Behind the scenes at Yarndale 2015 – part 2

I was up early on the Saturday morning of the Yarndale weekend.  Too early, it turned out, for the kitchen to be open at my hotel but I got to see the sun rise over the hill.  It was going to be a good day!

Up at the Auction Mart, there was a flurry of last minute preparations such as putting out the brochures ready to hand out as visitors arrived.

The exhibitors too were busy doing their own last minute preparations.  Everywhere was a-buzz with anticipation for 10am when the doors would officially be opened.

I’ve only been to Yarndale on a Sunday before so the busy-ness of Saturday was a revelation to me. This was a quiet moment early on – later in the day the Knit n Natter lounge was full, Lucy disappeared behind crowds of visitors and the seating areas were crammed with people knitting, crocheting, eating lunches, chatting and watching the world go by.  It was exactly what the Knit n Natter Lounge was intended for.

The day whizzed past in a bit of a blur.  I spoke to so many people, admired socks, talked very proudly about the Yarndale Sock Lineand helped out with a few sock-related problems.  I delved into people’s shopping bags, ooh and ahhed and squished yarn, and met friends old and new.  It was a really lovely day.

Sunday’s weather wasn’t quite so promising.  You’d be forgiven for thinking that I was showing you a picture of a different view, but it’s exactly the same one from out of my hotel window – but without the hill!  It had completely disappeared in the mist, and it was noticeably cooler.

The number of visitors to Yarndale on the Sunday was noticeably less, too.  I think as a visitor it will have been a much more pleasant day to come as there were times on Saturday when I think it must have been pretty much impossible to get close to some pens.  I did my bits of shopping on Sunday too, either early on before the doors opened or just as the festival was closing down.

Once the last visitors had left, we started to dismantle everything.  It seemed such a shame to take away all the bright bunting, the socks and the blankets from the Knit n Natter Lounge, but I’m sure they wouldn’t have been deemed necessary by the farmers who would be back for their sheep sales during the week.  Soon, apart from a few bags and tables, you would never know we had been there.

Out in the main pen area, the stands were being dismantled as quickly as they went up.

It was all hands on deck to get the bunting down from the Hub.  The Flowers for Memories were carefully rolled up ready to be moved, and the rest of the shop stock was stacked so that it could be stored and put on the Yarndale website later on.

The light was fading fast and the pens were empty.  All the bunting was down, the chairs were stacked and the rubbish collected.

Did it feel eerie?  No, just rather forlorn, this time.  A bit like when Christmas Day is over and all the relatives have gone home, leaving memories of a fun time and lots of tidying up.  At last I said my goodbyes to the rest of the team and headed for the doors.

I was rather sad to leave the Auction Mart for the last time that weekend.  Outside, the exhibitors’ car park was empty apart from the last one or two vans and my car sitting all alone.  The moon was like a huge bright shining penny in the sky – it was actually the night of the Blood Moon, a super full moon eclipse.  I liked that.  After such a lovely weekend, it seemed right that even the moon should be doing something special.

Back home, I was delighted to see my husband and my girls again.  They were full of what they had been doing over the weekend and hadn’t really missed me too much at all.  We sat and exchanged our news for a while and then in was time to get ready for bed – small daughter was already in her pyjamas and yawning widely.  The next day would be back to school and work … Yarndale 2015 was over.

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15 Responses

  1. Rachelradiostar says:

    It's been fascinating to see it go up and then come down again – I have taken note, I think I'll come in the Sunday next year! X

  2. Run Home To Crochet says:

    A lovely read from behind the scenes – you have made me think perhaps Sunday in 2016 xx Joy xx

  3. Angel Jem says:

    How brilliant to get an insight into the behind the scenes! Such a lot of work, and well worth it! I loved it this year, and I'll be there again next year as well!

  4. Wainwright and Wright.Co says:

    I have really enjoyed your posts of Yarndale, you have given those of us who couldn't make it feel like we were almost there! Thanks for sharing! And yes I agree, what a lot of work goes into it all.
    Caz xx

    • Winwick Mum says:

      Oh good, I'm glad you've enjoyed the posts, Caz! I thought it was fascinating to see how it all got put together than then taken down so quickly – the weekend seemed to fly by! xx

  5. Sarah ~ One Hundred and One Tales says:

    That's a lovely write up Christine. It was lovely to see you there and have a chat. I'm even in one of your photos…blurry and in the background yes, but I'm there! It looks so sad after its all packed away, you are right, it is like Christmas is over. The mart is back to its usual business now, the sheep have moved back in. All done and dusted for another year. The memories are in those photos though…xxx

    • Winwick Mum says:

      Oh yes, there you are in the Knit n Natter Lounge! It was such a good weekend, here's to next year! xx

  6. The Little Farmhouse says:

    Love this post and love that tiny sock. So cute 🙂

    Corine

  7. Jo says:

    I bet there was a real buzz on the Saturday morning waiting for those doors to open. I know what you mean about how busy is was, I came on the Saturday last year but it was a little later in the day and there was a definite difference from how busy it was earlier in the morning this year. You'd have thought things were going to sell out the way people were pushing and shoving to get in to the stalls. I much prefer the calmer and friendlier feel later on in the day. I might even try Sunday next year if I can make it.

    • Winwick Mum says:

      It really was very busy, I was quite glad of the haven of the Knit n Natter Lounge and even in there it was jam packed at one point. Still, it's good to see so many visitors! xx

  8. Anonymous says:

    really enjoyed this account. Yarn dale was amazing. will be visiting again next year. third time. well done yarndale team x

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