It will surprise many of you who know me in real life, but this weekend, I actually left the house (shocking! I know!).

A 7 hour, 3 change train journey took me to somewhere between Manchester and Leeds for 2 nights of hanging out with knitters from all over the UK, organised by Ruth of Rock and Purl and Joeli of Joeli's Kitchen.

There was a lot of yarn. Obscene really.  It was sponsored by a crazy number of yarn companies - which was supurb as I was able to do some serious planning for the rest of the book (see the list of yarn below - all of them).  Hilariously, when I looked through my bag, I noticed that I mostly had swapped for Artesano yarns, who are also my main wholesale suppliers.  I currently have close to 15 kilos of their yarn in my house and apparently I love it so much, I needed more.

Woolly Wormhead was there and ran an impromptu hat clinic.  Camden and Limpetiole look good on everyone apparently. There was spinning and yarn tasting, discussions about the industry, and I got some sneaky peaks into some upcoming design releases. Mostly though, we chatted and knit and chatted and knit some more.

Chatting + yarn - I do believe that is called win win!

Space Cadet Creations, Terri Shea (Spinningwheel.net), West Yorkshire Spinners, Chiaogoo, Kettle Yarn Co, Cashmered UK, MillaMia, Manos del Uruguay, Cascade Yarns, Dirty Water Dyeworks, Malabrigo, Artesano, Woollyknit, HiyaHiya, Island Wool Co, Lorna's Laces, Little Giddings Farm, Blacker Yarns, Designer Yarns and TB Ramsden