Thursday 8 October 2015

Yarndale 2015

I wasn't sure I'd be able to make Yarndale this year, my weekends have been so busy just lately and to top it off, Mick had a bit of a crisis at work on the Friday and thought he might have to go in on the Saturday, but it all worked out in the end and we did manage to get there.


We arrived earlier than we had last year and there was definitely a different feel about the place. It was absolutely packed and everyone was jostling to get the best vantage points, there was a lot of pushing and shoving going on. We decided that we'd wander round looking at whatever we could get close to before following the same path again looking at what we'd missed the first time round. As the day wore on, I'm pleased to say that everything calmed down and there was that happy feel that I'd experienced last year.

I think the thing which hits you most at Yarndale is the colour, it's absolutely everywhere as you might expect when yarn's involved.




I was looking forward to seeing all the crochet Flowers for Memories which people from all around the world had sent to raise funds for the Alzheimer's Society. They didn't disappoint, there was a rainbow themed display containing over 5000 flowers which had been sent from twenty two countries and they raised £1811.80 for this very deserving charity.



The mandalas, which were last year's Yarndale project were displayed at eye level this year rather than hung up high. You really got to see all the work which had been put in to them.


A project I'd taken part in this year was the Yarndale Sock Line. Earlier this year I took part in a sockalong which Christine over at Winwick Mum blog was organising. After this sockalong, Christine came up with the idea of asking people to send handmade socks so that she could make a line of sock bunting at Yarndale. After the festival, these socks were to be gifted to people in need who may be thankful for a cosy pair of handmade socks. I thought it was a great idea and sent off my pair of socks and here they are in situ. It's not a very good photo but they're the ones on the left on this first stretch of bunting.


I had every intention of having a word with Christine whilst I was there, she was selling and signing copies of her Super Socks book, however, she was busy chatting away to other people when I visited the Knit and Natter Lounge and she'd disappeared when I went back, I think she may have gone for some lunch.

The auction mart where Yarndale's held is usually filled with animals and the weekend of the festival was no exception, well, perhaps not filled but there were animals there.



This gorgeous little sheep was called Viola and she was the most friendly little thing. She loved being stroked and having her head scratched, I could have taken her home with me. Not sure what Archie would have thought to that idea though.


I didn't take too many photos, I was too busy oohing and aahing at all the lovely things to be seen.




Would you like to see what I bought? I'm sure you would. Not a huge haul by some standards but more than I bought last year.


I bought a couple of balls of Drops Lima. Mick bought me Edward's Menagerie book for Christmas last year and I haven't had a go at anything from it yet. He bought me some Toft Alpaca yarn but I want to have a go with something cheaper first so this yarn ticks the boxes.


Manos Silk Blend Fino, 70% merino 30% silk, it's silky soft.


Exmoor Sock Yarn. Made with 85% Exmoor Blueface and 15% nylon for extra strength.


I saw these cute ornaments last year and regretted not buying one so I rectified that this time.


I have to admit that I don't actually use many buttons but I can't resist buying them. I also bought some new felting needles for Eleanor as her needle snapped half way through a project. She can get on and finish it now.


I may have also bought a Christmas present but I can't show you that at the moment or tell you who it's for. Yarndale's a great place to pick up gifts.

I had a really wonderful day out and came home, once again, filled with inspiration. The date's in the diary for next year but once again, I'm not sure if I'll make it. I missed the first Yarndale two years ago because it was the weekend we were moving Daniel in to his university accommodation. Eleanor will hopefully be going to university next year so we'll just have to see if her moving date clashes with Yarndale or not. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't.

48 comments:

  1. What a great day - I think you showed great restraint in your purchase - all lovely.

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    1. I could have gone overboard with my purchases really, I did buy more than last year though.

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  2. Nice post, and lovely colourful pictures. Flighty xx

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    1. That's one thing that Yarndale isn't short on, colour.

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  3. I love the picture with the graduating colours of yarn, gorgeous! I really hope I can go next year, it looks like a crochet/knitter's paradise xx

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    1. I hope you can make it, it really is a dream festival for any knitter or crocheter.

