I went to Unravel yesterday, a knitting festival in Farnham Maltings, Surrey. It was probably the best day out I’ve had in absolutely ages – despite the fact that I could find nobody but Skinny Liz to go with me.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t feeling very well – I have discovered that I have a wisdom tooth growing into the jaw-bone and it has to come out, as well as having recurring tonsilitis that has struck again. I didn’t take as many photos as I probably would have done otherwise – I was quite keen to get back into bed, and as it was a two and a half hour trip each way, I didn’t spend too much time faffing!
Unravel 2013
I found out about Unravel through the blog of someone I found randomly on Twitter – I have searched my spreadsheet but can’t find who it was so I will let you know when I’ve managed to find out! Having done some research, I was rather dismayed to see “Unless you live under a rock, you’ll know that Unravel is happening this weekend.” Hmm…I obviously live under a rock!
Having made up my mind to go, I wasn’t going to let something silly like tonsilitis stop me…
I took three trains to get there, finishing off a sock and an audio-book on the journey. It didn’t feel as long as it was, especially when I bought a hot chocolate to keep me going on the last leg. I walked for about ten minutes, and walking over the bridge to Farnham Maltings, was greeted by this beautiful sight.
In addition to all the yarn bombs, there were two real live sheep! I wanted to give them a cuddle but there were many signs explicitly forbidding this sort of behaviour, so I contented myself with a photo and a chat. They didn’t have too much to say to me.
Inside the Farnham Maltings building (which, by the way, is a labyrinth of a place), I was in actual heaven. I had to text JS and say “I am literally so happy”. The first room I found myself in was one where the Spinning, Weaving, Dyeing and Machine Knitting Guilds of Surrey/West Surrey were located. I watched the spinners going with eyes like saucers – and was given a lesson on an Ashford Traditional, the spinning wheel I have myself.
Wandering through the rest of the building, I found a multitude of companies that absolutely enchanted me. I would like to mention Shearer Girl Yarns, and Lydia, who allowed me to use the unconventional method of PayPal payment to allow me to buy a ball-winder. Lydia was lovely, and she lives close to me so I hope we will keep in touch.
I found UK Alpaca Ltd, and the person running the stall had an alpaca farm in Devon (my home-county). They had these incredible teddy-bears that I really wanted to buy – £20 for a teddy-bear knitted in alpaca yarn and stuffed with alpaca fibre. Oh. My. Gosh. I wanted one so badly that I even considered pretending to myself that Skinny Liz needed a teddy bear. Luckily, I was strong, and only made my way out with a pack of alpaca fibre!
I also found Anna Richardson of OneHandKnits and Sarah Leavesley of The Undercover Owl. They sold me a pattern for TARDISocks, which I will be making for JS. Anna had some glorious patterns, and Sarah was selling accessories for knitters. She had beautiful Fimo stitch markers which she had made herself. Gorgeous.
I bought some dyed fibre, which included Cheviot – the fleeces I have been preparing and spinning myself, so that I know what the professionally prepared fibre is meant to feel like. I can’t remember which stall this came from – hopefully by the time I’ve gone through all my literature I will find out and give them credit.
My final note-worthy purchase was a set of bamboo DPNs – KnitPro, of course. I am incredibly happy with this – I’ve been looking for them for ages.
Did you go to Unravel? Who were your favourite stalls? Did you buy anything?
Much love,
Corrie xx
