I missed the very first Yarndale, it was the weekend that Daniel started university back in 2013, and every year since then I've had either Daniel or Eleanor going back to university the same weekend as Yarndale, though I've still managed to fit a trip to Skipton in. It was the same this year, however, Eleanor wasn't going back until the Sunday and ordinarily I'd have made the most of her last day at home on the Saturday but she was working from midday until 11.30 at night so it didn't matter that I spent the afternoon at Yarndale.
This is the first year that I've been on my own, we didn't have anyone to leave Archie with so Mick dropped me off and then went dog walking in the woods behind Skipton Castle, they both enjoyed their afternoon so I didn't feel guilty at all spending plenty of time stroking and squishing gorgeous yarn.
To be honest, I wasn't sure I'd be visiting Yarndale this year, I came away a little disillusioned last year after being pushed and shoved out of the way by people with terrible manners. I'm glad to say that it didn't seem quite so busy this time round and there was a happy spirit about the place.
There were lots of vendors which I'd seen before but plenty of new ones too this year. I was quite spoilt for choice when it came to making purchases.
I visited the Yarndale Sock Line but as there were a few of us who had used the same yarn to knit our socks, I'm not sure whether I spotted my Lavender Socks or not. I do know that they'll be gifted to someone who'll appreciate them though. There were lots of socks hanging up this year, definitely many more than in previous years. It's nice to see such a worthwhile project being well supported.
The community charity project this year was Creative Hearts. It's recognised that yarn crafts promote emotional and mental well being so it's hoped that the display will raise awareness and funds for Mind, the mental health charity.
A few animals had been brought to Yarndale, as usual. I didn't see any alpacas this year but what a beauty this Exmoor Horn Sheep is. Such a handsome chap.
There was a good mix of stalls, knitting, crochet, spinning, felting and weaving, and others besides. They've definitely got a good balance at this festival.
I always do a full tour of the stalls before buying anything, it actually takes quite a lot of time to get round them all.
Once I've seen everything on offer, I make my choices and revisit the vendors from which I'm going to make a purchase. This works for me, at least I know I'm not going to see something I want after I've spent up.
I always come away with renewed enthusiasm and this year is no different. There seems to be so many possibilities when faced with so much beautiful yarn. Better get the Christmas knitting finished first though.
I expect you'd like to see my little haul.
My favourite is the Mothy and the Squid yarn in the Calico Cat colourway. I just love those orange/red black/brown shades on the ecru base, and there's a bit of silver stellina sparkle added for good measure. I'm very pleased with all my purchases though.
It was a lovely day out again, I'm so pleased I made it.
Sounds great fun, it must be great to see so many types and colours of yarn.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good way to compare different yarns, there's so much choice in one place all at once.
DeleteA lovely day out Jo. Finished off beautifully with your choices of yarn. And I'm sure Archie and Mick would have enjoyed their stroll through the woods too - I love it there. It's reassuring to read you didn't experience the pushing and shoving as you did last time. That would have put me off attending. With that in mind, I could be temtped to visit next year. X
ReplyDeleteMick certainly enjoyed walking in the woods, and looking at the colour of Archie afterwards, I think he did too. He'd been enjoying himself in all the muddy puddles. I had a different experience to last year, it seemed much friendlier again this year, perhaps because it wasn't quite so packed.
DeleteOh wow what scrummy yarns, we have two furries with just the same colouring lol. So pleased you were able to enjoy your visit, nothing worse than the elbows and bad manners. Absolutely spoilt for choice, thank you for sharing xcx
ReplyDeleteMothy and the Squid do a few different coloured yarns inspired by cats, such a fun range. I was spoilt for choice, I could have spent a fortune as there were so many different yarns which took my fancy.
DeleteIt does indeed look a lovely day out and very colourful too.
ReplyDeleteI think the Charity project with all the knitted hearts is amazing, so good to see.
I agree with you on the colours within the Calico Cat yarn!
Enjoy your weekend
All the best Jan
All the colour is just dazzling and very inspiring. I like the idea of a charity project, it's nice that a lot of good can come from events such as this. I'm really looking forward to knitting up the Calico Cat yarn, it will be fun seeing how the colours come out in a project.
DeleteI have still not been! Yarndale always coincides with our traditional September Bank Holiday camping trip. Glad you enjoyed it this year, your purchases look great and I am a little envious. x
ReplyDeleteI'm lucky that I've managed to get there for the last four years, it always coincides with the new university term. I'm pleased with my purchases, it's hard choosing just a few things to buy when there's so much on offer but I picked out some lovely things.
Deleteglad you enjoyed Yarndale.I didn't make it this year.We have a new yarn shop opened in our little market town which has a good range of different yarns and an online retailer about 20 minutes away which also has a shop.It is so handy for you from Leeds.It is a bit longer trek from North Wales to Skipton!!
ReplyDeleteI'm lucky to be so close to Skipton, it's not far at all, though there were people there from all around the world, Yarndale really has taken off in such a big way. How lovely having such a great yarn shop locally, it's good to see new businesses popping up as we lost a lot of craft shops over the years but they seem to be making a come back at last.
DeleteYou made some excellent purchases. I bet it s=was so festive. I swear I'd like to fly across the pond just to go to Yarndale.
ReplyDeleteMany people do, there were people there from all around the world, it's become such a popular festival. I'm really pleased with all my purchases.
