YarnFest Updates and Courses!

Posted on 09/06/2015 by Jenni

Graham’s “Fitness Boot Camp” at YarnFest: Graham’s first “Fitness Boot Camp” attracted only a small response but those who attended were very happy with the results of their efforts and the instruction. The sessions are held each Saturday from 9.15 for 45 minutes and you can join these sessions at anytime, just turn up and enjoy, the classes are suitable for levels of current fitness from straggler to energetic! The Introductory sessions is £7.00, one off sessions are £10.00 though if you book a series of 10 sessions the cost is £7.00 per session.

YarnFest Sock Club: The next meeting is on Monday June 8th at 7 pm. Call Tracy at YarnFest with any questions. Craft Fair: This has been postponed until later in the year, the date is to be announced.

Sewing Drop-in: Come along any Tuesday from 10.00 —12.30 with Marlyn and Paula and talk sewing and everything craft over coffee, tea and biscuits. £2.00 per person. The next session is on June 9th.

Courses: See below for all our current courses. If you have any suggestions for courses that you would like to see held, please let us know and we will look into it for you.

Unwinders Knitting Group: This group meets at YarnFest every other Monday evening from 7.00 pm, the next meeting is on Monday June 15th. Either turn up or call Tracy at YarnFest for more details and benefits.

Tracy’s Crafters: Meet every Thursday evening at the shop from 7.00 pm. Call Tracy at YarnFest for more details and benefits.

Courses

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Beginners Crochet Workshop

Posted on 17/02/2014 by Jenni

Would you like to learn the art of crochet? Or do you know someone that would? Our new workshop will give you the skills you need to start creating some beautiful garments and more.

King Cole Bamboo Cotton Yarn Our great new workshop covers all the techniques and skills you need for crochet; from casting on to working with patterns. Join other learners in an informal setting, with refreshments provided.

This course, run by Gill Pittock, will be held on 1st March, from 2 till 5pm. The cost is £23, and spaces are limited so register quickly to get your place!

Yarn and hooks will be available to purchase in store on the day.

For more information, or to register, give us a call on 01635 201660 or email us enquiries@yarnfest.co.uk

Time to Start Wishing….

Posted on 07/02/2014 by Jenni

Valentines Day, Mother’s Day, Birthdays, Christmas… how many times have you wished to get what you actually want for a change?

It’s time to make life easier for your loved ones with our new in-store WishList! Next time you’re in store, and coveting some fancy yarn, a beautiful shade of DK or even some new needles or buttons, register your name and items with us and we’ll keep it on hand for any special occasion. You will have to let your friends and family know that you have registered, however (we can’t do everything!).

Changes to Opening Hours
We are closing on Sundays from February 9^th. Our opening hours Monday to Saturday remain unchanged from 9.00 am until 5.00 pm each day. We will review our Sunday opening policy on a regular basis based on our customer, staff and business demands

Knit and Natter
Knit and Natter times are changing! We’ll now be knitting and nattering from 2pm to 4pm, every Tuesday and Thursday.

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Crochet an Amigurumi Baby Easter Bunny Workshop

We’re offering a great chance for crocheters to master the skill of Amigurumi, by creating a baby Easter Bunny!

Amigurumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals and anthropomorphic creatures. It’s increasingly popular, and gives you the opportunity to make some really fun toys and decorations. With this workshop, run by Gill Pittuck on 22^nd March, you can create a lovely bunny, just in time for Easter.

Suited for those who already crochet, the cost for this day (10am – 4pm) is £42, and yarn will be available to purchase. Drinks and biscuits will be available throughout.

If you’d like to register for the course, call us on 01635 201660

January Sale!

Posted on 15/01/2014 by Jenni

Join us this January for our Sale! We’re clearing out the shelves for our upcoming Spring yarns, so it’s time to grab a bargain…

Get 50% off Adriafil, Sirdar, Colinette, Artesano and Manos Fancy Yarns (excluding Aran and Superwash Merino), Rowan, Selected Debbie Bliss, Scarf Yarns, clothing and Felting Kits.

Get 25% off King Cole, Selected Debbie Bliss, Cygnet, Artesano Aran and Superwash Merino, West Yorkshire Spinners, DY yarns, Stylecraft Allsorts and Weekender.

All Colinette and Artesano patterns are £1.00 each (current stock only)

While stocks last!

*This offer is for in-store stock only, excluding unpaid yarns ordered or held. Loyalty vouchers can not be accepted for payment on sale items. No refunds or exchanges unless goods are faulty.

DB Paloma

What’s New?

We’re looking forward to all the new yarns for Spring/Summer, especially as we’re increasing our ranges of King Cole, Cygnet and West Yorkshire Spinners. We’ve also got some lovely new buttons from Schoeller & Stahl coming in soon.

