Nottingham Yarn Expo 2017

Another new yarn festival has popped up, this time in Nottingham. As it was being held at Nottingham Trent University, where Eleanor's studying, I'd already decided that I'd like to attend it so imagine how thrilled I was to win tickets on Katie's Inside Number 23 podcast. Thank you, Katie, not having to pay for entry meant I had a little extra to spend on yarn at the show.

To say that this is the first time that this yarn festival has been held, it attracted lots of wonderful yarn dyers, there were lots of stalls and plenty of choice. The booths were spread out over two floors and in separate areas so there wasn't any jostling and it made for a happy, relaxed atmosphere whilst yarn shopping.

I didn't take any photos of the actual show but I'm sure you'd like to see what came home with me.

I've been after this year's West Yorkshire Spinners Christmas colourway, Candy Cane and I picked up a ball of the Cayenne Pepper colourway to go with it, this will make coordinating heels and toes in the socks I'm planning to knit. I couldn't resist the Van Gogh Starry Night colourway in Joanna Wood Paint yarn. I haven't heard of this dyer before but the yarn really does resemble Van Gogh's painting and I'm looking forward to seeing how it knits up. I'd already decided that some Norah George yarn would be coming to live with me before I'd even got to the show. I haven't used this yarn before but everyone raves about it and I can see why, I actually wish I'd picked up an extra skein now but I do love The Room of Requirement colourway which I chose, a Harry Potter reference. I've heard Beehive Yarns mentioned here and there just lately so I was looking forward to perusing their stand and I chose a skein of the Navajo Trail colourway to buy. Unfortunately, I didn't read the label carefully enough and have now discovered that this is on a 100% merino singles base. This won't be suitable to knit socks with but I'm sure I'll find something else to knit with it, and it will be interesting to use as I've never knit with a single ply yarn before.

I also picked up these cute stitch markers from Thimble and Thread Make. I like the umbrella but it was Big Ben which made me reach for my purse.

Of course, I couldn't go to Nottingham without visiting Eleanor. I think she was pleased to see us as she's been struggling a little with her course since starting her second year at uni. This is where the hard work starts and it's taking its toll. She's a hard worker though so I know she'll be putting plenty of time in so I just hope that it pays off.

Squishing yarn and hugs from my daughter made for a lovely day out and as Visit a craft show is number 47 on my 50 Before 50 list, it's another one to cross off.