Winter Markets: A Hand Made Journey Through the UK and Ireland

Last weekend saw the return of the Selvedge Winter Fair, which always marks our turn into the Christmas season with pure handmade joy. The halls were filled with textiles, craft makers, and the kind of festive spirit that lingers long after you’ve left with a wrapped parcel under your arm. And as the glow of the fair settles, we’ve gathered a selection of markets across the UK and Ireland where that same spirit of craftsmanship and community continues to shine.

This is by no means a definitive list — more a map of possibilities. Local village hall noticeboards, favourite makers’ Instagrams, and neighbourhood newsletters will reveal even more. And if you stumble upon something wonderful, we’d love to hear about it.

There is a particular kind of magic in buying handmade at this time of year—an exchange of care between the person who spent time shaping an object and the person who chooses it with intention. Throughout these winter markets, you’ll find that sense of connection glowing warmly between stalls, makers, and visitors.

And it’s in that spirit of connection that our festive journey begins...

Edinburgh, Scotland

Endless Love Creative Winter Makers Market poster, designed by @hanvalentine_

Lets start our festive journey in Edinburgh, where the Fruitmarket comes alive between 10 and 5 p.m. on 6–7 December with the Endless Love Creative Winter Makers Market. Over 50 artists and craftspeople fill the space with botanicals, ceramics, knitwear, homeware, stationery, jewellery, and textiles.

Workshops—from bookbinding and clay pot-making to embroidery and bauble painting—invite visitors to make their own seasonal keepsakes. This is a market full of joy and generosity, where makers greet you like old friends and every table holds a story waiting to be taken home...

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Image Credits:

Lead: Illustration by Marion Elliot, as featured in Selvedge Issue 121, Adorable.

All further images as credited in photo captions.