When Pepper went down for her nap today, the big girls, my sister Meg and I headed off to The Yandoit Lesbian Wool Festival.On the flyer it warned us that only women would be allowed in and that only lesbians would be allowed to exhibit.
As soon as we walked into the hall, the girls were whisked off for a lesson in felt ball making.
They loved it and rolled and rolled and rolled.
To be honest, as much as I love the look of felt, I just cannot seem to get past that yellow soap smell. Ewww.
With the girls otherwise occupied, it left us free to watch the spinning lesson,
to appreciate the displays,
to add another bunting example to my inspiration, (this one is sewn straight onto blanket squares and was made by the amazing Alanah who put the whole festival together),
to partake in a bit of retail therapy,
to search for the perfect buttons,
and to touch, smell and discuss the wool with the spinner/dyer/felter/shearer. I bought that pink hand dyed, hand spun wool in the top of the basket. It has a sparkle through it and is totally divine.
There were granny square lessons, (the woman on the right won that felted shawl in the raffle),
and gorgeous examples of woolly crafts like this nest.
We all loved the whole festival. It had such a warm, community feel to it. It was wonderful to be able to discuss all things wool with people who wanted and cared to discuss it. And it was great to be able to ask the silly questions I've been thinking about with no one to ask. Yes, crochet uses about 20% more wool than knitting and yes, some painted wool patterns are better suited to crochet because they have wider blocks of colour. I also found a spinning teacher which is a bit exciting.
I've come home with some beautiful wool to add to the stash and a thought that I might have to beg Alanah to make an exception and let me be part of it next year.I hope you enjoy what's left of your weekend. X
Now that sounds like the right place to be on a cold winter's day! I love those stripey yarns and buttons, and the bunting is gorgeous too. Maybe the girls can do the felting instead of you, I havent been motivated to do it either as yet, although needle felting sounds like fun. Did you purchase any lovely wools! I assume the van is a letterbox, what a clever idea!
ReplyDeleteI'm in loooove with that bunting too. What a lovely little festival.
ReplyDeleteI have so incredibly jealous, what a fabulous place to mingle, learn and shop.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice way to spend a few hours, being around like minded people, learning new things, very inspiring. I've got that warm fuzzy feeling again. Goodnight darling.
ReplyDeleteOooh, that looks interesting & a bunch'o'fun, I love the wool blanket bunting - I've been meaning to make something like that since I got Amanda Soule's book... but... you know... stuff & blah & excuses...
ReplyDeleteOh, I want that wool...and the buttons...and to make some felted beads. What a lovely day.
ReplyDeleteOh I just love the 'Goodnight Darling' Bunting ...and what a crackin' name for a festival!!
ReplyDeleteWe once almost bought a bock of land in Yandoit. It wasn't to be however. That look like a wonderful way to spend a day and you can't say I didn't warn you that it was a slippery slope from knitting to spinning :). One last thing can you pretty please let me know who was selling those beautiful batts in the photo with the handpainted yarns in front, I can't quite make out the labels (she says completely innocently and all in the name of research as she is well aware that she is not a firm no buying buying woolly stuff :))
ReplyDelete(my verification word was lowly, how Richard Scary hehe)
i would love to have spent the day there with you guys. hmn, i did think the crochet was a bit wool greedy,,,as you are wrapping it round the needle so much. :) xx
ReplyDeleteOh, how I wish I could have been there.... it looks such fun, all those wools and colours, I love felting but never have enough time to do much, & I wish I could learn to crochet... Is that your letterbox? I have just shown that to my brother and he wants one... he is in the process of doing a VW van up.
ReplyDeleteOur two towns and their surrounds should so be sister cities. That gorgeous little festival is so very much like somehting that would be held up here it makes me giggle at the similarities... I love felt but a friend and I always joke you can love it but if I ever see you earing it I will have to step in.... and hi to Meg! xx
ReplyDeleteyou sound like you had such a lovely day! And that wool... yarn porn!!!
ReplyDeleteLook forward to seeing your spun wool. I have a loom here but havnt yet mastered it.
Girls are so cool! And a whole group of them "doing and sharing" is even better. Looks great!
ReplyDeleteI'm with chunkchooky,
ReplyDeleteI've lived near both Bellingen and daylesford and they are so simialr in a lot of ways, the people, the community...of course the weather is a bit different.
what a gorgeous festival and wonderful sounding day.
ReplyDeleteMight have to pay a visit to it next year. Especially if you were to exhibit, I do hope they let you.
Loving that bunting too xo
Looks like fabulous fun + that bunting is amazing! Kx
ReplyDeletep.s. love your letterbox too!
Yay you will love spinning, you get such a feel for the wool :-) All that homespun looked yummy and you were very restrained to only buy one skein!
ReplyDeleteLooked like a great day out really making me want to get my spinning wheel out now.
ReplyDeleteThat just looks like such a great day !
ReplyDeleteSuch a great little festival for the winter days! Looking forward to see what you create with that yarn.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to think yarn here as we are in the midst of a sticky heat wave. Which reminds me, must collect the eggs before they are soft cooked.
Have a lovely day!
Wish I had been there it looks fascinating! A friend of mine used to spin the wool from her black and white sheep and then knit it into black and white fairisle jumpers. Amazing !!
ReplyDeleteIs that VW a letterbox? We've got a 67 split screen panel van kombi and we love it dearly. Sonya
ReplyDeleteOh What a beautiful festival, I would have loved wondering some woolies too :)Thanks for sharing!And good luck with the spinning :)xx
ReplyDeleteI'm a big believer in "signs", things just smacking us in the face when we need them. I am in a twit about the coming school year and the changes in my job, not my position, but the things that are going to change and not for the better. As I scrolled your post I saw the banner on the wall that said, "It Will All Be OK" and it stopped my breath. It's a message, just for me. I'm supposed to stop worrying and just let it be. It Will All Be OK. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteAnd while I'm at it, your knitting is so amazing for someone who just picked it up a couple of months ago. First, that you get so much done so fast, and second, no noticeable mistakes....and believe me I scan the computer screen looking for them because you just can't be this good at something new so quickly!
oh wow looks like a lot of fun! I really like the photo of your girls with the lady teaching them how to do the little balls and the other one where the lady is learning to knit! there's something really precious about seeing someone learning something new!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great looking festival. The girls did well with their felt balls.
ReplyDeleteOh oh I just LOVE IT! As a proud lesbian yarnophile I just adored this post!
ReplyDeleteI hunted a lesbian crafters group on ravelry, and no love... I may be part of a minority I think!
Love the wool you bought, you were so restrained!
Oh what a great fun find, the yarsn colours are stupendous and as for what you bought, it almost looks edible ;)
ReplyDeleteAt my house today my bum has been firmly planted in front of this screen since 10am. Sad isn't it? Have been on the hunt for lots of things ... during August brain switches to schemeing mode ... all good ;)
Oooo you won't know yourself with new insulation, you'll find it hard to make a move too Kate ;-)
Have a magical week Darling ;-) ♥♥♥♥♥
that goodnight darling bunting is gorgeous. thanks for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteHELLO! thanks so much for this wonderful report! it is fantastic. it was a pleasure to have you and meg and the little ones come be with us again.
ReplyDeletei need to clarify one thing... it's actually my partner anah who organises the event each year and i help run it.
the little nest thing i made is a nest decorator. for birds to come and grab threads and bits to decorate their nests with.
and finally, for @mary, here is where you can buy those beautiful batts:
http://lyndysstash.com/
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