The knitting and stitching show – Harrogate

Claire

Nov 28

A few weeks ago, during a miserable week, I received a very unexpected email … I had won a pair of tickets to the Knitting and Stitching show 2023 in Harrogate. I would like to thank http://www.keepcalmandcrochetonuk.com

Simon wasn't overly excited but I've been to multiple car shows/events so he was happy to join me. We decided to make a mini holiday around the show. We booked a hotel near to Bradford to explore part of West Yorkshire for a couple of days around the day in Harrogate for the show. The show was on from 16th-19th November. I chose to attend on Sunday 19th and had a 'shopping list' in mind.

We arrived in Harrogate at 10.30, the doors had recently opened. We entered and walked in to a large room with a mixture of stalls and exhibits.

Half way down the first room I could see the door to a second room with even more stalls, Simon was feeling very overwhelmed at this point, so I turned him around and told him to get a cuppa and leave me to it. I don't think I've ever seen him look more grateful.

Being alone gave me time to wander, ponder and enjoy the exhibits.

I loved the embroidered dusters and the festival of quilts. So clever and very beautiful. Many different styles from vintage to modern. The quality of the quilt work by the younger age group 12-14 years and 14-16 years was amazing. The embroidery guild had several displays and it was interesting to chat with some of the current students about their work and inspiration.

Remember at the beginning when I said I had a shopping list in mind … well, I started with a plan to buy wool/yarn for 3 projects. All for me and only for me. As a newcomer to a show the choice was overwhelming, so many colours, choice of fibre, yarn and prices.

I made my way to one of the seating areas and sat with a cup of tea and chatted to a few different people. It was interesting hearing what people had bought and reasons, it also gave me time to regroup and decide priorities.

I had bought a skein of Merino/Alpaca 4 ply from strictly hand dyed yarns, then a full skein and a mini skein pack of 100 % Merino in DK from yarn unique. Simon arrived just as the anxiety level was becoming an issue and I was stressed as the main pattern I wanted to buy for needed 4-5 skeins but it was all becoming a bit too much for my brain to cope with.

Simon took me for a time out in the theatre

It was good to move away and reset my brain, I had chosen the maker I wanted to buy from but needed help with colour choice, Simon was a lifesaver. He came back with me and talked through the options/choices with me. Having him there to go through pros and cons was perfect. I am so happy with the colour.

My reason for choosing Coastal Colours yarn for this pattern was the family connection. They are hand dyers based in Fleetwood, Lancashire. My auntie, sadly no longer with us, lived near to here almost all of her adult life so it's somewhere I have visited many times, with happy memories and I know I will be thinking of her when knitting with and wearing this wool.

I will (eventually) post photos of the finished pieces, once again I would like the thank 'Keep calm and crochet on' for the tickets and a wonderful experience at my first, and hopefully not last, knitting show.