Well, I'd made it to Woolfest... and it was fun, no, I mean really FUN!
I also got to see the Kerrie again and meet Brooke (such a cutie), Cameron (oh my heart be still) and Wayne (another good-natured, supportive knitting hubby). Funny thing that, Heather recognised Kerrie by Cameron and Brooke and once she opened her mouth, I knew she was THE Heather. I also got to see a few other Rowanettes prowling the yarn stalls. There was India, Jill and Brigid... and of course THE Emma arrived with Oliver (adorable, sweet he even held my hand... ) and Allan (another good-natured, supportive knitting hubby... who carries the shopping too!).
I saw Web of Wool's stand and went to look for Rowanette Anna. Unfortunately, there was a nice young man there and I bought some wool, but no Anna to be found. For the record, this wool is not displayed below because it is a gift and it would be churlish to ruin the surprise. I should really had looked at my programme earlier but the sight of all that wool overwhelmed me for the 1st hour, as I went around orienting myself (finding things like the café and loos and the 4 legged creatures).
Yes, I bought myself some raffle tickets too. Sadly I was disappointed to learn that none of these guys were prizes. The angora bunny was so popular with the children that I just could not get in close enough to get a photo.
Here's a second photo of Brooke, she's got a drop spindle in her hand and she's not a afraid to use it. This is one crafty young lady. I do hope that Wayne realises that one of these days, she's going to have a stash of her own.
I tried to get Oliver to pose in a photo with Sasha Kagan, but he wasn't having any of it.
OK, look away if you're trying to be good or you're on a yarn diet diet.
My bargain of the day. Undyed camel hair. It's so soft and has excellent meterage. Someone mentioned that a bit of dye might not hurt get rid of the poo brown colour (it's a proper colour description found in the public library.)
Not so much a bargain in terms of money, but something that I want to do, but didn't know that I wanted to do it, until I saw it. The lady at the stand spent ages with me telling me that the technique was different from fair-isle. That it is easy to do. How perfect they were for commemorating special occasions that I went back and bought the kit, eventhough (1) the pattern is available on the internet for free(2) £15 is quite a lot of 2 balls of yarn, history booklet and the pattern. Sometimes, people are so nice and inspire you so much that you don't mind paying a little more to make sure that they stay in business and be there to inspire other people like you. As you can see, I did not opt for the traditional colours. Anyone can knit black and white sanquhar gloves, but mine are going to lilac and cream.. and if I like them, I have some alpaca that I can use too.
I also stopped by J&S and bought myself a few balls of wool and a shade card, to swatch my Poetry sweater. I still plan to knit it with the orginal wool, but thought that swatching with colours from the family that I'm thinking about might be a good idea. Considering that these colours go really well together, but even from the shade card, I wouldn't had put them together.
Then, I went to House of Hemp and bought the Hemp Hugs booklet and a 500g hank of phew to make me a hybrid sweater.
I'm going to make the pattern on Cara with the length and sleeves of Margaret...a flouncy short cardigan. The designs from Hemps Hugs are more inspirational than anything else, so beware about buying the booklet (it's £15) if you are not comfortable with (1) resizing patterns (2) altering patterns to suit you. The booklet contains, hand and machine patterns, all in 1 size. Most of the finished sizes are approx 39 inches wide and come short. (well, midriff skimming) Hemp ain't that fun to knit with either but the resulting fabric softens considering after washing. The fabric feels so wonderful and cool that I'm going to learn to like knitting with hemp.
You can order directly from House of Hemp's website and my past experience with them has been very good. Just take my advice and don't buy the undyed stuff. It's way to harsh to knit with and will put you off of this material for life.
Margaret
I also found a lovely gentleman selling these yew carved and waxed tapestry needle holders. OK, it does look phallic, but I'm hoping that I'll never have to fish around for my needles anymore. The top just pops off.
