My Woolfest was all about my friends :)

This is what Woolfest was all about for me this year, meeting online friends I hadn't seen in a while, saying hello to new friends, and spending the weekend with my two bestestarOOnie friends :)

Of course there was obligatory fibre and yarn purchasing, but that, as you all know, goes without saying! To say I've doubled my fibre stash is an understatement!!!!

Anyway....on to the pics.....


After spending the afternoon at Woolfest, Livvy and I made camp at Grayonside in the pouring rain and howling wind. Its very safe to say we had a few **moments** but we managed to get the tent up, all the beds and bedding in and dinner on before the Purple Peril = Lottie arrived... and then we had more beer :)

After a wild and woolly night...thank goodness for earplugs says I...we went to a lovely little cafe in Cockermouth for breakfast...we're all looking so happy because we'd just enabled Livvy in a shoe purchase....some Mary Jane Style Crocs in black, so she can show off her expertly knitted socks :)
Our first port of call, only because he was by the entrance...hehehe was Andy Robinson, of BlueFaced.com fame.... I helped him out later on in the day, selling tickets for the Mirasol School raffle he's doing. Theres a lot of lovely prizes to be had, so if you didn't get a ticket at Woolfest, but are going to IKnit London this year, be sure to get a ticket!!!

On the stall next to Mr Wool was Jeni of Fyberspates......oooh....just look at all that fluffy goodness!!!

No Woolfest is complete without seeing Mr YarnYard in his kilt..... :) Oh and of course, buying some of Natalie's expertly dyed sock yarn.....yes I did!!!

And here is the wonderful Amber, I've known her through her blog for a long time....but have never met her.....it was brilliant to put a face to the wonderful musings and photos of immaculately knitted socks :)

We met Mr Mog too......well you couldn't really miss him!!! Here he is on the KCG stall, teaching finger knitting :) Also on the KCG stall was a display of WoollyWormheads Hats, you could try any of them on for 50p a go.....

Just look at that exquisite rose shawl in the background......the lady who made it is in the next photo ;)

Isabella and Sue..... so good to see them both, the last time I met them was at Skipnorth 2007....where Lottie and I got a rep for being drunken Mums..hehehe....totally unfounded!!! Isabella also owns a Louet S10, so we were chatting about that...... In the marquee, when we stopped for a break, we met some jolly nice Ravelry Peeps.... (left to right) Gonga , ArtyFartykat and Dominocat

I also paid a visit to the Guild of Longdraw Spinners and had a thoroughly good time of getting the hang of longdraw....

Here's Lottie trying out one of the many wheels on display, a Lendrum Original DT....I think its her new object of desire ;)

And here's the woman behind everyones new Knitting Notion purchase at Woolfest, NicsKnots
We spied her buying fibre and a spindle.....she finally succumbed!!! She shared a stall with KraftyKoala....
Okay, so you can't have a blog post about Woolfest, and not show some sheep....I took this one of a Wenslydale simply because it's a case of "Where does the sheep begin, and the straw end?"

It was alot colder on the Saturday night under canvas.....here's me trying to look happy to be there ;)

We all had a fab time, there were some peeps we met I didn't take piccies of, and I wanted to give a shout out to.

CheekyImp was there (or Madriggie as I formerly knew her) with her 3 beautiful children!!! Now see me and Bex have a LONG history on Parenting forums together....it was finally so good to meet her, and I am very sorry not to have taken a photo :(

We met Woolydoodles and her partner Jack.....the super organised campers who had a playstaion and DVD player in their tent.... hehehe....its definitely the way to go!

Artis-Anne (or Eluned on Ravelry) who was a complete twinkly star, as she helped me dry out my coat after putting up the tent in the pouring rain...thankyou my love :)

ClaireUk who hatched a plot with me at Tebay services to get Livvy spindling.....and travelled there and back with Lottie, to keep her (in)sane :D

And finally, a random picture of something that is dear to my heart.....yay for Tebay Services!!!

The Three Fluffskateers :)

This was one of 8 photos we tried to take......and my prequel to a huge, pic heavy Woolfest post.......

Just wanted to thank my bestestaroOONie friends, for making our Woolfest weekend the best weekend ever :)

Woolfest post to come........ ;)

Woolfest here I come!!!

Leaving in a mo to go up to Woolfest, am so excited!!!
Miffyrabbit is driving, we'll have Foo Fighters on the stereo......and a weekend away from it all doing what we love, all best friends together, and Lottie is coming tonight!!!
Also be seeing lots of people there I know from blogland and Ravelry........its gonna be so much fun!
Watch out for a picture heavy post when I get back, so all you guys who couldn't make it can feel like you were right there with me.... :)

Laters Alligators!!!

