- Work Hard
- 14th Oct 2026
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Newcastle crocheters and Lady Gaga’s designer make a dress for stage that’s all sweets
A group of Newcastle crocheters with a serious love for Bake Off have teamed up with one of Lady Gaga’s designers to create the sweetest outfit you’ll see on stage this autumn.
It’s a gown smothered in around 200 woollen treats, from striped humbugs to jammy dodgers, and there isn’t a single gram of real sugar in sight.
Dancer Berta Admetlla will wear it when she plays the witch in balletLORENT’s Hansel & Gretel and the Witch, which premieres at Northern Stage on Thursday 29th October and will be on stage until Sunday 1st November.
THE LADY GAGA DESIGNER WHO’S GONE SWEET ON SCOTSWOOD
Nasir Mazhar, the celebrated designer who’s made hats for Lady Gaga, created the dress for balletLORENT. He didn’t do it alone, though. He joined forces with Knitters, Movers and Shakers, a crochet group that meets every week in Scotswood in Newcastle’s west end.
The group’s 14 members, aged between 56 and 87, kicked things off by crocheting a pick and mix of edible-looking samples for Nasir to choose from. They got through more than 300 balls of wool before the dress itself had even started.
Then the real baking began.
THERE’S A CINNAMON BUN ON HER HEAD
Together, the Newcastle crocheters built the gown and covered it in handmade treats. Look closely, and you’ll spot chocolate éclairs, gingerbread men and cupcakes crowned with a cherry.
The witch’s accessories are just as tempting. She wears four crocheted iced doughnuts as bracelets, plus a cheeky red and white headpiece made from a candy cane and a cinnamon bun.
Any gingerbread house would be jealous.
SHE’S BEEN CROCHETING SINCE LAST CHRISTMAS
Pat Cant from Knitters, Movers and Shakers has worked on the dress since last December. She said: “I can hardly remember when we started, but I’ve probably spent about 10 hours each week since last Christmas.”
“I can crochet for two hours a day and still not seem to have a lot to show!”
“I enjoyed making doughnuts and sweets, but the chocolate éclairs took ages to assemble, and I found some of the other cakes rather challenging.”
“The dress looks amazing and I’m sure children will love trying to pull the sweets and things off it.”
Hands off, kids.
THEY’RE NOW MAKING A GIANT CHICKEN’S NEST
With the showstopper finished, the group’s moved straight on to the rest of the production. They’re crocheting another 64 doughnuts for school workshops, a woodland’s worth of mushrooms, nuts and berries for the forest scenes, and even a giant chicken’s nest.
Busy hands, then.
FANCY JOINING? HERE’S HOW
Knitters, Movers and Shakers is free and welcomes new members aged 55 and over. The group meets on Fridays from 11.30am to 1pm at John Marley Centre in Scotswood.
Call 0191 233 1811 for more details.
WHERE YOU’LL SEE THE DRESS ON STAGE
balletLORENT’s Hansel & Gretel and the Witch runs at Northern Stage from Thursday 29th October to Sunday 1st November 2026, with tickets from £12.
Rachael Ellis
Head of Content
After gaining a first in her BA Media and Journalism degree at Northumbria University, Rachael worked at Newcastle’s leading regional newspaper with her stories being picked up in national and global newspapers. She spent two very successful years giving a voice to those communities across the North East who otherwise…
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