Added later:
The yew tapestry needle holder was carved by James Williamson Tel Fax 01664 812320 - Wheel Lodge 159 Main St. Asfordby, Melton Mowbray, Leiestershire, LE14 3TS. You need t contact them by phone. I took down the details since he makes niddy noddy's too and might make one a custom size for someone that I know.
I couldn't resist not cropping the photo, esp as my plants were all looking so colourful.
I also found some old Rowans.
and a few Starmore too. They were expensive but much cheaper than what you'll find at ebay. I love the British Isles one, there seems to be quite a lot of knitting history in there and I bought it to read since most of those patterns would need a bit of updating.
Don't you wish you were there? I meant to take more photos of the stalls but once I starting chatting with people, I was like a run-away locamotive and I forgot all about the photos.
Posted by atu at June 26, 2005 05:46 PMOh, you scored! Fantastic loot.
Posted by: valentina at July 4, 2005 04:20 PMSorry I missed you Polly, you must have visited the stand while I had been let out to do some shopping of my own. I'll let Graham know that he is officially 'a nice young man', he'll be thrilled!
The good news is that every trader I spoke to enjoyed themselves too so Woolfest 2006 is looking promising....
Posted by: Anna at July 1, 2005 11:38 AMSo many goodies in one place, I am so jealous!
Posted by: Peggy at June 30, 2005 06:39 AMthat is some kind of stash enhancement!
Posted by: stinkerbell at June 29, 2005 12:29 PMI was there too - and saw you in the cafeteria. Although we have never met, I recognised you from the blog, but was too shy to say hi. I just said to my partner - there is a 'blogging celeb'!
Nice haul
Posted by: jess at June 28, 2005 05:04 PMMy O My it looks like you had too much fun. I wish I could catch that festival, but I'm afraid the airfare from Western Canada would just be too much. And looking at all of your wonderful (I'm green with envy) purchases, I suspect my spending for the day would equal the airfare.
Wish that I didn't live so far away. I would have loved to go.
Posted by: Diane at June 28, 2005 05:15 AMMy new computer is covered in drool..... Thanks for the details of the woodman, I do love my case and have often thought about buying another so I can have one for sewing needles and one for cable needles. Perhaps even one for my 5" ebony glove needles now that I've found them again!
Memo to self - must check out hiring a cottage for next year. My room mate in college came from Bassenthwaite Lake and I've always enjoyed that part of the world
Posted by: Yvonne at June 28, 2005 12:34 AMThere's just too much to comment about, but I am beyond, beyond jealous! Love the goat in the sweater though, too cute.
Posted by: Rebekah at June 27, 2005 04:06 PMWhat an amazing day (and a prodigious haul!) Hemp and camel AND Starmore books all at one go... very impressive!
Posted by: Beth S. at June 27, 2005 03:07 PMwhat a haul! and starmore books to boot. well done. i think i should plan a holiday to the uk this time next year
Posted by: jacqueline at June 27, 2005 12:16 PMI am so jealous sounds like a wonderful day
Posted by: nic at June 27, 2005 11:22 AMWow !!!
I think I am going to have to make the trip next year!!! Luvvre your stash additions!!!
Looks like an all around fun day. I love the pictures! Makes me feel like I am living vacariously (why does that make me sound like a stalker? I'm not, I swear!)
celia
Posted by: celia at June 27, 2005 04:47 AMWell, well, well Polly ! You kept that lot well hidden ! - I thought your bag was bulging more than you were letting on .... It was lovely to meet you and Kerrie, I'm so glad I recognised you even tho' I did recognise Brooke first :0)
I'm heading to London on Thursday evening for a few days, arriving too late for Liberty's I'm afraid but hopefully I'll get there to the sale before heading north again on Tuesday ... not that I need more yarn. But then NEED's not the point really is it ?
Heather x
Posted by: Heather at June 27, 2005 12:24 AMOh, thank you for all the info and the wonderful photos, I am truly envious. I would have been very tempted to try bring either the goat or the alpacas home with me, beautiful creatures.
