Hey There
Tips for Attending a Yarn Show
or a Fibre Festival
Let's make the most out of your weekend of yarn festivities!
Wondering what to prepare as an attendee at a yarn show or fibre festival?
Whether it's your first time at the Australian Yarn Show, your next big trip to the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo or you're planning a day at a local fibre event, a little preparation goes a long way.
Big shows mean rows of colour, dozens of stallholders and only so many hours to see it all, so here's the guide to help you prepare before you go!
What to know before you go
Fibre events move fast. Popular hand-dyers and small-batch stallholders often sell out within the first hour, and it's easy to spend your whole budget before you've even reached the stalls you were most excited about.
A few things to sort out before you arrive:
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Set a rough budget, split across yarn, kits, tools and notions, so decisions are quicker once you're standing in front of a stall
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Bring a note of what's already in your stash, so you're not doubling up on a weight or colour you already own
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Write down anything specific you're chasing (a fibre, weight or colourway) so it's easy to spot on the day
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Wear comfortable shoes and bring a bag or trolley you're happy to carry for a full day of browsing
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Arrive early, especially for hand-dyers and small-batch stalls, since one-off colourways don't come back
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Order click and collect from the stalls with your must-haves. Many businesses, including Fancy Yarns, will give you the option to do this, so you don't miss out!
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Preparing for the big shows
Australian Yarn Show
The Australian Yarn Show runs a little differently to a regular market day. Alongside the stalls, there are talks and workshops scheduled throughout the weekend, so it pays to plan your timetable alongside your shopping list rather than treating it as an afterthought. Check which talks and demonstrations line up with the stalls you want to visit. It's also worth reading through the comprehensive show guide before you go, so you know what demonstrations are running and which promotions are on across the weekend. A few of the best offers only last for the two days of the Show!
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Australian Sheep and Wool Show
If you're specifically preparing for the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo, the scale is worth planning for. It's one of the largest fibre events in the country, with pavilions full of yarn, fleece, tools and pattern stalls, plus fibre displays running throughout the day. Give yourself more time than you think you'll need, wear layers (Bendigo pavilions can run cool), and if there's a particular stallholder or breed you want to see, check the pavilion map when you arrive.
Choosing the right yarn at a show
With so much colour and texture in one place, it's easy to buy on excitement alone.
Choosing the right yarn comes down to a few practical checks:
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Fibre content: does the blend suit the project you have in mind
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How it feels against your skin, not just how it looks in the skein
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Ply and structure: a firmer ply suits socks and hard-wearing pieces, a softer single suits shawls and wraps
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Dye lot numbers, if you need multiple skeins for one project
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Metreage and weight, so you know how far a skein will actually go
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How it was made: mulesing-free, recycled, hand-dyed in small batches, etc.
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A good rule of thumb: if you can picture the project, the yarn is probably a must-buy.
MAKE IT EASY ON THE DAY:
DOWNLOAD NOW!
We put together a free printable Yarn Show Companion to take the guesswork out of show day.
You'll find budget fields, a spot for the projects you're shopping for, prompts for what to check at each stall and pages to jot down stallholder details as you go.

✔ Free
✔ Instant access
✔ Practical, maker-friendly advice
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Print it, use it, and enjoy the show!​
Tag @fancyyarnsaus with your Yarn Show Companion in hand at a fibre event, so we can celebrate your event visit with you!
Once you're home with your haul, our Project Tracker is a handy next step for planning out what you'll make with it.
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Need tips on how to care for your yarn? Check out our Yarn Care Guide to learn more!
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Don't forget to scan in for PlyPerks while you shop with us at the show. It's free to join and puts you one step closer to your next voucher.