Redcliffe Showgrounds will soon host the inaugural QLD Yarn Fest with all things woolly and wonderful, like hand-dyed yarn, knitting, spinning, crochet and weaving.
Scheduled for the weekend of 23-34 August, the event will present market stalls, workshops, and demos around textile crafts, with a major drawcard being some visiting alpacas.
Event creator and organiser Rebecca Seron said that this would be a first-time event for our region, taking inspiration from the original sheep show happening in Bendigo every year and other fibre-based fairs typically held in more southern areas of Australia.
According to Ms Seron, the festival will supply reams of hand-dyed yarn, hand-dyed linen, roving (fibre for spinning), alpaca and merino fleece, as well as an array of craft-related tools and accessories.
“There will be talks and demos on ball winding, colour theory, essential tools, spindles, substituting yarn, blocking and pattern sizing, as well as painting with yarn and project planning,” she said.
Workshops, Alpacas, and a Cause to Craft For
From introductory to natural fibre and dye crafts to culturally diverse knitting, felt and embroidery formats (making Latvian knitting and folk art felt needle cases, for instance), the classes are extensive and cover a wide range of topics.
A crochet tea cosy workshop by Katherine the Kreator, featured fibre artist at Vogue Knitting Live in New York, will be available for an additional cost.
A coffee cart and cafe will be on-site for refuelling afterwards.
And don’t forget those alpacas, with Sarah from Engle End Farm also bringing fleece and alpaca yarn, with the fibre being “soft and warm and lovely to work with.”
According to Ms Seron, crafting has the ability to bring people together, with conversations around ‘how-tos’ and colour combinations “making us happy, with the sense of fulfilment when a piece has been completed being great for mental health.”
The event is raising funds for the Cherish Women’s Cancer Foundation, with lucky door prizes and parking is provided on-site via a two-dollar coin donation.
Entry is $5. To find out more about the event, search QLD Yarn Fest on Facebook and Instagram.
You can support Cherish Women’s Cancer Foundation at cherish.org.au
QLD Yarn Festival
- Saturday, 23 August and Sunday, 24 August, 9am-4pm
- Redcliffe Showgrounds
- Scarborough Road, Redcliffe
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