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  4. One of my friends from the Marcos club went to Yarndale last year. She said that the colours and textures of the specialist yarns were amazing. I think I need to put it on my 'bucket list' for 2016. I'm glad that you had a good time. Jx

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    1. I can definitely recommend it, and the surrounding area is wonderful too if you can make a weekend of it.

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  5. I really enjoyed seeing all your colourful photos Jo. Yarndale clashes with our annual camping bonanza (we have a bank holiday on this weekend in September) and unless I can talk our group into going to Yorkshire for the trip, I won't be able to see the festival. I have a thing for buttons but like you, I don't use them often. x

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    1. Yorkshire is a great place for camping, there's lots of lovely sites in the Yorkshire Dales, or so I've been told, I've never camped myself. I have a tin of buttons but very rarely use them.

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  6. Replies
    1. It really is, I do hope I can make it again next year.

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  7. I had every intention to go this year, buuuuut Wales had a game and I could not miss it. Sigh, maybe next year.

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    1. Hmmm, I know which would take my vote. Hope you can make it next year.

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  8. I really enjoyed reading about your Yarndale experiences, Jo. I've never been, of course, but would really enjoy going someday. It's kind of a fantasy, but maybe it could happen. I like your purchases and enjoyed those animals too. I think Archie could be trained as a tiny sheepdog, don't you? :) Hope you're having a good week, enjoy the weekend too.

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    1. You have to have dreams, and who knows, perhaps you'll make it to Yarndale one day. Ha ha, yes, I'm sure Archie would love to become a sheepdog. He's actually quite inquisitive where sheep are concerned.

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  9. I could not afford to go.................

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    1. I'm the first to admit that it's quite expensive. We took a picnic with us, but bought a can from the cafe...£1.50! Luckily, we don't live very far away so there were little travel costs.

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  10. Sounds like a great day out! I hope that you can go and enjoy it again next year. Enjoy your beautiful purchases! xx

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    1. We thoroughly enjoyed it, I do hope we can make it again next year. I'm not sure what I'm going to use the yarn for, apart from the Drops Lima, but I'm looking forward to finding some lovely patterns to use it up.

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  11. Thanks so much for sharing your views of Yarndale, Jo. While we have fiber festivals around us here in the USA, the one Lucy is a part of is very dear. I'm glad you got to contribute and attend, and it will be fun to see what you create with your purchases if you show us :) xx

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    1. I'm so lucky to live so close and be able to attend, I know there's many people all around the world wishing they could so I hope my post gives a little taste of what it's like from my point of view. I'll definitely show you what I use the yarn for once I've made a decision.

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  12. I've wanted to go to Yarndale since the first year but have never managed to go. Hopefully next year I'll make it. I'd love to see all those beautiful crocheted flowers and mandalas and treat myself to some lovely yarn. Your purchases, by the way, are fantastic. The yarn are gorgeous and that Christmas ornament is so sweet. Marion

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    1. It's such a wonderful festival if you're in to yarny things, I can definitely recommend it. I was quite restrained with my purchases compared to some but overall I'm pleased with what I got, I'm looking forward to finding some projects to use them on now.

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  13. To say I live so close you'd think that I'd have managed Yarndale this year. I think part of my hesitation is that I only really use Stylecraft and I just wouldn't know what to make with nicer wool - I do oogle all the beautiful colours when I see Yarndale posts though.

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    1. You should definitely go next year if you get the chance, there's so much more to Yarndale than shopping for yarn. I come away filled with so many ideas and so much inspiration, there's so much to see, I'm sure you'd love it.

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  14. Thanks for sharing Jo, and it made me think back to last year and how I enjoyed it so much and wished I could be there again this year. Your photos are great and I hope to see your progress on some projects. We definitely don't have 'anything' like it over here. The displays with all the different coloured yarns are just breathtaking and the mandalas and flowers as well. I adore alpacas. Take care.

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    1. I did think of you while I was there, I knew you'd be thinking back to last year. It's such a wonderful event and it seems to be attracting more and more visitors each year. There were lots of the same stands there as last year and some new ones too, plenty of new things to see.