There are still some discounted packs of yarn available – with 50% off and patterns included, this is a great value offer on some lovely DK yarn including Stylecraft’s Astrakan and Safari.

Crochet Course for Beginners

We’ve had such a great response to our Knitting Course for beginners, which is now fully booked, we’re thinking of starting a Crochet Course for beginners too! This great course will take you through casting on to sewing up. There will be six lessons, every other Saturday (starting in January) to help you create your own garment from scratch.

You’ll work at your own pace, with expert tuition and support from the group. If you ever wanted to learn to crochet, or know someone who would like to, this is the perfect opportunity to learn from our experienced tutor in a friendly supportive environment.

There will be a fee for the course, as well as the cost of the yarn and needles for your chosen garment. If you’d like to register your interest for taking part in this course, call us on 01635 201660

Don’t forget 10% off for Pensioners every Friday!

We’re very happy to offer 10% off full price stock for pensioners every Friday. This offer does not apply to any discounted stock, and you may have to show some proof of age.

Knit & Natter

Don’t forget to join us every Tuesday and Thursday from 2.30pm to 4.30 p.m. for our Knit & Natter sessions. Join in with like-minded crafters and get help and advice on your knitting projects. We also offer a discount on yarns, a raffle, refreshments and, of course, a good old natter.

New Season – New Yarns!

Posted on 09/10/2013 by Jenni

NewYarns The shop is now full to the brim with brand new yarns and patterns for Autumn and Winter season and we can’t wait to share them with you!

First up is Lumio, the yarn with a reflective thread, to make hats and scarves – great for young and old alike. This will keep all walkers and cyclists safe in the dark. There’s a lovely hat pattern to go with this yarn that’s really easy. It would make a fantastic Christmas present.

And thinking of Christmas, one yarn that has really divided opinion is King Cole’s Tinsel yarn. There are some great free patterns for this yarn that make up lovely scarves and a children’s bolero – just right for party season! Also with a bit of glitz, is King Cole’s Shine, a yarn with a silver thread running throughout with some fabulous patterns for cardigans and waistcoats.

Brand new from King Cole are Country Tweed DK in some super colours, Garland Yarn, a super chunky with fab patterns and King Cole Luxury Mohair.

New to us is Cygnet Superwash DK, is a pure 100% merino wool, with a good selection of colours, excellent value at £2.89 for 50g Ball!

Stylecraft Senses Stylecraft, a knitters favourite, have created a new lace weight yarn called Senses, with great colours, and stylish patterns.

Another brand new one, Weekender Super Chunky yarn is proving very popular and already loved by our customers, including our Pam and Yvonne.

So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to discover all these new yarns!

August News – Yarns of the Month!

Posted on 05/08/2013 by Jenni

Sirdar Ella Treat yourself this summer to our August Yarns of the Month! We have chosen the great suitably seasonal yarns Adriafil’s Margarita and Slogan, and are looking ahead with Sirdar’s Ella and Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino (including the new Autumn/Winter colours!).

Adriafil Margarita With 20% off these yarns, in all colours, all month, in store only, it’s a perfect time to think about your autumn and winter projects, or knit something special for a new arrival.

New Yarns & Patterns

There are some great new yarns and patterns in store. The new range of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino colours are wonderful, and there’s also a new pattern book too. New shades from Debbie Bliss Milano, and a new book, provides some great textured patterns ideal for Winter.

Art Yarns If you fancy something very special, we have some samples of Art Yarn, imported by Artesano. These American yarns are super soft – there are kid mohair & cashmere, silk & kid mohair and silk & cashmere blends, a 100% cashmere yarn, and one decorated with subtle sequins. You really do have to touch these yarns (you may never want to stop!). We won’t carry the skeins in stock, but they can be ordered very quickly!

Happy Birthday to Us

Thank you to everyone who came in during July and was entered into our birthday raffle. The winners were drawn by keen knitter, Fay Penlington, who, at just 12, loves knitting animals. Congratulations to the very lucky….

1^st Prize, £50 worth of YarnFest vouchers, Anne Emmens

2^nd Prize, £25 woth of YarnFest vouchers, Pauline Newman

Knitting & Crochet Courses

Workshops begin again in September – book now for beginners and advanced knitting and crochet!

Saturday 21^st September AM Beginners Knitting 10.00 – 13.00 (£23.00)

Saturday 21^st September PM Improvers Knitting 14.00 – 17.00 (£23.00)

(All day, both courses £42.00)

Saturday 28^th September AM Beginners Crochet 10.00 – 13.00 (£23.00)

Saturday 28^th September PM Improvers Crochet 14.00 – 17.00 (£23.00)

(All day, both courses £42.00)

If you want to start, need a refresher or want to extend your knitting or crochet skills, these are the courses for you! Our expert staff will guide you through casting on, types of stitches, following a pattern and other useful tips and techniques, as well as tackling an issues or particular problems you may have. Please bring your own needles/hooks and yarn, although these can be purchased in store beforehand.

