Nomination for Festival

Preparations are already well underway for the annual Perth Festival of Yarn which returns this September for its third year and it’s going to be bigger and better than ever!

Knitters and crocheters flocked to the event last year and it has grown so much that Festival organiser, Eva Christie, has made the decision to extend it to become a two-day event. Perth Festival of Yarn is an international event and last year it attracted visitors and participants from the USA, Canada, Iceland and Greece to name but a few, with this year expected to be no different.

“Shaping and delivering the Festival annually is my full-time job,” Eva said, “and I always get a buzz when I see and hear how excited people are about it.

“When I take a step back and think that our first celebration took place over one day at Salutation Hotel in October 2016, and now we’re based primarily at Dewars Centre over two days it’s incredible.” I always get a buzz when I see and hear how excited people are about it.

Eva is passionate about her work and has spent the past three years shaping and creating a brilliant Festival which has now been recognised at a national level.

Perth Festival of Yarn has recently been nominated in the Best Knitting Show Event category at the 2017/18 British Knitting and Crochet Awards, and Eva admits to being emotional when she received the news.

“These are awards are recognised as the most important and prestigious in my industry,” she told me, “so to be shortlisted is an absolute dream come true. It’s all the more special because the initial nominations are completely open and are made by the public.

“It will also be voted for by the public so these awards give an accurate reflection of excellence in each of the categories and there are some huge global names in there.

“I actually got the news when I was on a knitting retreat with friends on Rhodes. We were sitting in a local coffee shop together chilling after an amazing day and I’ll admit to feeling so overwhelmed by the recognition that I may have cried a few happy tears.

“We’re already the second largest specialist yarn and fibre event in Scotland. This nomination isn’t only great for the Festival; it’s great for everyone who is involved and for Perth as a destination as well.

GALLERY

“We know that some local hotels have been fully booked for months now in anticipation of the event and we have social events planned at the Green Room and Station Hotel. People are coming from all over the world just to be part of Perth Festival of Yarn.”

This year will be the first time the Festival has been held over two days and there are expected to be over 70 vendors present as well as workshops, classes and lectures from some of the industry’s biggest names.

And Eva is excited by the buzz around this year’s event and the special guests who will be in attendance at Dewars in September.

“If you’re enthusiastic about making textiles then it’s an event you don’t want to miss,” she said.

“The Festival is a very friendly, welcoming space where you will not fail to be inspired by the wonderful array of materials from our vendors.

“We have a great programme of classes and lectures delivered by some of the leading figures in our industry and there will be plenty of social events where you can make new friendships. Many people come along on their own!

“I’m really excited about it all! The Knitter Podcast Lounge – which is sponsored by The Knitter Magazine – is definitely one area of the Festival to check out. The biggest UK knitting and crochet podcasters are all coming along for the weekend and Shameka of Mekamika Shop Podcast will be jetting in from Brooklyn, New York. We know that some local hotels have been fully booked for months now in anticipation of the event.

“In terms of tutors, we’re delighted to welcome the internationally respected Karie Westermann – a Norwegian designer living in London – as well as Skeindeer, and Anna Friberg from Sweden.

“Fiona Wemyss of the historic Wemyss School of Needlework will be delivering our keynote lecture this year.”

One of the big focuses of this year’s Perth Festival of Yarn is the social aspect of knitting and as well as putting together a fantastic programme for this year’s event, Eva has also started ‘Knit Nights’ once a month at the Green Room to bring people with  similar interests together.

“The Knit Nights have been a great success. The Green Room is a fantastic social hub for local creatives. Ali Pibworth and her fellow co-owners could not have been more welcoming.

“Everyone who has been coming along has been a champion for the Festival and I enjoy getting the opportunity every month to chat and relax among likeminded people.”

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Perth Festival of Yarn takes place on 8^th and 9^th September 2018 at Dewars Centre in Perth. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Perth Festival of Yarn website.