DeleteIt's good to see that you enjoyed it and didn't have the problems you had last year. xx
ReplyDeleteI could have easily stayed away after last year's experience, I'm glad I didn't though as it was totally different again this year and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
DeleteI'm glad you enjoyed Yarndale this year, Jo. That calico cat colourway really does look cat-coloured! :o)
ReplyDeleteThere's some really clever dyers, you can see exactly what their inspiration has been as it's interpreted perfectly in their yarn colours. I love the calico cat colourway.
DeleteI love your haul, so many goodies there, it must be hard deciding what to buy. MIND is a great charity, glad awareness and funds are being raised for them. That is one handsome sheep!xxx
ReplyDeleteI always make sure that I have a good look round before I buy anything as there's so many things I could bring home with me but limited money, a hard choice but I'm pleased with what I ended up with. I agree about Mind, a great charity so I hope lots of funds were raised for them. The sheep was very handsome.
DeleteI love your haul! It always looks a good day out, shame it’s so far from Suffolk else I’d be there in a flash
ReplyDeleteI'm lucky that I live so close to Skipton so it's a yarn festival I'm able to get to easily. It is a good day out, Yarndale's great and it's set in a beautiful part of the country so you can really make a weekend of it.
DeleteThanks for this post, as, of course I didn't get to Yarndale this year. Like you, I struggled with the crowds & pushy people last year when I went, whilst on holiday in UK. It looks great from your pics & Shaun looks very settled in with his knitting.(giggle). Your purchases are lovely & the calico cat colourwy is really different. My Missy Moo would love the 'sparkly' bits. Take care.
ReplyDeleteYarndale this year was all together a better experience for me than last year. The yarn bombing outside the venue, including Shaun, was that from Thirsk which I did a post about earlier this year. I do love a bit of sparkle in my sock yarn, I'm looking forward to knitting it up.
DeleteI'd love to visit Yarndale sometime, it's just a bit too far away to justify the train fare for a day! Maybe I should go for the whole weekend ....
ReplyDeleteJillxx
ps haven't visited your blog for ages, it's nice to be back!
Yarndale's held in such a lovely part of the country, you could certainly make a full weekend of it, or even a week, there's lots of things to do and see in the Yorkshire Dales. Nice to have you visit again.
DeleteI'd just love to be able to visit a normal UK yarn shop - hee hee! I'm doing a 4 hour flight tomorrow and dreading that alone - a 30 hour flight does not appeal to me at the moment... Sounds like you had a fab time and your wool purchases are divine.
ReplyDeleteI don't like flying either. We've got some lovely yarn shops here now, there didn't seem to be many around at all just a few years ago even, but there's been a rise in popularity again and more and more seem to be opening up. I do like the festivals though where there's so much yarn to compare, it's a good way to shop.
DeleteIt looks like you had a great time at Yarndale! so much to see. I like the calico color yarn too from your stash, it is so nice. I love the yarn bowls and also the mental health message, that is so important! it does really help me with having a positive mind by knitting :)
ReplyDeleteIt was such a good day out and there was lots to see. I like that this festival covers so many different crafts. I love the yarn bowls, I don't have one myself but it's something I'd love to have in the future. I agree about knitting having a positive impact on mental health, it's a good stress busting hobby.
DeleteThis sounds like a good annual event and I'm glad you were able to go and it was an enjoyable experience this year. Browsing the stalls before you bought your yarn was a good idea as it looks like there was plenty of choice. I like what you got. It's good that a community charity project was involved and MIND was supported.
ReplyDeleteI could easily have spent up before I saw everything on offer so I make myself be good and wait until I've seen everything. There have been other charities involved with Yarndale in other years but I think Mind is a particularly appropriate one as knitting can certainly help mental well being.
DeleteBrilliant. I'd love to go to Yarndale one year. Maybe next year!
ReplyDeleteI think you'd definitely enjoy it, it's a huge festival with so much to see. The surrounding area is certainly worth visiting too, especially if it's somewhere you haven't been before.
DeleteI wish we had something like this down here, looks brilliant, only problem would be what to buy there looks to be so much.
ReplyDeleteBriony
x
Yarn festivals seem to be popping up all over the place at the moment so it might not be long until there's one in your neck of the woods. You're right, there's so much yarn and so many things you want to buy that you end up spoilt for choice.
DeleteWhat a great haul and lovely to visit so many vendors in one place. Love the event supports such a worthwhile charity too.
ReplyDeleteI think the best thing about Yarndale is having so many vendors there together. It's great to be able to compare yarn more or less side by side in this way.
DeleteOne of my favourite days of the year is our local yarn festival - I turn it into a full day outing with my daughter. There is always a speaker event and a fashion show but, unfortunately, no animals. That would really take it over the top! Lovely yarn choices - like you I'm excited to finish my Christmas knitting and start in on one of the skeins that I purchased.
ReplyDeleteYarn festivals have become very popular over here, as you say, it's a great day out. Exhibitors sometimes bring their animals to the show, there's been alpacas, sheep and rabbits that come to mind straight away. I've got quite a stash built up so I'd like to get some knitted up as soon as I finish my Christmas knitting.
DeleteYarndale .... looks like such an interesting place to visit. Enjoyed my peek of the event through your blog.
ReplyDeleteBlessings~
There's been five Yarndale festivals now and it's grown into a big event, people travel for miles to come to the show. I thoroughly enjoyed it this year.
DeleteIt looks wonderful, I'd find it do garden to choose anything.
ReplyDeleteThere's so much choice that it can get overwhelming but I'm pleased with the things which came home with me.
DeleteGreat stash you chose. If you were looking for your socks you probably saw mine too as we used the same wool!
ReplyDeleteThere were quite a few pairs of socks knit in that same yarn, they were displayed quite high so I couldn't see the labels so there was no way of telling which ones were mine.
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