairs for the handicraft industry

As an organizer of innovative and important trade fairs worldwide Koelnmesse is the global market leader in the handicraft & hobby sector. h+h cologne is the leading trade fair for textile handicrafts and the industry’s largest international inspiration and order platform. Koelnmesse also supports companies in reaching international markets, which is why it has expanded its fiber arts portfolio in the USA: h+h americas, a platform for the North American knitting, sewing, textile and craft industries, uses pioneering formats and online solutions to put the industry’s products and services center stage. The hybrid trade show in Rosemont, Illinois, offers both digital and on-site experiences to maximize reach and impact. The Fiber+Fabric Craft Festival in Rosemont, Illinois, is a new consumer trade show that brings together crafters, creatives, and innovators for education and to showcase the latest trends, products, and techniques in knitting, crochet, needlepoint, cross stitch, felting, sewing, quilting, and cosplay.

Future Show Dates:
h+h Cologne – March 20 – 22, 2026 – Cologne, Germany – www.hh-cologne.com
(Friday – Sunday)

Fiber+Fabric Craft Festival – Classes start April 30th. May 1 – 3, 2026 – Rosemont, USA – www.fiberfabriccraft.com
(Friday – Sunday)

h+h americas – Classes start May 5th. May 6 – 8, 2026 – Rosemont, USA – www.hh-americas.com
(Wednesday – Friday)

Media Contact:
Lindsey Stephens
Crochet Guild of America
📞 +1 203-233-6399
✉️ lindsey@crochet.org

Darrin Stern
Vice President, Koelnmesse Inc.
📞 +1 773-326-9925
✉️ d.stern@koelnmesse.us