Birmingham’s very own yarn festival, Yarningham, is a show with a difference, as Juliet Bernard discovers
IF YOU yearn for a yarn show that breaks the mould and consistently delivers an exciting collection of specially curated exhibitors, some of them at their first yarn show, then look no further than Yarningham.
As the name suggests, this show takes place in Birmingham, and is the brainchild of a black-led business run by four amazing women: Sara, Helen, Lilith and Venetia. Tapping into Sara’s vast experience of organising events and festivals in music and film and the team’s knowledge of the yarn industry, the team have carefully developed an event like no other, which was first established in 2016. Diversity is extremely important to Yarningham as the only black-led yarn event in the United Kingdom, and this is also reflected in their choice of exhibitors.
When you visit the show - and you really, really should
- you will meet amazing makers in the spectacular setting of The Uffculme Centre,
a former home of the Cadbury family located in leafy Moseley, and currently owned
and managed by the NHS. So you can have a hot drink and some food in the café, knowing
that all profits go to benefit Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Trust.
Everyone we have spoken to, whether show visitor or exhibitor, has told us about the super-friendly atmosphere. But this doesn’t just happen overnight. The team are constantly looking out for new and inspiring makers, because part of their model is to introduce 50% new-to-Yarningham exhibitors each year - and that’s quite a task to deliver. Some may never have exhibited before, so the team want to make the show as accessible to them as possible, with affordable pitches and expert advice and support. Fostering and developing this talent also ensures that visitors can be excited about visiting the show every year to meet the unexpected and the talented.
This year the show has moved up a level, quite literally. Yarningham is introducing a designer showcase as they expand to the first floor of the venue, with exhibitors offering patterns, kits and merchandise in a relaxed environment where visitors can have more of an intimate dialogue with exhibitors.
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Jeanette Sloan - BIPOC in Fiber Jeanette has been a favourite designer of The Knitter since the very second issue. She is also the founder of the BIPOC in Fiber Directory.
