Woolfest 2014

We tried something a little different this year for Woolfest, mainly because I’d decided I wasn't going to go this year and then changed my mind a bit late in the day, so it was a bit tricky finding anywhere to stay.

Mr and I stayed in a camping pod for a night. We were lucky and had nice weather, so we had a campfire roaring all night, with the obligatory marshmallows.

Our neighbours were some very nice sheep and lambs, which were unintentionally smoked by our campfire.

The camping pod was super and we were positioned under an old oak tree. It was a very relaxing evening.

My purchases were a little more restrained this year.

Some extra cables for my Chiagoo needle set and 7.5mm tips as I don’t own any in that size. The latest pompom magazine, which has quite a few patterns in that I’d like to make.

I stocked up with lots of buttons from Textile Garden. They really do have the most wonderful selection.

And my only yarn purchase of the day was some Cumulus from Fyberspates. It was very reasonably priced and feels like a fine mohair yarn but is actually a combination of brushed alpaca and silk. I bought 3 similar shades with the idea of an ombre cowl or shawl.

Woolfest Haul 2013

Another year at Woolfest and it was just as fantastic. Here are links to previous years 2011 and 2012. It seemed busier this year.

 I went with the intention of buying no spinning fibre at all, as I had a lot bought me at Christmas, but.... Well, hilltopcloud fibre is so gorgeous, it just "had" to be bought. There was a beautiful blue and orange batt and some Southdown dyed in a gradient. Southdown is meant to be a fantastic fibre for socks and I've been wanting to try it for awhile. I love how the fibre was presented it looked like a fluffy octopus!

Eden Cottage Yarns and a mini skein set from Natural Dye Studio

Cute little sheep from Hestascene. Need to think of an appropriate name for her.

Gorgeous buttons from Textile Garden

Embroidery silks from Natalie Fergie aka Yarn Yard. The orange 4ply in the top picture is from her too.

This is what I got most excited about. It's a Lilly Brush which before the show I thought was only available from the US at super high postage rates, so I didn't think I'd be able to get one easily. Tall Yarns have them in stock at the moment. Basically it's a de-piller and lint remover and it's fab.

Woolfest Haul 2012

Another fantastic year at Woolfest; despite the exceedingly rainy conditions it was still a wonderful day. It was bigger this year with lots of new stalls.

I found it quite overwhelming with the vast array of choice and ideas. My haul was quite large this year.

I headed straight for Kate Davies stall and bought the kit for the Sheep Carousel Tea Cosy and also intended to buy the BMC kit but were already sold out within an hour of opening! I tried to start the Tea Cosy on the way home in the car to quickly realise the one size needle I didn't have was a 3.00mm 16 inch circular; which is extremely frustrating when you've just left a big wool show.

I also got Ysolda Teague's Saturday Treat pattern book and some Scrumptious laceweight yarn in Treacle Toffee to make Barley Sugar from the Fyberspates stall.

  

• I bought a dyeing kit from D & T and a bundle of unknown yarn on offer from bluefaced.com
• A pretty batt and a faux cashmere roving from feltstudiouk

• I bought the two skeins that are lilac and beige from Freyalyn's fibres with the intention of making a Damask with it.
• The beige, purple and burnt orange are all baby camel and silk mix in sockweight which is super soft and squidgy from Yarnaddict and I want to make a Colour Affection with them
• The gold and green are from Eden Cottage Yarns and I intend to make Natessa with the green laceweight but not 100% sure what to make with the gold as it was a bit of an impulse.

Lots of lovely projects to get on with so I'd better go and get my needles out...

Woolfest Haul 2011

Just got back from a wonderful weekend away in the Lakes. I went to Woolfest and spent far too much money but brought back with me enough goodies to keep me going for some time.

• I got 3 rovings from FeltStudioUK; 2 were bfl/silk mix (the pink/red and yellow one and the purple and green one) and 1 Falkland (which is the bright multicoloured one)
• Two 100g pastel dyed shetland rovings and a soft green BFL and teal Shetland from Wheeldale. Planning on making a big scarf from the shetland ones and some fair isle mitts with the other two
• Two more Kromski bobbins for my Sonata from Wingham Woolworks
• Some wooden sock blockers from Laal Bear, the sock on the blockers is a work in progress. Wanida by Cookie A.
• The skein of wool is sock wool from Freyalyn Fibers and is Khaki and Grey and called Merlin which I thought would be ideal for Hubby
• A cake of striped sock wool from Sparkleduck in purple and green
• A gorgeous kilt pin and stag's head buttons from Textile Garden

• And finally my more indulgent purchase of a Turkish Drop Spindle from ITS Crafts as I couldn't stand to look at that fibre all weekend without my spinning wheel so I got a bit of spinning done while away. Plus it's such a lovely spindle too. I got one made from Bog Oak and it's a slightly more unusual way of spinning compared to the way I've done it before and really love it.