How to plan a yarn show visit (and come home with yarn you’ll actually use)
Yarn shows are one of my favourite things. There’s nothing quite like being surrounded by beautiful hand-dyed yarn, meeting the makers, and discovering new things. I’ve been going to yarn shows for years, both as a visitor and as a stallholder with Skein Queen. This blog post will help you with how to plan a yarn show visit and make the whole experience much more enjoyable.
Planning doesn’t take away the spontaneity – you can absolutely still fall in love with something you weren’t expecting and still buy it, but when you arrive with a rough plan, you make better decisions, feel less stressed, and come home with yarn you’ll actually use rather than yarn that sits in your stash because you’re not quite sure what to do with it.
In this post
- What to do before you go
- How to approach the show when you arrive
- Avoiding the “it’s pretty” trap
- How to check if a yarn will work for your pattern
- What to do after the show
- A few practical tips
- Free yarn show planner to download
Before you go
A little preparation goes a long way and actually makes the experience more enjoyable, not less spontaneous. When you know how to plan a yarn show visit it becomes part of the experience and increases the excitement, not a chore to do beforehand.
Know what projects you’re planning
Print out or write down the details of patterns you want to get yarn for, or save them locally on your phone. Mobile data and wifi at shows can be unreliable so don’t count on being able to look things up on the day.
Check your stash first
If you want yarn to go with something you already have, bring that yarn with you. Trying to match colours from memory is much harder than holding actual skeins together. Stallholders won’t mind!
Look at the show website in advance
Identify stands you don’t want to miss. Check what talks and workshops are available and book these in advance if needed – popular sessions fill up quickly.
Write a shopping list
Not just yarn – needles, notions, stitch markers, anything else you need. It’s easy to forget the practical stuff when distracted by all that yarn.
Work out a budget
A rough guide rather than a strict limit is fine, but having a number in your head helps you make decisions more confidently.
When you arrive
Resist the urge to buy at the first stand. Unless the show is very large, do one lap before you buy anything. Make notes of what catches your eye, include the yarn, the stand name and where it was. Collect cards from stands you’re interested in.
Take breaks to think about what you’ve seen. Most shows have a café or seating area so make use of it. Stepping away from the sensory overload for a few minutes helps you think clearly.
Avoiding the “it’s pretty” trap
Everyone has favourite colours, and at a yarn show you will see those colours on many stands. Before you grab another skein of your favourite colourway, stop and ask yourself:
- Do I already have yarn that colour in my stash?
- Will I actually wear that colour?
- Will I like it as much worked up as I do in the skein?
This can help stop you ending up with a stash of yarns that are too similar to work together but too different to be the same.
Will this yarn work for my pattern?
If you have a specific pattern in mind, there are a few things to check before you commit:
Weight
Does the yarn match the weight your pattern calls for? Remember that “4-ply” and “fingering weight” are often used interchangeably – check the meterage per 100g if you’re not sure. My post on what is 4-ply yarn explains this in more detail.
Yardage
This is the most important number. Different fibres have different densities, so the same weight of yarn can have a very different length. Check the meterage your pattern needs and make sure you’re buying enough.
Fibre
Think about what the finished item needs to do. A shawl benefits from drape – look for silk, alpaca or single ply yarns. A colourwork project needs a bit of grip so look for non-superwash wool. A sock needs durability so look for high twist or reinforcing fibre. Understanding why fibre matters is something we explore a lot on this blog.
The fabric
Think about what the knitted fabric will look like, not just the skein. A highly textured or variegated colourway can hide an intricate stitch pattern. Simple stitches often show off variegated hand-dyed yarns best.
If in doubt, ask. Stallholders know their yarn well and are usually delighted to help you match it to a project.
After the show
Don’t let your carefully chosen yarn end up hidden in your stash. When you get home:
- Add your purchases to Ravelry or wherever you record your stash, with the meterage noted.
- Match each yarn to the project you bought it for while it’s still fresh in your mind
- Organise cards and notes from stands you want to revisit in the future. If you don’t want to keep the cards sign up to their mailing lists to keep up to date.
- Decide what to cast on first!
A few practical tips
Timing
Sunday afternoon is usually quieter than Saturday morning. Many shows also now offer a quiet hour – check the website if this would be useful to you and if they don’t already offer one suggest it to them for future shows.
Accessibility
Most shows are reasonably accessible but be aware shows in cattle market type venues can have uneven flooring.
Food
Check what food options are available in advance, or bring your own if you have specific dietary requirements. Show food varies hugely and can be very busy.
Getting there
Many shows offer shuttle buses from a local train station. Check the show website or social media for details.
TL:DR – The Short Version
Knowing how to plan a yarn show visit makes your day easier and much more enjoyable. Know your projects, check your stash, do a lap before buying, pause before committing to anything, and check yardage rather than just weight when matching yarn to a pattern.
Download the free Yarn Show Planner
To help you put all of this into practice, I’ve created a free printable Yarn Show Planner you can fill in before you go and take with you on the day. It has space for your project details, possible yarns you see at the show, and a section for yarns you loved but didn’t buy – so you know where to find them later.
Download the free Yarn Show Planner
A: Before you go, note down the details of patterns you want yarn for, check your stash, look at the show website to identify must-visit stands, and set a rough budget. When you arrive, do a full lap before buying anything.
A: Work out a budget before you go and stick to your project list. Doing a full lap before buying anything helps you make more considered decisions because you have seen everything before you start buying.
A: Check the weight and, most importantly, the meterage per 100g. Different fibres have different densities so meterage is more a reliable guide than weight alone. Also think about the type of fabric you want – drape for shawls, structure for cables, hardwearing for socks.
A: Pattern details saved offline, any yarn you want to match, a shopping list of notions you need, a bag for your purchases and a rough budget. Comfortable shoes and your favourite sweater are a must too.
A: Absolutely! Stallholders would much rather you came back having made a considered decision. Note the stand location when you first visit so you can find it again.