UK yarn and fibre festivals
This blog post is the annual update to my calendar of yarn and fibre festivals in the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). I have included dates and venues as well as links to websites. Find out about yarn festivals in the rest of Europe by reading the following blog post: 2022 European yarn & fibre festivals.
Event organisers hope more shows will occur than in 2021 and have planned a few new shows. However, the emergence of the Omicron variant reminds us that things may not go to plan – events may have to be postponed or to go online. I shall l do my best to keep this blog post up-to-date. If you plan to visit a show, please check with the organisers beforehand: you will find links to the websites below.
I visited one show in 2021 – this was the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate. The timed-entry tickets meant queues at the entrances were small. Everyone had to show their Covid Pass before entry. Inside there was more space because of fewer stalls and exhibitions than usual. I had a fantastic time! I saw many inspiring textile art exhibitions and had time to visit most of the stalls. I even bought a few goodies.
January 2022
Waltham Abbey Wool Show
16 January 2022
Marriot Hotel, Old Shire Lane, Waltham Abbey, Essex, EN9 3LX, England
Website: Waltham Abbey Wool Show.
February 2022
Cambridge Yarn Festival
7–10 February 2022
Online
Website: Cambridge Yarn Festival.
Unravel
11–13 February 2022
Farnham Maltings, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7QR, England
Website: Unravel.
Textiles East Fair
18–19 February 2022
Swavesey Village College, Cambridgeshire, CB24 4RS, England
Website: Textiles East Fair.
March 2022
The Stitch Festival
3–6 March 2022
The Business Design Centre, London, N1 0QH, England
Website: The Stitch Festival.
Virtual Yorkshire Yarn Festival
19 March 2022
@yorkshireyarnfest on Instagram
Website: Yorkshire Yarn Festival.
Fibre Quest
19–20 March 2022
Fernhill Farm, Compton Martin, Somerset, BS40 6LD, England
Website: Stitch Fest South West.
The East Anglia Yarn Festival
26–27 March 2022
Holiday Inn, Cromer Road, Norwich, NR6 6JA, England
Website: The East Anglia Yarn Festival.
April 2022
The Great Wool Weekend
9–10 April 2022
RHS Garden Rosemore, Great Torrington, Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon, EX38 8PH, England
Website: The Great Wool Weekend.
Spring into Wool
9–10 April 2022
The Grammar School at Leeds, Alwoodley Gates, Harrogate Road, Leeds, LS17 8GS, England
Website: Spring into Wool.
National Wool Show
9–10 April 2022
Coventry Building Society Arena, Arena Shopping Park, Classic Drive, Coventry, CV6 6GE, England
Website: National Wool Show.
Wonderwool Wales
23–24 April 2022
Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, Powys, LD2 3SY, Wales
Website: Wonderwool Wales.
May 2022
Buxton Wool Gathering
7–8 May 2022
Buxton Pavillion Gardens, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6BE, England
Website: Buxton Wool Gathering.
Wool @ J13
14–15 May 2022
Lower Drayton Farm, Penkridge, Staffordshire, ST19 5RE, England
Website: Wool @ Junction 13.
Yorkshire Yarn Festival
28 May 2022
York Auction Centre, Murton, York YO19 5GF, England
Website: Yorkshire Yarn Festival.
Festiwool pop-up at The Hertfordshire County Show
28–29 May 2022
The Showground, Redbourn, Hertfordshire, AL3 7PT, England
Website: Festiwool pop-up.
Woolly Weekend and Shipston Wool Fair
No longer taking place
Sheep Street, Shipston on Stour, Warwickshire, CV36 4AB, England
June 2022
Leeds Wool Festival
4 June 2022
Leeds Industrial Museum, Armley Mills, Canal Road, Armley, Leeds, LS12 2QF, England
Website: Leeds Wool Festival.
Woolly Weekend
11–12 June 2022
The Weavers’ Workshop, Dilham, Norfolk, NR28 9PT.
Website: Woolly Weekend.
Cambridge Yarn Festival
13–16 June 2022
Online
Website: Cambridge Yarn Festival.
The Wool Monty
18–19 June 2022
FlyDSA Arena, Sheffield, S9 2DF, England
Website: The Wool Monty.
Woolfest
Taking a break in 2022
Mitchell’s Lakeland Livestock Centre, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 0QQ, England
Website: Woolfest.
July 2022
Yarningham
9–10 July 2022
Uffculme Centre, Queensbridge Road, Birmingham, B13 8QY, England
Website: Yarningham.