My eyes are growing every wider with each of your photos, such beautiful yarn and books, and I love your colours for the sanquhar gloves.
And I obviously lead a sheltered life as your yew needle holder reminded me of a pepper mill.
Posted by: Louise at June 27, 2005 12:02 AMIt all sounds just fantastic, and you had James with you to carry the loot and a car to bring it home in. Are you sure there wasn't an alpaca in the back seat under a rug? Good luck with the gloves, I remember Wendy bringing a pair into Libertys that she'd had in the first exchange, they were terrific. And didn't you do well in the book department too. I would have been running around like a headless chicken .....(but with a credit card under its wing).
Posted by: Jill at June 26, 2005 11:38 PMWow! You've got a bagful of wonderful things. Especially the sanquar glove kit and the hemp!
Does this mean there'll be more sales stuff at Libertys?
Dawn
It sounds like a wonderful day. You got some great purchases as well. I'm booking the weekend off for myself next year!
Posted by: Mary at June 26, 2005 11:27 PMI can't blame you for forgetting to take pictures of the stalls. If I had been in your shoes I wouldn't have taken one... I would have been too busy to take it all in. You had a wonderful day with wonderful buys, I do envy you...
Posted by: francoise at June 26, 2005 10:08 PMThat's some day, really! Love your post & your new projects, I am sure you'll do the best of this hemp, such elf-fingered (direct translation from the german) as you are...
Posted by: Stéphanie at June 26, 2005 09:28 PMWhat a great write-up, I am wriggling with vicarious pleasure. If I had known there would be old Rowan books around I'd have dragged myself off the sofa and up the M6. And now I have an idea what to do with 200g of navy and white alpaca kindly sent me by Sissel - off to google for that glove pattern. Splendiferous!
Posted by: SamG at June 26, 2005 09:22 PMIt was great, wasn't it? It was lovely to see you and to meet Emma, who was instrumental in introducing me to Liberty's and thus to lots of nice people. You did very well with your purchases. I bought a drop spindle and have just about managed to spin some very lumpy yarn. (Also some lace weight yarn and patterns and a few bits and bobs!)
Posted by: Brigid at June 26, 2005 09:20 PMIt was lovely to see you again! I must get all my photos up in the morning, too tired to do that tonight. I'm sure you hadn't bought all of that when we left, you must have had a mad dash around at the end of the day!
Posted by: kerrie at June 26, 2005 09:10 PMI am so so jealous. I love that House of Hemp pattern (the purple one obviously). Next year please take me with you. Oh and do I get to do some stroking of the yarn at Libertys on Wednesday?
Posted by: Amelia at June 26, 2005 08:22 PMI am GREEN with envy!
Posted by: Sissel at June 26, 2005 08:10 PMWhat a wonderful day. I have the dates that Emma gave in my diary for next year. It's generous of you to post so quickly so that all of us who couldn't be there but are hungry for news can have vicarious enjoyment of this fantastic event. Do you have the details of the yew turning man? I'd love to get hold of one of these.
Posted by: Kirstie at June 26, 2005 08:10 PMYou found Starmores lying around still available to buy? Sounds like a wonderful time, and goes to show if you really want to visit something it doesn't matter where in the world you are, you'll find a way to get there. Polly you're a star! How did you get there by the way?
Posted by: Tracy at June 26, 2005 07:59 PMI think the Starmore book is your buy of 2005 - maybe your knit life so far. Thanks for sharing your very fun day - wish I went too! Me? If I had been in your shoes - I'd be like that runaway train too!! Love the buys!
Posted by: Terry at June 26, 2005 07:08 PMLovely post! Such great shopping as well - I so wish that I'd been able to go. You were lucky to get the Starmore books - I keep asking my library when they're going to sell off their ancient copy of the fair isle book but they say someone keeps borrowing it so it's still in demand! That'd be me doing the borrowing.... talk about shooting yourself in the foot.
Posted by: Anita at June 26, 2005 06:46 PM