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  15. Jo
    It looks an amazing visit, I especially liked the Flowers for Memories ... my dear mum and her mum before both had Alzheimer's, a most cruel disease ... as it seems to 'run' in my family it is one of the reasons I now live the LCHF lifestyle and have drastically cut my sugars, processed foods etc. They do call Alzheimer's, Type 3 Diabetes.
    But to positive things I loved looking at all your photo's and that Christmas ornament looks great.

    Enjoy the rest of your week - where do the days go?

    All the best Jan

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    1. The Flowers for Memories was breathtaking, such a wonderful display and so many people had taken part in the project. We have Alzheimer's running in our family too, my grandpa had it and so did his mother and his son, my uncle. Friday again already, I'm not complaining it's the weekend but time seems to be whizzing by these days.

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  16. That's a LOT of yarn! The flowers are amazing. What a touching project!

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    1. I love that Yarndale isn't just about shopping, there's so much to see there too. The Flowers for Memories project is a wonderful idea and it raised such a good amount for this deserving charity.

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  17. It was lovely to read about your Yarndale experience Jo there's a great atmosphere there don't you think. You bought more than I did, if I could have afforded it I saw lots of things I would have loved to buy. I think the best time to look around is late afternoon, I may go on Sunday next year I have a feeling it may be a bit less crowded. Have a great weekend. :) x

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    1. There's a brilliant atmosphere but there was definitely more hustle and bustle earlier on in the day. There's something there for everyone, even Mick enjoys looking around, and as you say, lots to spend your money on too. I think I should start saving for next year now.

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  18. Whoa. Impressive work. And adorable animals. :)

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  19. I might have to time a visit to England around this next year. I'd buy an awful lot more - it is hard to get UK wool in NZ.

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    1. There's such a great choice of yarn here, you'd be spoilt for choice. It's becoming such a popular festival now, I'm sure you'd enjoy it if you could make it.

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  20. Lovely post Jo...I left a comment on my swap partners blog (can't find a email address for her) haven't heard anything yet. Xxx

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    1. She's probably a bit busy at the moment as she hasn't written a blog post for a while. I'm sure she'll be in touch soon but thanks for letting me know.

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  21. What a lovely post, Jo, and thank you for the great Sock Line write up. I've got some more pictures of the socks on my blog page, give me a shout if you can see your socks better on them and I'll send the picture over to you. It was such a great weekend, I loved every minute of it and it sounds like you did too! xx

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    1. I had a great time. It's a shame I didn't get to chat to you but you seemed very much in demand. I'm hoping I can make it again next year, it's such a great event.

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  22. What a great post Jo....I really wanted to go to Yarndale this year but life happened...I will be there next year....Thank you for sharing your beautiful photographs. I look forward to seeing what you create with your goodies. Debbie x

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    1. I wasn't sure I was going to make it, I'm pleased I did though as I'm not sure I'll be able to go next year. I'm hoping that the dates don't clash with Eleanor moving to university like they did two years ago with Daniel's dates.

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  23. How fab to see your socks hung on the bunting line and such a thoughtful idea that they'll be going to a new home where the person will appreciate them.
    I like the blue and the muted green shade of your yarn and the buttons are really pretty.
    Lisa x

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    1. I think the Yarndale Sock Line was a fabulous idea. I must admit that I did go and search out my socks, it was great knowing that I'd contributed and as you say, they'll be going to cheer up someone in need afterwards so it's such a worthwhile cause. I chose the green sock yarn as Eleanor's really in to green at the moment. I thought I might knit her a pair of socks, then again, I might use the yarn for myself.

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  24. Ooh looks as if it was a good one, Jo. The Flowers for Memories are gorgeous, what a nice idea. I love the alpacas, I wonder are they very friendly or do they spit like camels?? xx

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    1. I had a great day. The Flowers for Memories was such a great project raising funds for a worthwhile cause. I'm not sure whether alpacas spit or not, they're such cute animals though.

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