Summer Wool Festival
30–31 July 2022
Redbourne School, Ampthill, Bedfordshire, MK45 2NU, England
Website: Summer Wool Festival.
August 2022
Summer Blaise Wool Fair
7 August 2022
Bradford Industrial Museum, Moorside Mills, Moorside Road Eccleshill, Bradford, BD2 3HP, England
Website: Summer Blaise Wool Fair.
September 2022
Southern Wool Show
3–4 September 2022
Newbury Racecourse, Berkshire, RG14 7PN, England
Website: Southern Wool Show.
Perth Festival of Yarn
10–11 September 2022
Dewars Centre, Glover Street, Perth, PH2 0TH, Scotland
Website: Perth Festival of Yarn.
Llandovery Sheep Festival
17–18 September 2022
Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, Wales
Website: Llandovery Sheep Festival.
Masham Sheep Fair
24–25 September 2022
Masham, North Yorkshire, HG4 4DZ, England
Website: Masham Sheep Fair.
Yarndale
24–25 September 2022
Skipton Auction Mart, Gargrave Road, Skipton, Yorkshire, BD23 1UD, England
Website: Yarndale.
Casting on Shetland Wool Week
24 September – 2 October 2022
various venues, Shetland, Scotland
Website: Shetland Wool Week.
October 2022
The West Wales Wool Show
2 October 2022
Queen’s Hall and Plas Hyfryd Hotel, Narbeth, Pembrokeshire, SA67 7AS, Wales
Website: West Wales Wool Show.
The Knitting and Stitching Show
6–9 October 2022
Alexandra Palace, Wood Green, London, N22 7AY, England
Website: Knitting and Stitching Show, Alexandra Palace.
The Bakewell Wool Gathering
8–9 October 2022
Bakewell Agricultural Centre, Agricultural Way, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1AH, England
Website: Bakewell Wool Gathering.
The Kelly House Woolly Weekend
8–9 October 2022
Kelly House, between Launceston and Tavistock, Devon, PL16 0HH, England
Website: Kelly House Woolly Weekend.
The Big Textile Show
29–30 October 2022
The KUBE, Leicester Racecourse, Oadby, Leicester LE2 4AL, England
Website: The Big Textile Show.
YarnFolk Festival of Wool
2022 dates to be confirmed
Whitehead, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Website: YarnFolk Wool Festival.
The Kendal Wool Gathering
2022 dates to be confirmed
Kendal Leisure Centre, Burton Road, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 7HX, England
Website: Kendal Wool Gathering
Three Bags Full Wool Market
2022 dates to be confirmed
The Public Hall, Liskeard, Cornwall, PL14 6BW, England
Website: Three Bags Full Wool Market.
November 2022
Stitch Fest South West
5–6 November 2022
Newton Abbot Racecourse, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 3AF, England
Website: Stitch Fest South West.
Cambridge Yarn Festival
7–10 November 2022
Online
Website: Cambridge Yarn Festival.
The Knitting and Stitching Show
17–20 November 2022
Harrogate International Centre, Kings Road, Harrogate, HG1 5LA, England
Website: Knitting and Stitching Show, Harrogate.
Festiwool Festival
2022 dates to be confirmed
The Priory School, Hitchen, Hertfordshire, SG5 2UR, England
Website: Festiwool.
Nottingham Yarn Expo
2022 date to be confirmed
Nottingham Conference Centre, Burton Street, Nottingham, NG1 4BU, England
Website: Nottingham Yarn Expo.
What’s in your diary?
If you organise a yarn and fibre festival that is not listed, fill in my contact me form or leave details in the comments below. Please let me know about yarn and fibre festivals that are not listed by filling in the form on the Contact Me page or leaving details in the comments below.
This is a great list, thank you for compiling it! May I offer a couple of extras? 6th October 2018 will be West Wales Wool Show in Narberth, Pembrokeshire (www.westwaleswoolshow.weebly.com). I am co-hosting a knitting retreat in Cardiff on the 20th-21st October 2018 and there will be a yarn market on the Sunday 21st- http://theknittearetreat.wordpress.com.
Thankyou Jennie. I’ve added the West Wales Wool Show to the list. What a wonderful area to have a festival!
There’s also the Buckfastleigh Wool Gathering on the 18th March
Thank you Christine, please could you send me the website for this yarn festival.
Hi there
I assist in the organisation of Wild About Wool and we are hosting our 3rd Pop up Yarn Market. Can you add to your list please
Event – Yarn Pop up Market
The aim of Wild About Wool is to celebrate everything woolly: we bring you local artisan wools, designer patterns & kits, mini woolly activities, stash bash and knit & natter area.
