No 1: Flock Fiber Festival 2024
My first time going to Flock and a fiber festival in general!
One of my favorite pastimes is knitting. Naturally, I picked it up during the pandemic as with being inside with a newborn, there wasn't’t much to do except start a new hobby. I actually started knitting in high school, where my all-girls school had a group called the “Knitting Knerds”. I dabbled in the art of knitting with mostly scarfs and I can say with 100% positivity that I completely knit wrong. But hey I did it, and my parents still have some of the scarfs I made for them.
During those pandemic years, I started with a hat with yarn and instructions I bought with a kit. Then when I had a concussion, caused from apparently my lack of depth perspection at the time and a door, I couldn't look at screens. So I picked up knitting. And I got serious with it. I completed my first kids sweater in 3 months complete with a complicated stitch. To say I was hooked would be an understatement and I began my love of hand-dyed yarn.
Fast forward to 3 years later, and I went to my first fiber festival where they celebrate all things fiber. Flock Fiber Festival is a local Seattle festival and was being run for its second year in a row. I wanted to go to the first year, but it was during the weekend of my little sister’s bachelorette weekend so this year I was so excited I could go! I bought a weekend pass and went both days with my childhood friend the first day and then my little family the next.
On the first day, it was packed and I had a list of notions I wanted to procure, which I actually managed to get despite the lines. Yes, the vendors are famous in the knitting world and had lines for their items! It was fun to walk around and see from afar knitters that you see on YouTube and their makes and yarn acquisitions. I definitely fangirled out a couple of times.
My haul from day 1: Mini skeins from the custom mini skein wall at Sewrella Yarn; Flock exclusive color way from Magpie fibers; Stitch markers and sticker from Denim & Rain; Stitch markers from Hello Lavender; Row counters from Making Treasures.
Since my oldest daughter was bummed I didn’t take her to the festival when I got home (she’s started to show interest in yarn and knitting), I decided to take the whole family the second day. It’s fun for me when they show interest in the things I love and of course I enjoy spending time with them, so off we went. My oldest daughter loved seeing all the different yarn vendors and venturing amongst the booths. She especially got a kick out of two sheep that a vendor brought! And of course she and her sister picked out some colorful yarn for themselves that I plan on making some fun accessories for them for Christmas.
My haul from day 2: Full skein and two mini skeins from Coates & Co; Mini skein collection from Seismic Yarn; 1 blue skein + 2 more skeins of the Flock exclusive color way from Magpie fibers; Custom stitch marker from Thought to Thread; Notion case, Paris scissors, and mini colored pencils with eraser from Ostmoe Studio; Mini notepad, pin, and tags from Making Treasures; Stitch markers and sticker from Flock Fiber Festival
All in all, it was fun to be amongst the knitting and fiber community, being around such beautiful yarn and notions, and I cannot wait for the Flock Fiber Festival next year. It was well run, very spacious, and had vendors that I enjoy their products. If you’re interested in knitting or the fiber world, I would definitely come to Seattle in the beginning of August and visit this festival. Plus Seattle has the best weather at this time too!
Me on day 1 in the only hand knit top I have done for myself. It’s called the Tolsta Tee by Rebecca Clow
Thing 1 running around the festival!
Sheep from Wild Rose Sheep Farm!