Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018: Every Last Detail

This past March, I attended my third Edinburgh Yarn Festival. The festival was a lively mix of vendors, chatting, knitting, new friends and familiar faces, workshops, and so many woolly temptations. I’ll run through some of the things that I enjoyed most or that really drew my attention.

Each year, I write a thorough wrap-up of the weekend, but I had a lot going on this spring so the wrap-up was delayed. But, now it’s here just in time to get you excited for next year. For previous years’ posts, check out: Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2016 and Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2017.

Special note: I try to link to the artisans’, dyers’, and other sites/shops as well as where to buy commercially-produced items I saw at the festival. No affiliate links in these. If I linked to one of your shops but you prefer I link to a different URL, comment and I’ll update it ASAP.

Travel Highlights

The main difference with this trip to Edinburgh over any previous one (I’ve been six times total) is that this was my first trip to Scotland when I wasn’t pregnant or toting a baby around. Considering I only have two children, this is a bit of a surprise, just timing. But this trip was the first time I would have alcohol! Spoiler alert, I had a pint of cider on Saint Patrick’s Day and that was all since I’m not much of a drinker anyway. But it also meant I would sleep!

The Ocean Terminal to Airport Lothian 300 Bus route went between the airport, the Corn Exchange venue, and the street where our AirBnB was located. Winning!

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

The coolness to be greeted, by chance, by Chloë Forbes-Kindlen at the airport! She and I met through Content Marketing Academy in Edinburgh in June 2016. She is amazing! Check out her website.

Edinburgh yarn festival 2018 | evinok.com

Being able to have coffee in the AirBnB when I was tired first thing in the morning. Keep in mind, in March my baby AH still had not slept through the night so coffee was my morning ritual to jumpstart my brain.

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

We were there for Saint Patrick’s weekend and there was a nearby pub with this amusing and accurate sign on its front entrance.

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

One thing that I bothers me is when I dress or pack inappropriately for the occasion or weather. Growing up in DC, presenting yourself to portray your contextual awareness/intelligence is a value I was raised with. Packing just Converse for the weekend then getting stuck walking in the snow was not my brightest moment. Don’t worry, they cleaned up nicely once we got home to Cork.

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Thankfully, I could borrow a Baa-ble hat from Marseille. That’s Sweet Dreams knit by Kaystir keeping my neck warm.

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

The Teapot Trust: Website

The Teapot Trust provides professional art therapy to children with chronic illness in hospitals and other medical settings. In particular, they support children with complex Rheumatological conditions. You can follow their efforts via Twitter or learn more on their official website. From their ‘About’ page:

The Teapot Trust was set up in 2010 by Laura and John Young, following the death of their daughter Verity. Verity spent much of her short life in hospital coping with illness and managing the effects that her treatment (first for Lupus and then for cancer) had upon her young body. Art gave Verity a way of expressing herself and was an essential coping strategy for the whole family, so the Young’s wanted to help other children and families in the same situation.

The first art therapy service began in 2011 at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children (‘Sick Kids’) in Edinburgh and due to increased demand has continued to grow year on year.

We are called The Teapot Trust to symbolise the support, friendship, security, discussion, ‘rest-bite’ and relief that a cup of tea provides. Verity loved ‘proper’ tea (complete with a teapot and cake!) and we want to offer metaphorical cups of tea to people like her and their families who so desperately need support and comfort.

A lesser known fact is that I worked toward an undergraduate certificate in Art Therapy, but finished the rest of my degree two terms before my certificate would have been earned. But those courses were so rewarding, especially given my own childhood of chronic illness and experiences volunteering as a counsellor at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, Epilepsy Foundation Camp, and Boggy Creek Camp. I encourage you to learn more about art therapy and the difference it makes. The Teapot Trust sells lovely things in their online shop to raise funds for their work.

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Carol Feller: Website

Fellow Leesider, Carol Feller, had a booth with her designs, samples, as well as Fyberspates and her own yarn line Nua (pictured below). If you’re a fan of Carol Feller’s designs, you’ll know I’ve written about her before in my blog and interviewed her for an article in Interweave Knits.

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Russler shawl

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Bubble Dash Shawl

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Bubble Dash Shawl (left) and Birman Shawl (right)

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Coiled Magenta

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Bubble Dash Shawl (far left), Birman Shawl (left), Cymric Cardigan (top)Abys Cowl (middle)Coiled Magenta (bottom middle)

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Ravi Junior

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Half Moon Street and Mau Hat

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Citrus Dream

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Sugarcane Cardigan

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

So many samples in her booth! It was amazing.

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

WALK COLLECTION: Website

The colours are always fresh yet comforting at Walk Collection. They introduced a new display system this year that allowed a more efficient spread of their wool line in the limited space of a festival stall.

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

USCHITITA: Website

I’m in love with these!

