unravel 2011 Third Festival of Knitting is a Great Success Thank you to everyone who came to unravel at the end of February and helped to make the weekend a great success! We had just under 2,000 people through the door attending talks, workshops, marketplace, demonstrations, fashion shows and more. The Maltings’ Crafts and Exhibitions Officer, Amy Collins, said “There was a wonderful atmosphere to the festival, with everyone from stallholders to visitors sharing and swapping advice. We are delighted that the weekend was so popular and are already looking forward to next year.” The building was transformed into a woollen wonderland of knitted delights. Even the outside of the building did not escape knitted graffiti. Experienced knitters and novices had the opportunity to learn or improve their skills with demonstrations and handy hints and tips by experts from the best of the South East’s societies, including both the West Surrey and Hampshire Guilds of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers; the Surrey Knitting & Crochet Group; the Guild of Machine Knitters; and the International Feltmakers Association. Exhibitions and artwork were held in various spaces throughout the building including Claire Vine’s knitted pillar covers, Deryn Relph’s series of intricate and colourful lampshades and Katie Corbin’s knitted motorcycle, which drew interest from men, women and children alike. New for this year was the New Designers' Room, which proved very popular and an excellent showcase for the new names in knitting for 2011. The Best in Show, sponsored by Selvedge magazine, was once again well received. Everyone was invited to enter their favourite piece on the theme of ‘What I Am Most Proud Of’. The winner was Michelle Green, who entered an intricate and beautiful Adam and Eve tea-cosy, entitled ‘Temptation Begins with Tea’, which won a year’s subscription to Selvedge magazine. The incredible Garden of Eden tea-cosy also proved popular with festival go-ers who made it their outright winner for the The People’s Choice Award, and therefore won vouchers for Farnham’s very own Interknit Cafe. Second prize of the Best in Show went to Heather Jones who entered a beautiful single crocheted bed-spread entitled ‘Happy Memories’, and won a signed copy of Alison Ellen’s book ‘Hand Knitting: New Directions’ as a result. Our very first Fashion Show enabled emerging and established designers to present their creations on the catwalk. It provided a glimpse of the yarn, patterns and garments available for purchase at the festival. The Maltings is already planning and looking forward to the fourth festival next year, Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th Feburary 2012. We hope to see you there!   Photos of this year's festival will be appearing on our facebook page shortly. See a selection here.    For a full list of exhibitors at this year's unravel please visit the archive. For more information: t: 01252 745444 e: info@farnhammaltings.com   unravel is sponsored by Selvedge and Interknit Cafe in Farnham