Tuesday 14 November 2017

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.

34 comments:

  1. Lovely yarns to sit and knit inside in the warm. Still feeling the huge change in the temperatures.

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    1. Knitting is the perfect autumn and winter hobby, not only are you warm and cosy whilst indulging but you've can be knitting something to keep you just as warm and cosy for when you venture outdoors.

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  2. What a treat, squishy yummy yarns and daughter hugs brilliant combination. There is nothing like a hug from Mum when you are feeling life is getting tough. Lovely colourways, I shall look forward to seeing your WIP´s xcx

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    1. It was a lovely day out. I think Eleanor appreciated the visit, as you say, they tend to miss home a bit when things are a bit tough. I'm thrilled with all my purchases and can't wait to start some new projects.

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  3. A good day out, and even better that you got to visit with your daughter. I love the little stitch markers. X

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    1. It was a great combination, yarn shopping and a visit with Eleanor too. I couldn't resist the stitch markers, they're so cute.

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  4. Lovely yarns - looking forward to seeing what you do with them.

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    1. There were some beautiful yarns for sale, it was really hard to choose between them all.

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  5. What a lovely time, especially with an Eleanor visit too xx

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    1. It was a lovely day all round, the visit with Eleanor made it extra special.

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  6. The yarn is beautiful I am do envious. My sister retired last month and we have decided to have a knit and natter afternoon each week which I'm really looking forward to. I just need to find a pattern and yarn.

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    1. I'm a big fan of all the hand dyed yarn that's about now, there's some beautiful colours. How lovely to spend time with your sister each week knitting and nattering. Don't forget to show us which pattern you decide on.

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  7. The yarn looks wonderful, Jo. I'm sure Eleanor enjoyed your visit. :o)

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    1. The yarn is even better in real life. I think Eleanor was pleased to see us, she doesn't usually come home between terms but she does like us to visit her.

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  8. What a lovely way to spend time with both a craft show & daughter. Must have been exciting with seeing a first time show & glad it was a success for the organisers. Take care.

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    1. It was a great show, no hustle and bustle like there is at Yarndale, it was all very civilised. There were some wonderful dyers there that I haven't seen before and I was spoilt for choice when it came to making purchases, I'm pleased with what I opted for in the end though.

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  9. I love your new yarn! How pretty. I'm sure Eleanor loved having you there. She gets to show you off to her friends, which I am sure she does, because you're wonderful parents!

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    1. The yarn is so pretty, and so squishy too. It was lovely seeing Eleanor, though it won't be long now until she's home for Christmas, I think she'll be pleased for the break this year.

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  10. How lovely that you got to visit daughter and a show. Love Big Ben and your yarn. Looking forward to seeing what you create.xxx

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    1. It was great that we could combine the show with seeing Eleanor and I think she enjoyed our visit too. I couldn't resist the Big Ben stitch marker.

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  11. A very good day out made even better for seeing Eleanor.
    Love your words "Squishing yarn and hugs from my daughter"

    Happy mid-week wishes

    All the best Jan

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    1. I cherish the visits I have with Eleanor these days, I miss her when she's at uni. Squishing yarn and hugs from my daughter is what Saturday was all about.

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  12. Just found your blog and I already have yarn envy. I would love to visit a yarn festival and like the ones that went home with you.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Thank you for visiting. Yarn festivals are becoming more and more popular and visiting enables customers to compare different yarns side by side. They're so much fun too.

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  13. Starry Night is just the most perfect name for that yarn and I think it's my favourite colourway of all your buys.
    Being able to cross another lovely challenge off of your list was a bonus, but the best one was being able to see Eleanor too.
    A wonderful day.
    Lisa x

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    1. I couldn't resist the Starry Night yarn, it reminds me of the Don McLean song. The dyer had other colourways based on other, popular paintings and it's amazing how much they put me in mind of the pictures that inspired them. I was pleased that we got to see Eleanor, I think a hug from her mum and dad was just what she needed as she's struggling a bit with the work, plus a lot of her friends had gone home that weekend so I think she was feeling a little low. I hope our visit perked her up a bit.

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  14. You would be hard pressed to find a more perfect way to spend a day - how lovely! That Starry Night yarn is just gorgeous! Looking forward to seeing what you knit with that. I think the merino would make a lovely shawlette or hat to wear during the spring or fall...or perhaps some fingerless mitts. There are so many things you can do with sock weight yarn.

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    1. I'm really looking forward to seeing the Starry Night yarn knit up, I think it's going to look fabulous. I was very tempted by an LS Lowry colourway but she only had it in DK and I was looking for sock weight. It was a great day out, and the hugs I gave Eleanor must have worked wonders as she found out just today that the first piece of work she handed in has earnt her a first, so contrary to how she felt she was doing, she's done very well indeed.

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  15. Being new to West Yorkshire I'm glad to find your blog. I enjoy knitting too but have trailed off in recent years because I find it hard to source yarns made of machine washable pure wool - and when I do find them I also find I can't afford to buy enough to make anything!

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    1. I find the Drops range of yarn very affordable, some of which are pure wool and washable. There are lots of luxury yarns about though these days, they're so tempting.

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  16. You can't pass up a yarn festival now can you, especially near Eleanor. Lovely yarn picks.

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    1. This yarn festival was in the perfect location, I definitely wasn't going to let this one pass me by when I got to see Eleanor too.

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