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

TOFT: Website

They had a larger-than-life Highland Cow! I posed with it each morning.

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Thursday. Arrival day! You can see my luggage in the bottom right corner. I literally had just arrived from the airport.

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Friday!

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Saturday!

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Their collection of crocheted animals was impressive.

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Toft had drop-in tables to learn to crochet for these projects.

Edinburgh yarn festival 2018 | evinok.com

DAUGHTER OF A SHEPHERD: Website

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

TEXTILE GARDEN: Website

Oh, the buttons!

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

LYN ROBERTS DESIGN: Website

This silversmith crafts sterling silver crochet hooks as well as woolly-inspired jewellery.

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

I have a crush on these bee earrings. But, then again, I love most things bee-autiful.

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

YSOLDA: Website

With a spacious alcove near a coffee stall, Ysolda’s booth was quieter than it was last year. It gave time to consider colors, textures, and design. The emphasis on these things did not go unnoticed either. The Fair Isle vest Ysolda wore the day (Bruntsfield pattern, pictured below) was beyond beautiful. The wools in her stall were stunning and close to nature and had a warmth that felt like a country cottage. Squeaky bought a sweater’s worth of Finullgarn by Rauma. I bought two balls of the same yarn in yellow and pink. If you missed the festival, you can still buy this yarn online through Ysolda’s shop.

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

EASYKNITS.CO.UK: Website

Dressed to the nines, the lads at EasyKnits brought the usual bright hues and decadent sets that we’ve grown to love. I admired their new pattern, Zip Zap Swoosh, that uses minis and full.

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Nessie Knit Kits

Nessie and Mini Ginny Knitting Kit. Yes, I bought the kit. You can too!

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

My Haul

Yes, I was very well behaved. Too well behaved really. I meant to get something for Knitmas, but the best laid plans…

Finullgarn by Rauma in yellow and pink (not pictured) from Ysolda‘s shop. If I had bought this green and this navy, those would be my four favorite colors and prettymuch what’s in my closet (plus some white). This yarn is excellent for stranded colorwork.

Four skeins from Wollmeise, two of the same colorway, one in a tropical forest hue, and one in cream.

Martin’s Lab Bouncy Sport in Hilite colorway.

A bee-autiful stitch marker bracelet from An Caitin Beag

Just Keep Swimming stitch markers from The Little Grey Girl

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

EvinOK.com

At the time, I did not get a few things then dreamed about them for several weeks so I ordered them direct from the sources.

Upcycled vintage knitting needles turned necklaces from Yellow Bear Wares. Claire is now focusing on creating and eco-friendly small business making and selling reusable beeswax food wraps, make-up remover cloths, baby wipes, kitchen towels, and more!

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

This Ursa Major stitch gauge from Queen of Purls in Glasgow

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

AND MORE

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

A silicone yarn bowl!!!!

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

This one is a must if you love Star Wars and crochet. Buy it here. There are a few options.

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

The People

Kaystir and Kate of Hawthorn Cottage Craft Podcast.

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Trying to act cool beside Karie Westermann after taking her shawl workshop. Have you seen her book, This Thing of Paper?

Edinburgh yarn festival 2018 | evinok.com

Cheers! Marseille flew over from the States. The first thing we did was go for fish and chips at a pub! She is wearing the Advent-urous Shawl. I am wearing the OWLS sweater and Age of Brass and Steam.

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Marseille, Squaky, and I were a fab trio for the weekend.

Edinburgh yarn festival 2018 | evinok.com

Edinburgh yarn festival 2018 | evinok.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Squeaky and I have been roommates for three sequential EYFs. I still think her inner light shines bright.

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Ceci is beautiful inside and out. You’ll love her video with Kristy Glass Knits about EYF 2018. And her Instagram is motivational and inspirational and lovely. Here we are at the Harry Potter shop.

Edinburgh yarn festival 2018 | evinok.com

In 2016, we met Linda and ran into her again this year! She is so cool.

Edinburgh yarn festival 2018 | evinok.com

An Caitin Beag has amazing skills with metalwork and design. If you love cats, feminism, or cool metal notions, check out her shop! I bought this bee-autiful stitch marker bracelet!

Edinburgh yarn festival 2018 | evinok.com

Last morning. We’re tired.

Edinburgh yarn festival 2018 | evinok.com

Edinburgh yarn festival 2018 | evinok.com

Edinburgh yarn festival 2018 | evinok.com

Ondine: Website

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Maki Ramen: Website

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

The City

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com
Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Museum of Childhood: Website

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Diagon House – Museum Context: Website

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

What I Didn’t Buy

I have a thing for anchors and bees and maps.

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

Edinburgh Yarn Festival 2018 | EvinOK.com

What was your favorite part of EYF 2018? Or any other knitting/craft/crochet/yarn festival?

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