More courses will be announced in our September newsletter!

A Quick Knitted Gift

Elaine has a lovely simple free pattern for a choker and bracelet that is quick to knit and looks fab. Ideal for gifts for any fashionable lady you know, or as a quick chunky accessory, visit us in store now to find out how to do it.

Elaine used Adriafil Margarita yarn to create these stunning accessories, which you can now get a 20% discount on this month. Stock up now!

What to knit in the summer

Posted on 17/07/2013 by Jenni

As the heatwave continues, is your knitting? It’s hard to know what to knit in the summer – your hands are sweaty, the yarn is warm and it’s just too tempting to do nothing instead! We’re not going to stop you if you just want to lie in your garden and soak up some rare rays of sunshine. But if you do fancy a bit of knitting and crochet, we think we have some great yarns for you!

King Cole Bamboo Cotton Yarn is proving really popular at the moment, and not just because of Elaine’s great V Neck top (see left), which is a great lightweight item. Ideal for summer evenings and a few rounds of golf perhaps? It’s taken from a King Cole pattern with a few adjustment around the neck line, so email us for more detials.

Bamboo Cotton is also great for baby clothes – again they are lightweight in this weather, but also a lot kinder for baby soft skin – less itchy and prone to reactions. And, of course, machine washable! We can see why this yarn is flying off the shelves.

King Cole Bamboo Cotton Yarn

Raffia Yarn is another yarn that’s great to knit and crochet with over the summer – this papery material is fab for creating bags and unique garments. Have a look at one of our last blogs about Rafia Yarn for more details.

One skein patterns are also great in this weather – not some many materials to take around with you if you’re knitting on the move (by the pool, on the beach – we can dream!) and you can get a head start on (whisper it) your Christmas gifts…. With the new Manos Alegria Superwash yarn in some fantastic colours and with lots of one ball patterns for scarfs, socks and much more, we’d recommend having a skein in your handbag this July!

So – what are you knitting or crocheting this summer? Or have you just got your hands on a nice Margarita?

Summer knitting

Posted on 22/05/2013 by Jenni

So, just what do you knit in the summer? Traditionally a quiet time for knitters, crocheters and other wool lovers, as the days get warmer and the layers come off – but we just can’t keep our needles and hooks down for that long! So this week we looked at summer knitting ideas.

King Cole Opium Scoop Neck Top The King Cole Opium yarn is a great example of some simple summery knitting. One pattern that’s been really popular is the boat/scoop neck top. It’s a simple knit, goes up to larger sizes and looks great on. The pattern allows it to be layered and it’s a great cover up on a summer evening. The colours available are fab too, just right for updating your wardrobe. Have a look at the King Cole Opium patterns here.

Another interesting yarn for summer is Adriafil Raffia – we love the Adriafil yarns at the moment, but the different textures creating by the paper yarn can allow for some lovely lightweight creations. We had a look at these recently on our Adriafil Raffia yarn’s blog post.

It can get chilly in the winter evenings too – a throw or shawl might be handy to wrap up with on the sofa, or even outside on the patio if you’re having a BBQ and there’s a nip in the air! Our great Colinette throw kits are great for this – they come in a lovely array of colours and really are gorgeous yarns.

Pinterest is always great to find pinsperation! We’ve created a summer knits board on Pinterest for you to have a look at. There’s some lovely jumpers and throws, some of which are links to free patterns, with cool lace or fancy yarn that will be just right for when it gets a bit warmer. There’s also some knitted shorts on the board – we’re not quite sure if we’d be brave enough to wear them on the beach! Would you? Add to that a knitted tie, a crochet ice cream sundae and a raffia bag – that’s summer all sewn up, isn’t it?

Sirdar Cotton Yarns Of course, one reason to get excited about Summer is the new Autumn/Winter ranges on the way! We’re already looking forward to news from Rowan, Artesano and Sirdar.

So, what will you be knitting over the summer? We’d love to know!

YarnFest Staff Profile: Elaine

Posted on 09/05/2013 by Jenni

Ever wanted to know more about YarnFest staff? We asked our newest member of staff, Elaine, about her yarn-based skills, recent projects and hobbies outside the shop!

When did you first start to knit?

My first lesson was at Primary School, when I was seven. I can remember my first project very clearly – a coat hanger cover in royal blue, in garter stitch. I can remember thinking that the ball of wool looked like a banana – not like my mum’s at all! Other projects included a cravat, and socks in Junior School, and I never looked back from there.

