Knitting & Stitching Show Part II: Yarn Love

How’s that for some yarn bombing? That taxi could drive me to Fairyland...

The Knitting & Stitching Show didn’t disappoint with its yarn offerings. Stall after stall had beautiful skeins hanging from pegs, filling baskets and piled on shelves. I can’t tell you how many shades of magical blues and peacock shades I fawned over. The textured neutrals, the various blends for comfort or warmth...

And I finally got to see the incredible selection of Drops yarns in person! This brand is going to be a big contender for the crocheters’ choice accolade (watch out, Stylecraft). They have a very wide range of blends, in really beautiful, soft shades that I haven’t seen at these prices (lots of DK, 4-ply and Aran yarns hovering between £2-£4).

That stunning blanket above was on The Crochet Chain stand, made with Drops Delight and Fabel yarns – and check out the price per ball on the tag. That blanket would fit in nicely with the Bloomin’ CAL...

But what about us? 

Aw, don’t worry, my little sweeties, I haven’t forgotten about you!

I bought some Drops Big Delight in the Rose Garden shade. I couldn’t wait and started a snood

From this book

Crocheting this is so much fun, it whips up very quickly, and it will perk up my new cream-coloured winter coat. I am loving the shades and how they magically change row after row (speaking of yarn magic, how is it that these variegated yarns knit and crochet perfectly into fancy designs, regardless of pattern? It must be some complicated form of engineering, or frankly some mystical powers at work...) If the snood turns out well, I can make more for Christmas gifts – I have my eye on the Mint Chocolate and Autumn Forest shades, too.

I bought this inexpensive tweed from Abakhan, for this project

Eeeep! How enchanting is this little fellow? He is one of a range of the cutest little dollies from Lalylala.

Janie Crow had a bright, happy stall

I love the crochet bird and flower design that is used like appliqué, see the black cushion on the shelf below

That's got the cogs turning...

Like the stitching aspect of the show, there was some artistic uses of crochet on display

But not nearly as much as the embroidery galleries. I’ll admit that, while I loved everything about The Knitting & Stitching Show, I found the stitching bit more interesting. It was easier to get into stalls and get up close to the delicate stitching on display. 

The yarn stalls were a bit more chaotic. One stand, I think it was Black Sheep Wools, literally had a giant pile of bulk-buy yarns in the middle of the floor, with dozens upon dozens of ladies rummaging through looking for a bargain. I teased my friend that I was going to climb on her shoulders and cannonball into the middle of the pile and shock the daylights out of everyone...

I think with these types of shows you definitely must have some projects already in mind, especially for the knitting/crochet side. It is easy to pick up a few embroidery or cross stitch kits for a few pounds, but with a skein of yarn, you really must know what you are going to make or you will have wasted a load of cash on some beautiful, hand-dyed yarn made from the wool of free-range virgin sheep fed on a diet of milk and honey (believe me, there was some precious wool on offer!). You don’t want to buy yarn at a show then realise you need one extra ball when you’re home checking out a new pattern!

Now I’m off to catch up on my hexies, then I’d better get the toadstool doll going for Bunny...oh, but that snood is just so pretty and sooo quick...!

Happy crafting!

Chrissie x