Last dyeing day before Woolfest :)

100g of BFL fibre, dyed up to be donated to the Mirasol Raffle!!!

100g Corriedale Fibre "Pink Devil" for my etsy shop

Another 100g of Corrie, "Neptune", again for etsy :)

Peru, 3ply BFL

I couldn't wait for it to dry to take pics, so it hasn't fluffed up at all yet....but you get an idea of the colours!!! I am so pleased with it.......I finished plying it at 11pm last night!!!

Don't forget to buy lots of raffle tickets at Woolfest, there are going to be some mega fabarOOnie prizes!!!

Peru...singles ready to ply

A colourful collaboration

Myself and my friend Zoe from Rainbow Daze are doing a collaboration, and I've spun some very special wool to make shorts to go with some of her tees.....

Here's a sneaky peak of them....

Floribunda Stuffienappy Set

Finished the woollies last night......I am really pleased with the leg cuffs!!!

A fist full of sock yarn :)

I had a play with kettle dyeing in my slow cooker yesterday, which was a lot of fun.....

The base yarn is Wendy Merino superwash 4 ply in white.....

I dyed them all a solid colour first, then squirted on other colours once the dyepot was good and steamy. The dyes exhausted immediately, because of the fact that the yarn was superwash, and also 'cos of the heat.....


Here's the results anyway......they'll be going into my etsy shop at some point this week :)

LottieRu

Neptune

Goblin

Don't let it all Unravel.....

Saw this on MiffyRabbit's blog.....and I thought I'd share....

Don't let it all unravel

Peru

I have been doing some dyeing today, 300g of BFL sliver from Bluefaced.com

Andy from Bluefaced is going to be selling raffle tickets at Woolfest to help the Mirasol project, and he put a shout out to all his customers, asking if they could donate a raffle prize for it.

Here's the beginnings of my contribution...

My inspiration for the colours in this yarn came from googling Peru and then looking at the pictures. I couldn't pin one colour scheme down, so I thought, "Hey, I can do 3 ply now, why not just do all colours?"
So thats what I intend to do....one ply of each colour.... :) Its gonna be interesting!!!



The Mirasol Project is named after a young Quechua girl who, with her brother, tends 350 alpacas. Its aim is to fight poverty and encourage community development. As well as providing accommodation, meals and health-care, the boarding-house will be a centre where the children can develop personal, occupational and communication skills and study techniques in specialised after-school workshops. The centre will foster the principles of peace, tolerance and equality with a respect for human rights and basic freedom. As well as an awareness of other cultures, the centre will also focus on the preservation of the language, culture and tradition of the children and their families. The architectural design of the boarding-house makes use of local materials and know-how. In its physical, social and educational aspects, value is placed upon local knowledge However, in addition to preserving local traditions, the centre has a creative and innovating function in preparing its children for a changing and challenging future.

So, if you are coming to Woolfest this year, be sure to find one of Andy's helpers, or Andy himself, and buy a raffle ticket!!! All the money will go to a really good cause, and you can also be in with a chance of winning lots and Lots and LOTS of yummy yarn!!!

Fibre a-go-go !!

This is a custom dye, 400g of Corriedale fibre :) Its turned out really well I think...considering I've never ever attempted such a huge amount of the same dyelot before!!!

Socks!!!!

Finally, I have finished these, I started them in February!!! I love them, knitted with Opal Handpainted sock yarn, in the colourway "Autumn Melody". The pattern I used is the Cable twist sock pattern, from Adrian Bizilia at Hello Yarn. Its a lovely simple pattern, that shows up really well with variegated yarn....

Two Little Customs

Caramel Candy, newborn size, Organic merino Aran

Lottieru, small size, Organic Merino Aran

These have been made for a very loyal customer of mine, for her 3rd child :) This will be the 3rd of her babies I have woollied!! I am very pleased with them, and I hope she will be too...

Something else I did today.....

My first roving to be put up for sale!!! Its listed over on etsy if anyone is interested ;)

Approximately 100g/4oz of Corriedale, hand dyed by me, in subtle shades of Purple, Pink and Blue :) The pictures show the top and the bottom of the fibre, so you get a good idea of the colour saturation.

I can do 3ply, I can do 3ply..... **sings**

I can't believe I actually made this!!! It was so easy and quick to ply together......

I've named this creation "Guinevere II", as its a little different from the original....

One single is of variegated Corriedale, spun from pencil roving, one is a single of gold/burgundy/cobalt blue merino, to make it self stripe, and the third single is black merino. The colour changes will come approximately every 13yds of yarn.

Some more new colours!!!

"Phoenix" on Organic Merino Aran

"Gazania" on Organic Merino Aran

They'd only been in the shop less than 5 minutes, and Phoenix sold.......hehehe