I’ve been on three days out with a textile theme over the last few weeks…
At the beginning of September there was the Northern Quilt Festival at Harrogate, this is held twice a year and it’s a nice sized show, not so big you get overwhelmed, it’s reasonably priced and free parking too!
It’s also small enough to take my mum to. We had a good day out, my daughter came too, she was a star, pushing my mum in her wheelchair round so I would have chance to look at the stalls I needed to look at. Of course I bought a few things, my mum bought a few kits too, I didn’t have the heart to say she couldn’t manage them anymore, she was happy in the moment, even though five minutes later she couldn’t remember buying them! There is one which is embroidery rather than cross-stitch, I’m hoping I might be able to make it into two kits and both do it together when I visit.
There were some beautiful quilts on display, we oohed and ahhed over them…
Here in the UK, every September there is a Heritage Weekend. Over the weekend lots of buildings open free to the public, many are ones which are not usually open, or they’ll be ones with interesting histories and they’ll have a tour guide, sometimes the building use has changed completely and you can see the old bits. I decided to go to Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley, it was fascinating.
It was owned for many years by William Gaunt and it was his grandson (or great grandson!) who showed us round and explained the history behind the mill. It was also an earlier ancestor who was one of the founder members of the first woolen mill there. We went up into a disused building, where I spotted an old Singer treadle base! We learned about the north facing roof windows and the importance of the area in the global wool industry in days gone by. Sunny Bank Mills sadly had to cease weaving a few years ago but the owners have managed to transform it into a business hub, which now employs more people than it did as a mill. It’s also by chance become the biggest hub of creative businesses in West Yorkshire.
They have set up an archive room as they are in a unique position of having a complete set of archives, a weaving record of every design they have ever made.
On Saturday I went over to Skipton to Yarndale, a wool and textile show held at the Livestock Auction Mart. You wrap up warm for Yarndale as the stalls are where the animals are usually held, so there’s no heating, it’s like one big barn! I was helping to man the Skipton Embroiderers Guild stand during the afternoon, so I got there early so I could have a look round.
It’s interesting people watching at these shows, the ones at Yarndale are completely different to those at the quilting shows, as my friend put it, they’re a lot more bohemian! Lots of brightly coloured hair and amazing knitwear!
I’m not really into knitting or crochet but I could admire the colours of the fine wools, they were beautiful!
There were some beautiful felted creatures on display, this stunning barn owl was by Archies Attic.
Of course I did find a few bits to buy!! One stall sold trims and had this gorgeous variegated ric-rac, it was a bargain at 30p a metre, so I bought all three colourways!! I also bought a fabric dying kit, it was a make mentioned on a course I went on recently and as it had all the extra stuff (such as mordant) you need I thought it was worth it to have a go. Another textile experimental pack looked interesting so that ended up in my bag too! I also bought a very pretty set of embroidered earrings!
All in all, three good days out. The next one planned is the Harrogate Knitting and Stitching Show at the end of November, I need to start saving now!
thecraftycreek 
That yarn looks gorgeous; I’m not a knitter or much of a crocheter but I’d have wanted to buy some just to look at, the colours are wonderful.
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I could have been tempted if it wasn’t around £15 per hank!
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Lucky you! I always drool over yarns in wonderful colors too even though I don’t knit or crochet. Can’t keep my hands off ’em either!
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It’s the colours that get me every time 🙂
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I am another drooler of beautiful yarns…I don’t knit or crochet, but I can admire it for sure. Love the history that you shared and your little treasures are very pretty! I look forward to seeing how you use them in the future! 🙂
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It’s probably a good job I don’t knit either as they were so many gorgeous yarns!
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Thanks for sharing these and is it really that soon until Harrogate?! The north seems to be a great place for shows and I’m happy you seem to have had a lovely time at them all
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It’s not long to Harrogate now, I do enjoy the shows 🙂
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I love the expression in the book The Artist’s Way, of the need to fill the well, so that you can draw on inspiration to fuel creativity. You have done this big style with your textile trips! How lovely that your Mum came too, I hope you find a way for her to enjoy her purchases.
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That’s a lovely expression – I’m not just going to buy lots of fabric, I’m filling my well of creativity 🙂
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There you go! The book advocates you take your self out on a date every week to do this.
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Not sure my bank balance would be very happy 🙂
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I was very touched by your Mum’s wanting to buy those kits – ‘happy in the moment’ is at least something isn’t it? Hopefully you’ll both be able to work on them together.
Of course, I do knit and crochet so would have to have whisked away some of those gorgeous yarns.
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The yarns were gorgeous, though at around £15 per hank they’re not inexpensive! Having read some peoples experience of dementia, we’re relieved that at least at the moment she is ‘happy in the moment’, she doesn’t get upset or frustrated by not being able to remember.
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I just retired and learning to knit is on my bucket list, but I do not want to accumulate wool like I have collected fabric! You always seem to find interesting places to visit. Glad to hear your Mom had a great day out with you and your daughter!
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My mum was a big knitter and ended up with a huge stash of wool – if she’d been with me for that trip it would have cost a fortune 🙂
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we also have National Heritage week end of Sept in France!
What a lovely visit you had, and well done on all the new stash!
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Well you’ve got to buy something at a show 🙂
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you do indeed ^^
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Wow sounds like a fabulous weekend! I would love to tour something like that.
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There’s all sorts of buildings open for Heritage Weekend
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oh what absolute fun!
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I love the photos you took Margaret, the first quilt is so creative, and that yarn….😍
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The yarn was just gorgeous – it’s a good job I don’t knit!
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I bet you were inspired by all that you saw. Nice shopping too.
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Oh, those yarns are sooo in my colourways❣️ Watched a video last night of this year’s Yarndale and saw sheep but didn’t realise the unheated setting. On the other hand, everyone wasn’t overheated wearing their yarny creations. Lol! Looking forward to your next yarny review in November. 🥰
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