Wonderful Woolfest

Thursday saw us drive to the Lake District for Woolfest, we arrived at our secret * B & B destination at 4.30pm, it was raining about as heavy as I think it could and you couldn't help but think of other bloggers coming up who were camping, because the weather was horrendous.

Friday I spent my first full day at Woolfest, quite alot of the time I felt like I was walking around in a daze with so much to see, and do. My first purchase was a 2nd hand Jumbo Flyer for my Ashford Traditional.

I obviously bought a little bit of fibre, it was my first chance to see and feel different breeds of sheeps fleece, and I came away with a little grey Shetland, which was baby soft. I chose some pick and mix colours from Wigham Wool, and bought a huge multi coloured batt of merino/silk. I bought some alpaca noil, just for blending and some rugmaking tools, a prodder and a hooker! Some bags of sari silk waste, again for blending and some stripey merino silk roving.

I also had a go at 'Longdraw' spinning with the Guild of Longdraw Spinners, something that will take a bit of practice quietly at home, not at a big fibrefest with people watching!

I also bumped into a couple of other bloggers for the first time, I recognised Celtic Memory Jo, from the photo on her blog, she just happened to have an armful of cones at the time! I also saw Ambermoggie, Wye Sue, and Woolly Wormhead struggling to get around, not because she has a poorly leg, but because everyone kept stopping her in her tracks to chat!

I also met a few new people at the Spin-In Friday night, I met Freyalynn, and I sat with the Eden Valley Guild of Spinners Weavers and Dyers, who were very welcoming and friendly.

Saturday morning started wet again, and we set off for a drive around the surrounding area, to take in the scenery. We got all the way down to Sellafield, the site of the Uk's first nuclear power station. It had been raining quite heavy all morning but just as we arrived and decided to have a look around the visitor centre, it got even heavier.

We drove back to Cockermouth and dh decided to go back to the B & B, I decided to make second visit to Woolfest, and made a couple of extra purchases. I bought some lovely sockstuff from Freyalynn, and a Bosworth featherweight spindle, I'd seen quite a few people using these top whorl spindles, getting them spinning on they're thigh and decided to give it a go.

Saturday evening was dry and Sunny and we took some photos on the way back to our B & B.

* I'm having to keep our B & B a secret, because I would like to stay there again for Woolfest 2008, shhhhh.

This is my Bosworth, I've been spinning a little merino laceweight, but I have also bought some Tussah silk to dye and spin, just wish it would stop raining!