What skills do you have? Apart from knitting, I am learning to crochet. It is a bit of an enigma to me, but I will not give in! I had my first lesson a month ago, and I have recently completed my first project, a snowflake to use as a gift tag at Christmas.

I can also knit Fair Isle, and can cross-stitch. For my first Goddaughter’s Christening I cross-stitched a Winnie the Pooh Alphabet, which took 18 months, from when the pregnancy was announced to finishing it on the morning of her Christening! She still has it on her wall today.

What else do you get up to? Golf – When I’m not at YarnFest, I’m on the golf course. I have one white hand, and one brown hand! I also like to cook, and I read knitting magazines and books like there’s no tomorrow.

What projects have you got on the go? I’m currently working on a golfing top/slipover for display in the shop, as well as a sample of the Colinette throw knitting kit. I also always have a pair of socks on the go!

I’ve recently finished the King Cole Opium scoop neck top in red (above) that’s displayed in the shop now. It won’t be there for long though, as it will be going on holiday to Gran Canaria with me soon!

We hope you’ve enjoyed the YarnFest staff profile! See you next month for more!

March News – Comic Relief & 20% off King Cole yarn

Posted on 13/03/2013 by Jenni

Get knitting for Comic Relief!

We’ve got something very special planned for Red Nose Day this month – we’re attempting to knit the longest scarf in the world (or at least Hermitage!) and every time you visit us you can do your bit for the record.

Knit one row, or knit five, but help us reach our target. If you could give a donation too, we’ll love you even more. How far can we go? Can we attempt a loop around Hilliers? We’ll keep you posted on Facebook & Twitter during the month.

Gifts and Treats!

If you are looking for something glamorous this month, we have the most amazing gift in store – Lanas Stop Foglia. This yarn, available in black or white, knits up to a feather boa effect that feels lovely and looks great.

Don’t forget our free pattern for a lacey shawl too, available in store or online – just two balls of Zip Ladder yarn will create a great little wrap. Perfect for Spring/Summer and costing around £10, a bargain! We’ve also got some lovely needle felting kits coming in from Gillian Gladrags. Make your own needle felted fish or penguin!

A great day out at unravel!

Thanks to all that joined us on our day trip to unravel. A great day was had by all. We managed to spend loads of money on fabulous yarns and more, as we braced the crowds and our sore feet! We’re already looking forward to next year.

New Workshops

We’ve got some great new workshops for you in April and May, including the return of our extremely popular Broomstick Crochet course!

Professional Finishing Techniques – Saturday April 20^th 10.00 – 1.00, 2.00 – 5.00 (AM/PM session or All day) Find out how to finish and sew up your projects professional with our course. Bring a garment with you, or some 10” squares, and we’ll help you conquer that part of the project that most of us dislike! Maximum of 6 persons. Cost – £23.00 per session or £42 to attend all day.

Knitting Stitches / How to improve your knitting – Saturday May 4^th 10.00 – 1.00, 2.00 – 5.00 (AM/PM session or All day) Suitable for beginners, this course will introduce you to some popular knitting stitches and help you improve your knitting (or even get started, if you’re a complete beginner!). Maximum of 6 persons. Cost – £23.00 per session or £42 to attend all day.

Broomstick Crochet – Saturday May 18^th 10.00 – 4.30 (All day) Back by popular demand! Big knitting needles will be provided. Crochet hooks and yarn will available to purchase on the day. Cost – £45.00

Refreshments will be available in our shop and lunches can be purchased in the Coffee Shop on site.

Please bring along a selection of coloured yarns with needles and hooks to suit your course.

If you’d like more information about broomstick crochet, then have a look at the news section of our website or come into the shop to have a look at our sample.

New products in

We have some many wonderful yarns arriving in store this month; we’re running out of space to put them! First up in some beautiful Italian yarn, by Adriafil. We’re getting huge selection – there’s Egyptian cotton, yarns with shimmer, fancy yarns, Angora… far too many to list! We’re also getting some complete kits from DMC, called zpagetti. This unique yarn is made from offcuts of fashion garments, like t-shirts. It consists of strips of high quality cotton and is ideal for easy and quick crocheting and knitting. Look out for complete kits to make bags, rugs, cushions and more.

We can’t quite feel summer in the air yet but we do have some lovely Sirdar Cotton yarns in – Ella gives a beautiful subtle shimmer and Americana has a more wholesome feel. Worth picking up for lighter projects! We’ve also extended our range of HiyaHiya interchangeable knitting needle sets.

Knit & Natter –Tuesdays & Thursdays!

Our Knit & Natters take place on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 2.30pm. Along with help and advice on your knitting projects, we also offer a discount on yarns, a raffle, refreshments and, of course, a good old natter!

Don’t forget to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@Yarnfest1)

Dolly's Blog

Knit & Natter from Dolly & her friends at YarnFest

Category Archives: Crochet