When:
04/11/2018
Time:
Sunday 10:30-16:00
Where:
The WaterShed, 22 Bridge Street, Slaithwaite, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD7 5JN
Hi Sandra,
I’ve added the Wild About Wool pop-up yarn market to the ever-growing list of woolly events!
Afternoon Nikki
This is a great resource. But we have signed up to a new show in 2019, which you might wish to add. This is the Buxton Wool Gathering, run by the same team who look after the Bakewell WG later in the year. It is held on 11-12 May 2019 at Buxton Pavilion Gardens, St. John’s Road, Buxton, SK17 6BE
Hi Alan, thank you for letting me know about the Buxton Wool Gathering. I’ve added it to the blog post.
Hi there, what a super list! Rheged in Penrith, Cumbria usually have a knit and stitch show in April. I don’t think the 2019 dates are released yet, but it might be worth an add?
Thank you for letting me know about this event. I’ve added it to my list.
I think there is Aberdeen in June and Angelsey in August
Grace, thank you for reminding me to update this blog post. There seems to be a lot of new shows in 2019. I’ve added Aberdeen, Angelsey and Sheffield. I’m sure there’s also one in Newcastle: hoping someone knows the name!
Sadly, EWEfest and Internationalwool are not happening this year. I’ve been in contact with both organizers as I’ve applied for these shows.
Thank you for letting me know, Tine!
Hi Nikki. Textiles East Fair. Swavesby Village College, Cambs. Fri-Sat 22/23 Feb
Wool, Yarn and all things textiles, including Beads, Silks, Felting, Embroidery, Jewellery, Guilds.
Vanessa of The Spinners Stash will be there with her treasures including some Spinolution Wheels.
Dear Nicki, a very tardy « Thank You » for including us in your listing. We were thrilled with the success of our first event last year, and are delighted to have filled every vendor spot, and have a waiting list for this year’s event, which promises to be even bigger and better! We’re just working on workshops and Social events now, and will be updating our website and social media regularly.
Thanks again for your support, we greatly appreciate it.
Ps: if Aberdeen is a bit far away for a day trip, we urge you to check out http://www.visitabdn.com and see for yourself what a great weekend or holiday destination it is!
beautiful colors of threads
They are indeed! It’s a shame you have to choose just one or two.
Hi We re hosting The Wild About Wool 4th Pop up Yarn Market on the 9th June 2019 in Slaithwaite, Huddersfield- more info here – http://www.thefemininetouchdesigns.co.uk/events_242908.html
Thank you Sandra, I’ve added it to the blog post!
St Abbs Wool Festival takes place in Eyemouth, Berwickshire in the Scottish Borders twice a year. Most recent was yesterday (6th April). Next one is on November 2nd.
Thank you for letting me know about the St Abbs Wool Festival. I’ve added both dates to my list.
Hi, this is a fantastic list. It has helped me plan my weekends away! Can I ask you to add “The Woolly Weekend” 15th &16th June, 2019, hosted by The Worstead Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers. @ the Weavers’ Workshop, Dilham, Norfolk, NR28 9PT. http://www.worsteadweavers.org.uk
Hi Linda,
I’m glad you find this blog post useful! I’ve added The Woolly Weekend. Have a great time!
Nicki
Hi
Can you please add the Wild About Wool Pop up Yarn Market to your list
3rd November 2019
Slaithwaite, Huddersfield , West Yorkshire
https://www.thefemininetouchdesigns.co.uk/events_242908.html
Sandra, thank you for letting me know about this date. I’ve added it to the list.
No Aberdeen Yarn Feat in 2020, I just had the email from Ethiom Events
York Yarnfest has moved, at least for March, now at: Poppleton Centre, Main St, Nether Poppleton, York YO26 6JT.
Thank you for letting me know, I’ve changed the address.
Stitch Fest South West
31st October 1st November , Newton Abbot Racecourse.
https://www.facebook.com/1593496214279574/posts/2227891877506668/
Loch Ness Knit Fest has just been cancelled for 2020
Thankyou Tine, for keeping me updated!
Woolness and British Wool Show are cancelled, too, btw.
I want to attend UK festival what are the requirements
Alice, I’m not quite sure what you mean. However, due to the Covid restrictions in the UK, yarn shows are not running at the moment.
semoga tahun 2021 semua kembali normal dan lebih baik
I hope that in 2021 everything will return to normal and get better
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