Woolfest 2013

I've just returned from THE woolly event of the year so far. Woolfest is held at a livestock auction market in Cockermouth, Cumbria, UK. This was the ninth year of the event, and as each year has gone on the event has become bigger and better.

This year I was on the Ravelry stand raising money for the air ambulance as I didn't mange to get a stand for Knatters Knits. It was lovely meeting so many fellow knitting enthusiasts. I waited until the second day to try the ewes milk ice cream - and believe me it wasn't easy resisting... There were lots of tempting stalls with beautiful yarn and fibre, buttons and spinning accessories and lots more...

I stayed at the most amazing B&B. Ditton Lodge. The couple running it, Lynn and Alan were so welcoming and know exactly what quality means. I would highly recommend staying there - the food is excellent, the room was tranquil and comfortable and the whole stay was more than I could have hoped for....

Commission spinning

Commission spinning has come to me usually when I least expect it. My first ever commission was for a lovely lady who fell in love with some fibre but couldn't spin. That was last year at British Wool Weekend. Since then I've done a variety of things but my latest commission has me very excited. An artist approached me to custom dye and spin some yarn for a tapestry she is weaving. She told me she had some yarn already but that she wanted certain specific colours to add to her project. 

You can imagine how delighted I was about his request, but when she showed me the rest of the yarn she was to use, I was gobsmacked. Every colour she was using was my yarn! Now I knew someone had Been buying my yarn from the local wool shop in Lancaster, Purely Wool, but this was so humbling. An artist wanted to use my yarn! I'm currently dyeing and spinning like a mad thing, migraines allowing.  

Whilst I can't show you her yarn yet, here's some more fibre and yarn I have made this week so far...

Spinning for beginners

I'm so excited I can't tell you! I have managed to set up three one day beginners spinning courses at Myerscough College. See www.myerscough.ac.uk and click on short courses for more information...

Courses will involve fibre preparation, carding, spinning with a spindle as well as spinning on a wheel.

This week I also spun in the grease for the first time in a year with some fleece from a local farmer, my first truly Lancashire Yarn. (Pictured below). 

Whilst its not a great photo, the yarn is really soft, much to my surprise. I was supposed to be skirting the fleeces I have but as this fleece fell apart I wanted to see if it was worth keeping, so I spun up around 20 Grammes. It is definitely one to keep.