#heidewollefest

[leiyahime]

Heidewollefest

A little late but finally my review of the Heidewollefest. To be quite honest after last year's success, I've been a bit disappointed. Yes, last year was way too crowded, too many booths for the size of the location, too many people. This year it was possible to look without being squeezed too death. Because there were less booths and wider spaces to walk. The downside was that there weren't as many pretty fibres. I didn't get everything I wanted.

On the plus side I generally liked the clear emphasis on natural dyes in yarns and fibres. There was one booth selling stuff for plant dyeing like mordants and dyeing materials. Others sold plant dyed braids and yarns. Though there was not much to my personal taste I spent a little money:

The pink and blue is a mix of 80% merino/20% silk, incredibly soft. My plan is to mix it together maybe into a gradient. I entertained the thought of getting a neck lamp for a while now. Now i have one for bad lighting crafting or reading when I can't sleep.

The yarn is plastic free sock yarn with silk and ramie instead of nylon

The braid is 100% northern lower saxony Deichlamm by wasserwolle. Not quite what i had in mind for my royal blue nylon fibres for another sock yarn experiment, don't know if it really will become that but the colours are pretty and it was the closest match to my nylon...

and yep I got a few more sitich markers. The octopusses are a birthday gift for a friend the sheep are mine and the chain is a row counter. I currently try it in my leg warmers.

So even though it wasn't quite what I imagined I'm not entirely unhappy.

And I met dear @mapplestrudel which made me happy ^-^

[bookshelfdreams]

Unfortunately I am cursed when it comes to wool/fibre festivals and always miss them. But off the top of my head:

Heidewollefest in Schneverdingen, right at the edge of the Lüneburger Heide (here) - sheep country. October 19th and 20th this year, idk when next year. Looking at the vendors, it seems to be very focused on natural fibres, plant dying, soap making, things like that. And lots of stuff for spinners. i think this looks really promising and I'm kinda bummed I won't be able to go this year. Maybe next. Located here.

Leipziger Wolle-Fest und Stoffmesse on the first weekend of April (5th and 6th). Excellent public transport, but quite a way away from the border (assuming you're from Belgium), too far for a daytrip. Both yarn- and sewing-focused, there's gonna be an exhibit from the quilting guild, and the one time I managed to go, there was a bit of stuff for spinners. Glancing at the list of vendors, there's not a huge number who offer combed tops and the like, it's mostly handdyers, fabric sellers, and your usual mix of craft-fair vendors. I do want to go with my mum next year, but I don't have high hopes for finding lots of unspun wool. Located here.

Wollfestival Kassel 5th and 6th July 2025. Afaik it's a very young festival, they had their second run this year, but it was (reportedly) great! There's no vendor list yet, but it looks very promising in terms of fibre. Located here.

Here's a list of european wool/fibre festivals, unfortunately with no indication which ones are franchisy, etsyesque craft faires and which ones are actually worth attending.

@swords-n-spindles, @comfortabletextiles @bronzeagecrafts y'all got any recs for OP?

Edit: Munich knits Nov 30th and Dec 1st this year is also coming up!Located here.

I won't make it to Belgium's first wool fest this weekend, which is sad, but also I looked at the vendor list and no one is selling spinning material so feeling a bit better.

Otoh we have been considering doing a trip to Germany, specifically by (sleeper) train, and I always see Germans posting nice hauls, so...

What are your fibre fests and are they reachable by public transport, Gerblr?

[leiyahime]

Okay since plans changed and I have to work both weekend days, I will go to the Heidewollefest on Saturday instead of Sunday. It's only an hour drive so I will be back before work starts. Will I be dead at work? Maybe. will it be worth it? Absolutely. but I can sleep in on Sunday so it'll be fine.

[leiyahime]

Okay, my work plan for October stands. I'll be at the Heidewollefest in Schneverdingen on Sunday (Oct. 15). Looking forward to it.

[leiyahime]

I just decided I will go to the Heidewollefest this year. There are performances both evenings but we are enough dressers now that someone else can work for me. Or I'll be back early enough if not. But I want one more fibre related event this year!!

[leiyahime]

Heidewollefest

So many people x.x the other wool festivals I've been to had more space. But it was nice (and expensive) there are just a few cent left in my wallet...

My loot:

Front: BFL from Wiesensalat

The violet braid: 70% merino 20% alpaca, 10% linen from wasserwolle

Red/black: 80% merino, 10% cashmere 10% silk (bought it with my last coins xD)

Grey batt: merino

Grey braid: 80% merino, 20% silk the last three are from Wollstall

And a beautiful emotional support spindle

After I was out of money I spontaneously decided to go for a walk through the close-by moor since I relly lack excercise. And I met some Heidschnucken with their dog and shepherd.

It was so wonderfully autumn-y. A bit windy maybe.

And after i got home I had to get ready for work. Will be home at midnight xD Guess I over-estimated myself but it was so worth it!

[leiyahime]

now it's 98% safe that I can have my moor hike after the Heidewollefest tomorrow without stressing! Co-worker can take over from me, camera batteries are charged, it's not supposed to rain!

I am not allowed to buy more than 400g of fibres tho bc of space reasons.

Fibres I need:

Sth blue to mix with the blue nylon I got with one fibre order to turn into sock yarn

sth light coloured to mix with the 30g of hemp fibres I have lying around - also for a sock yarn try

leaves space for 200g of fibres to buy just bc they are pretty!

Vendor list says there won't be spindles so thats good for my wallet lol let's see if that's true

[leiyahime]

Whenever I hear the name of Schneverdingen (The town where the Heidewollefest takes place) I remember a thing from elementary school. So like grade 2 I think it must have been.

7 or 8 years old me had to write a little essay about what I did at a time and I wrote about visiting friend/family in a village called Schneflingen (small enough to only have house numbers but no roadnames at that time). I turned it in and my teacher gave me a mistake for the village name and wrote over it Schneverdingen. I had not heard of that town before. So the next lesson I went to her and told her "Hey Mrs xy, the village is called Schneflingen, I've written it correctly. Those are different places!" and she seemed to accept it.

We then a little later had to rewrite the same essay probably to correct any misspellings, I turned it in and that teacher again counted "Schneflingen" as wrong and corrected it as Schnverdingen.

30 years later I'm still salty.

[leiyahime]

I managed to get the Sunday of the Heidewollefest in Schneverdingen off (Let's hope it stays that way)! The last new fibres (Porobably) for this year. I hope the weather is at least dry enough for another walk through the Pietzmoor after the wool festival. With better preparation and my better camera!