My Flock Fiber Festival Adventure.
Keeley Richardson
Founder and Chief Fiber officer
The Flock Fiber Festival in Seattle this weekend was a triumph! It was such a joy to be amongst amazing yarny people, find inspiration and celebrate all things fiber. In my previous post I put together a checklist for attending a fiber festival and for the purposes of this post, I thought I’d take a look at how well I followed my own advice. Having spent a day and a half at the festival, I have a couple of extra tips to add to my checklist for next time. . .
“Book Your Ticket in Advance”
Yes, I booked my ticket as soon as they were on sale. I attended the first Flock Festival at Magnusson Park last summer, loved every minute and knew I wanted to attend. I also purchased a tote at the same time and I am happy I did, because the Flock merch’ sold out super quickly.
“Plan ahead”
Due to family commitments I wasn’t able to visit the market place on Saturday which led to huge FOMO all day long. I knew that I had to make my Sunday count, and it was important to me to see vendors that I don’t normally have in-person access to, especially those who were attending from other parts of The US and other countries. I made my list and I did a pretty good job of staying focussed, although of course I got distracted on multiple occassions by all of that beautiful fiber!
“Sign up for a class.”
Yes, I am so happy I did! Knitting is my first love, but I am always crochet-curious, so I was over the moon that Britanny Garber (@knotbadbritt), had a place available. Even though I know a few crochet stitches I learned so much in her Friday afternoon “Crochet Shawl Three Ways”, class. Britt was such a generous instructor and taught multiple techniques in the three hour class. There was great energy in the room and I have certainly improved my skills as a result of attending.
“If you are there to shop, sometimes it helps to have a couple of projects from your “to make” list in mind.”
Andrea Mowry’s framed sweater was on my list, and it was a joy to shop in person with Candice from @farmersdaughterfibers. I attended her retreat last fall in Montana, and it felt very special to reconnect with one of my fiber heroes.
I have also been on the lookout for a suri alpaca to knit a cozy “go-to”, sweater and found just what I was looking for from Les Garcons. I can’t wait to cast on!
“Look out for specially dyed festival color ways.”
There were so many specially dyed Flock themed color ways to choose from, and I wish I could have bought them all. I did pick up a couple of skeins, (future socks for my husband), from Serial Knitters and Nano Stitch Lab. I also couldn’t resist a hat kit from Skagit Valley Woolen Works. Very different yarns, but each of them is beautiful.
“Expand your fiber knowledge”
I spent a fair amount of time poring over the vendor list, and made a concerted effort to squish new yarns. There were so many to experience and enjoy, both boldly dyed superwash, and those on the more rustic side. If I didn’t purchase, I took photos and collected business cards so that I could follow up on my new favorites over the coming months once I’ve replenished my yarn budget.
“Go with friends.”
I love my yarny friends. They inspire, support,and bring the laughter. It was great to spend the day with them, and to also meet up with dear friends who were working at the festival. Each of us has a different style and taste with a fair amount of crossover, so we all made different discoveries and took delight in sharing them with each other. It’s always fun to learn from others and share in finds that you may have otherwise missed out on.
“Take a small project with you.”
Fiber people know that it’s impossible to go for a whole day without your hands being busy for at least part of it. The Seattle Convention Center was a great venue for a fiber festival. Lots of places to sit and knit when you needed to take time out from the fiber frenzy. The wooden benches next to the staircase were a special feature – great views of the city to enjoy during a quiet moment or to meet with a friend to review/plan.
“On a practical note, don’t forget your comfy shoes and a bottle of water to keep hydrated.”
Achy feet make me grumpy so I wore my trusty Birkenstocks that performed perfectly throughout the day. We were on our feet for six hours (fiber shopping can be all consuming), except for a thirty minute break for lunch, so comfort is everything. Trust me, your feet will thank you.
The convention center had planet friendly water bottle filling stations (I love it when I see these), so hydration was easy.
“Enjoy every minute.”
I am guessing that by now you will have gathered that we absolutely loved every minute of it. It feels like a cliche to say that Flock has something for everyone, but it seemed that way to me. There was a huge variety of vendors (over 100) each with a different product to sell with a different personality. The atmosphere was wonderful -who wouldn’t be happy talking about their love of fiber, or the knitted/crocheted/woven item they were wearing? Yet again, it was demonstrated that our fiber community is welcoming and wonderful!
So what top tips would I add to my checklist for next year?
First up, prepare to be starstruck! Flock was full of yarn heroes and celebrities; all of them welcoming, happy and prepared to answer questions or pose for a selfie.
My biggest learning by far was that I should have spent two full days visiting Flock, instead of just one. My Sunday flew by and although I visited many of the vendors, there were a few I sadly missed. Next year volunteering at the event will definitely be on my list of recommendations. A friend was a volunteer helper in a Sari Nordlund class – a great way to soak up expert advice and listen to a fiber hero! It would also have been great to have more time to watch the free presentations and panel discussions. Experts in their fields giving valuable insights in to their fiber journeys – so inspiring, but because I was only there for one day, I was unable to sit and listen.
I am still buzzing after the weekend. Texts, messages and conversations with fiber friends followed the event – each of my yarny friends was delighted to be a part of this fabulous weekend. I taught a class this evening where everyone enthused about their weekend at Flock. It’s the talk of the town. Flock 2025 – bring it on!
