I took a few hours out of my revision timetable (for my level 2 OU psychology exam in a couple of week) to pootle along to the Bristol Wool Fair on the Downs this afternoon. I took the train up to Clifton Down and walked the rest of the way up Whiteladies Road, lucking hitting the Downs at the exact point where the Wool Fair site had been set up. I was quickly onto site and had a first initial trundle over to where SheerSheep were just finishing off a sheep shearing demonstration (with a very cooperative sheep named “Bessy”). Once that concluded I set off around the site past the food vendors and into the main stallholder marquees.

I like to have an initial look at all of the stalls before I get my wallet out, plus I was listening to the end of England’s innings at Headingley, so after having a good familiarisation with what was available, took myself for a mango sorbet from Shepherds who use sheep’s milk, before the serious shopping commenced. I started back at the SheerSheep pen, having a chat with Michael the shearer who introduced me to Saxon merino fibre, noting that sheep have letterbox pupils since they are prey animals (which is seriously freaky). I then moved on to Cotswold Alpacas who had two seriously cute alpacas, and picked up some fibre to spin, commencing the shop-a-thon.

It was then onto the Banksy marquee where after been dragged across the tent to have my Paper Doctor sweater admired I picked up 200g of BFL combed top in “Dodger” colourway from Sparky Knitters

Before leaving Banksy I picked up 300g of grey Wensleydale top from Little Owl Crafts and had a chat with the owner, Heather, about her orange spinning wheel, a Frank Herring.

My next purchase was in the Brunel marquee, with a gorgeous little yarn bowl from Emily Cross.

The shopping continued in Brunel with fibre from Wildcraft where I was assured that the 200g of BFL/sparkly nylon that I selected was nothing like September’s club parcel.

I reversed directions at this point and worked my way back through the Blackbeard marquee, buying fibre from Sara’s Texture Crafts. 100g of BFL in Strawberry

and 200g of merino/tussah silk blend in Heathered Highlands.

My final stop was back in the Banksy marquee where I finished my shopping at Raindrop Yarns where I picked up 100g of pink rainbow dyed merino

and a sock blank.

All in all, not a bad haul, including yet another canvas bag and a programme.