Today we talk about the two biggest fiber events in my area, the WNC Yarn Crawl in May, and SAFF in October.

"The WNC Yarn Crawl is an opportunity to explore the WNC area's many unique local yarn stores and fiber locations. You create your own self-guided tour during the days of the yarn crawl. Visit as many locations as you like; all participating stores have daily prize giveaways as well as many great deals and specials for the weekend." The yarn crawl will be from Tuesday, May 3-Saturday, May 7. Mother's Day is Sunday the 8th, so be sure to buy something fibery for your mom, too! There is no fee to go on the yarn crawl, but please consider purchasing from the shops to help support their business. Each one offers sales through the crawl, and most (if not all) have giveaways each day.

Some of the closest fiber stores near me:

Purl's Yarn Emporium

Sun Dragon Art & Fiber

Friends and Fiberworks

Black Mountain Yarn Shop

My other favorite time of the year to buy yarn is during SAFF, the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair. This year, SAFF will be from October 21-23. The cost is $5 per person/per day, or a 3 day pass is $10. From the SAFF website, "See spinning, knitting, weaving, felting, and much more! Join a workshop class to improve your skills, or just enjoy browsing and hipping the beautiful and unique apparel and wearables." There are a TON of vendors there, as well as classes, workshops, and competitions. This is honestly where I spend most of my fiber money, and 2021 was no different. There were a few new vendors this year, as well as the ones that I shop with each year. 

Whimzee Stitches

Black Cat Fibers

Brick House Fiber Arts

Canon Hand Dyes

Please consider purchasing yarn or books or notions from your local yarn store or ordering from independent dyers and authors and makers. We all love and appreciate the support, more than you know!

I'm still looking for pattern testers! The pattern is free to testers, but will be a paid pattern after testing is complete. If you'd like to be a pattern tester, please email me at knittynerdy@gmail.com, or message me on Instagram!

So my dear ones, make sure that you take a few minutes each day to take care of your SELF.