Yarn Shop Day 2018

Did you get out to your local yarn shop last Saturday?  Lots of people made it to Black Sheep Wools where I spent my day – it was fab!  It never feels like any kind of work to pass the time in a yarn shop talking about socks, and I had such a lovely time.  I met beginners and experienced knitters, admired socks on feet and on needles and hope that I’ve encouraged a few more people to give sock knitting a go.

There are still signed copies of Super Socks at the craft barn if you want a copy but didn’t get chance to get there on Saturday.

Also at Black Sheep Wools were Emma Varnam with an ark’s-worth of her gorgeous knitted toys …

I’ve had the opportunity to spend some time with Emma recently, as well as at the Black Sheep workshops that we’ve both attended, and she’s as lovely and smiley in real life as she is in the photo.  She’s also a seriously talented designer; her toys have got such nice proper faces and she can turn her hand to anything – she was showing off her hand-knitted socks on Saturday as well!  Emma’s written several books, including one on her knitted animals and her latest, Granny Square Weekend, which has some great quick, stash-busting patterns.  You can see Emma’s books here.

Debbie Tomkies was demonstrating hand-dyeing skills.  She regularly holds dyeing workshops at Black Sheep Wools so if this takes your fancy, have a look here to see the upcoming dates.  These are hand-dyed yarns and projects knitted in them …

yep, my sock radar was on …

Every time I saw Debbie she was busy preparing for the next demonstration – I’d have liked to have stayed to watch but the shop was very busy and I had socks to discuss.  I did admire Debbie’s hair!

I didn’t ask if she used the same dye 🙂

Last but not least, Melanie Boocock who is Black Sheep’s resident Rowan expert, was teaching people how to knit.  She was so busy!  From her first “customer” …

to whole groups of them later in the day, Melanie was kept busy showing techniques and answering questions.  Between us, Emma, Debbie, Melanie and I had all the bases covered!

It was such a good fun day; one of many that were taking place all around the country as people came out in force to celebrate their bricks and mortar yarn shops.  They’re not just places to spend money, they’re places to create communities, to learn skills and to meet new friends, and I am quite sure that plenty of that took place in villages, towns and cities all around the UK.

I was very proud to be part of it all, and here’s to next year’s Yarn Shop Day!

Huge thanks to Black Sheep Wools for inviting me to be part of their Yarn Shop Day celebrations and keeping me topped up with tea and the best egg sandwiches in Culcheth 🙂

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5 Responses

  1. Susan Rayner says:

    Such a wonderful shop and you are so lucky to live near it! I still remember last July's get together there – such a shame we have no local yarn shops left at all in our area!! Lucky customers of BSW to have such a wonderful day last Saturday!

  2. Lazy Days & Sundays says:

    Looks like you all had a fabulous time Christine.

  3. Elizabeth Wittig says:

    You are so lucky to have a proper yarn shop. There is a tiny corner in John Lewis where I know they hide the sock yarn – but I've used all 8 of the colours they have in stock!

  4. susan q says:

    i love Emma's granny square jacket! very retro

  5. selina says:

    looked like a really great day! wonderful socks there too!
    thanx for sharing

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