Woolly Anticipation

I was a little late hearing about the yarn show Yarndale this year. It was one of those things I had heard about but having already been to Wonderwool Wales I was content not to go. Or rather, my bank balance was content with me not going. But when I found out that most of my knitting friends were going I realised it would simply be rude not to. So, leaving the kiddywinkles with their Daddy, I hitched a lift with a lovely friend and off we went to Skipton.

I think we got there at the right time, the traffic was gridlocked by later in the afternoon and the queues for toilets and food were very, very long. It shows a true hardcore yarn-a-holic when  you watch women diving into the men’s just to get back to the yarn!

The show its self was a little smaller than I expected and upon initial arrival the sheer volume of bodies made several stalls inaccessible. A second trip around later on in the day meant we didn’t miss anything.

Several of my very favorite stalls were there, Fivemoons, Bigwigs Angora, Eden Cottage Yarns,  Freyalyn’s Fibres,  Hilltop cloud, and Triskelion Yarns  to name but a few. Though the palpitation inducing Oliver Twists were not there, even though their stall was sitting there empty.

Triskelion rainbows

always a happy sight – the Freyalyn sheep!

 

Naturally dyed spectrum

 

It is the first time I have been to a yarn show with a friend rather than the family.It made me ponder the question as to which are more dangerous to go with. The family wait for me to go around, either popping out for a while and coming back, or following behind with the odd “hurry up Mum”. this usually results in me going round faster than I possibly would and panic buying knowing I need to be quick.

On the other hand going round with a friend who has impeccable yarn taste results in looking at stalls which my tiny amount of self restraint would force me to walk past. Then said friend says those ever deadly words; “feel this”. Two simple little words. And I do. My fingers come out and make contact with the most luxuriously soft alpaca/angora/wool and that little devil on my shoulder is in seventh heaven.  Before I even know it has happened I am thanking a stall holder and walking away with the touched yarn.

Oops.

Undyed alpaca

But my woolly anticipation has not been limited to Yarndale this week. My favorite designer has just announced the release of her first book. The enchanted world of Tiny Owl Knits is now available in print under the title of “Woodland Knits”!!!!!

I can honestly say I actually jumped off my chair and squealed when I read this. Within 5 minuted the book was ordered from Amazon and the anticipation of its arrival is torture!

She is also running a give away on her blog here.

Did you go to Yarndale? What are your favorite things about yarn shows?

I leave you with a few more pictures of Yarndale…

woolly works of art

The Mulberry Dyer

 

Hedgehogs!

More natural alpaca