This year I'm massively excited about going to Edinburgh Yarn Festival for the first time, where I'll be reporting for The Knitter magazine and also finding out lots of information for A Woolly Yarn. The flights are booked, my husband has been bribed with the chance to sample real ales in Scotland's capital, and, thanks to the exhibitor list, I already know which stands I'm going to make a beeline for ...
Whether you're travelling far to one of the UK's big name wool festivals or supporting a local gathering there's an ever-growing number of days out to choose from, including a few newbies this year. Don't forget the following eight top tips:
1. Book your entry ticket in advance to avoid disappointment. Some shows offer reduced price tickets if you book ahead.
2. Take cash. Small vendors may not have a credit card machine, plus it helps with budgeting - once you've spent up, that's it!
3. Take a look at the event's website before you go and decide which stalls are your 'must-sees'. Head there first just in case you run out of time later on.
4. Try to arrive early to miss the queues.
5. Wear comfy shoes. Your feet will thank you for it.
6. This goes against the usual shopping advice grain, but if you see something you'd like and it's within budget then don't put off your purchase until later in the day. When you come back it may well have been bought by someone else. You could ask the stall holder to put it by for you if you definitely know you are going to buy it, for example if it's a bulky purchase and you don't want to carry it round with you all day, but don't deprive other potential customers and the vendor of a sale if you're just not sure.
7. Take some snacks and a bottle of water with you in case there's a queue for the cafe.
8. Pick up leaflets and business cards of woolly businesses you like the look of. You might not be buying anything from them at the moment but signing up for their email or browsing their website widens your options in the future.
Here's A Woolly Yarn's round-up of wool/yarn shows that have already announced dates in 2019:
January
20th - Waltham Abbey Wool Show
Essex show with VIP guest Louise Tilbrook.
February
2nd - Bring Back Blaise Wool Festival
Explore the region's woolly past at Bradford Industrial Museum.
22nd - 24th Unravel
Farnham, Surrey is the location for this three-day showcase of workshops and exhibitors..
28th Feb - 3rd March Spring Knitting and Stitching Show
Olympia, London is your base for this huge craft-based event.
March
17th - Cornwoolly
Head to Redruth in Cornwall for this day showcasing local fibres and textiles.
21st - 23rd Edinburgh Yarn Festival
Billed as the UK's premier urban hand-knitting show.
April
13th - 14th Spring Into Wool
The Grammar School in Leeds will be home to this two-day festival of woolly crafts.
14th Knit and Stitch Show
Penrith in Cumbria is home to this woolly day with over 30 exhibitors.
27th -28th Wonderwool Wales
Weekend Welsh wool extravaganza at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells.
May
11th - 12th Buxton Wool Gathering
Derbyshire based wool festival.
18th - 19th Wool @ J13
Head off junction 13 of the M6 for this family-orientated woolly weekend.
25 May - Watford Festiwool
The Lanchester Community Free School will host this year's event.
June
1st - Leeds Wool Festival
The atmospheric Leeds Industrial Museum will be transformed into a marketplace for one Saturday.
9th - Aberdeen Yarn Fest
Will include both local and national woolly vendors.
15th - 16th The Wool Monty
New two-day celebration of yarn and fibre in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
28th - 29th Woolfest
Cumbria's celebration of nature's finest fibres.
July
13th - 14th Yarningham
Birmingham-based yarn celebration.
27th - 28th Fibre East
Head to Bedford for this hands-on show with the opportunity to try your hand at spinning and weaving.
August
2nd - 4th Woolness
Inaugural wool and wellbeing festival in Newcastle upon Tyne.
3rd Yarnfolk Wool Festival
This is the third year for Northern Ireland's wool festival in Whitehead.
9th - 10th British Wool Show
Supporting the Campaign for Wool, this show is in York.
16th - 17th EWEfest
Dundee will be home to what bills itself as Scotland's first truly national wool festival.
24th - 26th International Wool Festival
New festival in Anglesey, Wales, aiming to bring together artisans and wool lovers from around the world.
31st - 1st Sep Southern Wool Show
The second year for this festival of woolly crafts at Newbury Racecourse.
September
7th - 8th Perth Festival of Yarn
The fourth year for this Scottish festival bringing together weavers, dyers, spinners and felters amongst others.
13th - 15th The Handmade Fair
Hampton Court will again host Kirstie Allsopp's event bringing together craft makers.
28th - 29th Yarndale
Exhibitions, workshops and a huge marketplace in Skipton, North Yorkshire.
28th - 6th Oct Shetland Wool Week
World-renowned festival celebrating the island's crafts and woolly heritage.
October
10th - 13th Knitting and Stitching Show Alexandra Palace
Workshops, shopping and galleries at this exhibition centre in London.
12th - 13th Bakewell Wool Gathering
Bakewell Agricultural Centre in Derbyshire will host this two-day yarn festival.
16th - 20th Loch Ness Knit Fest
Head to the Scottish highlands for workshops, demonstrations, a marketplace and sightseeing tours of the famous Loch.
26th - 27th The Big Textile Show
Stitching and knitting event held at Leicester Racecourse.
November
2nd - 3rd Stitch Fest
Take a workshop and browse the exhibitors at Totnes in Devon.
December
28th Nov - 1st Dec Knitting and Stitching Show Harrogate
Head to Harrogate, North Yorkshire for workshops, shopping and galleries.
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Do you know of a yarn show that's not on the list? Please tell us in the comments box below or on our Facebook page.
Can I just say that Fibre East is sooo much more than spinning and weaving. There is yarn of all sorts, hand dyed, wool and acrylic. Firing, fabrics, a medieval re-enactment live displays and a whole range of crafts and products!
ReplyDeleteFelting! Not firing ... doh!
ReplyDelete