Review: Coastal Yarn Co

This is my second order from Coastal Yarn Co.  and I have to say they really deserve the compliments I'm about to give! 

 

I started with them when I order some Scheepjes Whirl Yarn. They were quick and efficient. Their website is very nice and clean, they are also well organised with a nice variety of items to check out. Their checkout system is also simple and easy to navigate. 

 

Later I went to order more and found a place elsewhere that was slightly cheaper and had all the colours I wanted. It took much longer, though they were a good company.

So looking through my crochet hooks while organising them in my new holder from Wish I noticed that I was missing some critical sizes in my Clover hooks. I also thought while I'm grabbing some hooks better add another Whirl Cake ;)

 

I order on a Thursday night and got the shipping notice the next day. I woke up today to find that sometime in the morning the package had been delivered. Now that's insane shipping speed! 

 

They also were very neat in their packaging. Under the envelope everything was wrapped in a nice brown paper, string and business card. Under that, some nice soft paper and the hooks were in bubble wrap as well. So no way thisnitem could easily damage and it was a pleasure to undo it all. Like a present! 

So I will keep ordering from these guys and letting you know how great they are! 

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Wibbly Wobbly Crochet Lines

I have been doing a bit of catch up on old crochet projects. I am a huge Dr Who fan so when I saw some patterns for each of the Doctors and Tardis I picked up the Tardis and David Tennant one.

So keep an eye out for some updated pictures as I go!

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The Spinning Pen

You can't see it here but the top I was spinning matched my shirt

So today (and tomorrow) I was a demo spinner at a country show. It was an interesting setup. In the middle of the building we were in with all the arts and crafts, there is a section that had a pen areas with a gate and everything where we spinners and other crafters were corraled for patrons to walk about and check us out like the other livestock. I had a good time ad even went to say hi to the alpacas and asked them who wanted to be a sweater. I am hoping on the last day tomorrow some breeders will be wanting to sell off their fleeces.








At these shows, I seem to have the knack of sniffing out the one small basket of fibre available in an entire show. Last time I got the kid mohair. This time, I managed two small bags of cashmere! I grabbed the white and natural brown. While I am not anywhere skilled enough to spin it, cashmere is not easy to find so I am storing it aside. I also showed another few spinners the hidden treasure. I also picked up a skein of spun and dyed 100% cashmere. This skein came with a scarf pattern that could be made with the one skein. It was a hard job deciding which colours as it is not cheap!


While there were many spinners in the craft pen there were a few other crafts including lace making and wet felting. I made friend with the lace maker and mentioned this craft was on my list and I had some cheap bobbins at home from eBay to get ready.  She actually had some starter kits available so I nabbed that too.

Finally, I got the results for the entries I put into the craft competition. I put in 4 skeins (one that placed in the previous show) and 3 crochet items. Never being to this show and believing it was probably smaller compared to the city show I didn't realise I was competing against many people with more experience than I have years to my name. So I got a Highly commended in the novice section (kinda like an example of me almost graduating from being a novice. The others didn't place (even the one that took second before and won a special category).

Mix of alpaca, Corriedale and silk.

I did much better than I anticipated in the crochet section. With my shawl (Virus Shawl) taking out first place in crocheted shawls and a doll (Lalylala Kira Pattern) getting second place. My crocheted jacket didn't place. So not a bad effort seeing I took up crochet when I moved to this city barely a year ago. This show gives feedback, so this will be immensely helpful. There is at least two more shows interstate I will be aiming to send items to.

I spent ages sewing in that Joey so it wouldn't get lost. 

Using Moda Vera Fayette 

I didn't get many other photos but here are two more! 

Yes! That is a syringe filled with Nutella. 

Cool wet felted shoulder thing with lots of feathers off it

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The Show!

As I mentioned in my previous post I actually got placed in the state agricultural show I entered on a whim for practice. I actually found out a few days later that I had won more than I was told, my friend wanted me to find out the extra myself so I could enjoy seeing the win. Alas someone else beat me as I was phoned by the show committee to let me know I had also won a prize for the most textured yarn and if they could pass on my info to any local newsgroups that ask. So I said yes and did a little dance! I must admit I had the only entry that could fill this entry, but I have been assured that if they didn't like it they wouldn't have given the prize at all this year. So hint to enter as much as possible!

3rd Prize for 11-17WPI

2nd Prize for 21st Century Fibre Class

The 21st Century also won the most textured yarn - list of elements.

I didn't find the show that interesting beyond the craft competition section, I did find some kid mohair to buy that I was after for part of the CCHS.

Cleaned as well!!! 20.5microns

Apart from that, I felt a little disappointed as there was very little craft wise to buy compared to other state fairs where I have been introduced to and purchased certain art/craft. It was also very cold, very wet and easy to get lost. When I eventually found what I thought was my exit I found I was on the entire other side of the fair and had to walk all around it to get to the bus. Thankfully there were shuttle buses to the parking areas or else I would be missing right now. Thanks to my health my legs/joints really suffered. Next time I will only just attend the craft exhibition after the judging.

The crafts was really interesting and I discovered some sections I would like to enter next year, now that I have a year to prepare. I also got to see what I can live up to!

21st Century Competition

Mixture of competitions, the 3 at the back didn't get placed.

Now onto general craft I found interesting!

This one first prize and also Best in Show

A Large crochet version of a pattern I have completed myself.

Needle Felting - glad I didn't enter if this just got Highly Commended

Some Embroidery work 

Cross Stitch, I have heaps I could have entered!

Hardanger, something I am interested in learning

Lace work I think...

Tatting - another I want to learn!

Cool tatting!

More cross stitch, most of my work is framed and ineligible :(

Even more! Glad to know I can use kit designs 

Some of the winners on cross stitch - I'll have to post some of mine as I have heaps of completed work

Crochet Tartan, will do one of my clan Gordon!

Embroidery and some bear

lace knitting that was insanely cool in person

Very cool patchwork with one of my favourite topics

The winning cross stitch - I wonder what they judge it on?

Pillow with hardanger

Another winning cross stitch category (frames don't have glass)

Won the best use of Fibre in the spinning comp, person also won many other skeins

Best of weaving!

Not an actual entry, but the award for the above weaving. How cool is this!!

Finally the best part of the show!

Nutella Donut!! Eating Nutella out of a syringe is the best way!

Next year I am aiming to enter more spinning categories and hopefully, some items from handspun yarn, weaving, crochet, tatting, crochet and knitting if I can. Now a year to prepare and entering other regional shows as I can. 

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