Guys. Guys! I got back from Edinburgh Yarn Fest yesterday morning, and let me tell you: it was totally worth 10.5 hour bus journeys each way and the ensuing leg cramps.
I arrived on Friday morning, delirious from lack of sleep on the bus. I dropped my stuff at the Air B&B, washed my face, and off I trundled to the fest.
I had a weekend wristband, so it felt…weird…to be passing up the massive line of people waiting for day tickets. Call me aggressively polite if you must, but I still apologized to everyone I made eye contact with!
Day one I vowed not to make any purchases, so as to really think about what I wanted. I know that some go to EYF to do a major stash attack, but my stash has already been attacked recently at Unravel, and I need to focus on THE BOOK.
I found the Crochet Project stall with Kat Goldin, and bought the Shawl Project 3 book. (Get it here!) I loved the first two books: after I learned the basic crochet stitches, they taught me loads about structure and how each stitch actually works. It’s a good thing I bought it on day 1: they sold out!
I also found this natural dyed beauty from Phileas Yarns and I fell in love. I almost never use orange yarn (with the exception of the Pumpkin Juice cowl, free pattern) because it looks awful on me. Still, I couldn’t resist these vibrant colours and the fact that some wizard managed to get colors this bright with natural dyes. Sorcery.
I went to the Friday evening party: a traditional ceilidh with a rocking Scottish band and enough food to feed a hungry water buffalo (ie me).
Day 2
Day two resulted in a couple more purchases, both were things I’d spied the day before. I found this needle gauge from The Knitting Gift Shop, and I absolutely couldn’t resist. “We had sheep yesterday but we sold out,” the vendor said. “I LOVE OWLS,” I screeched like a socially inept forest dweller who only interacts with birds of prey.
I also got this gorgeous bag from Kettle Yarn Co: I spent ages waffling about which bag I wanted (all of them) before settling on this cutey. It appeals to my inner hippie-punk. I’d live in an abandoned remote cottage if I could still do my (internet based) job: can you get high speed internet when you’re 40 miles from the nearest store? I’d probably be safe in the event of a zombie apocalypse, anyway.
On a more serious note, I met some seriously amazing people at EYF this year. In a chaotic world, it’s a special kind of respite to spend a weekend with people who are kind, creative, and collectively The Best. To those of you I met this weekend: we will meet again, because you can’t get rid of me that easily.
EYF is a celebration of community and craft, and I’m already counting down the days to next year.