Yesterday Sarah drove Kate and I up to the lovely Twist Fibre Craft in Newbrugh. We’d been talking about doing this for a while, but seeing Lilith spinning away on Saturday made us want to go as soon as possible. Last time I spun on a wheel I was seven but I remember it being fun so I was looking forward to trying it again. They set a few different wheels (a majacraft suzie pro and little gem and an ashcroft traveller) up for us, got us started and then left me and Sarah to play for a good 2 hours, while Kate got a started with her new spindle. If you want to visit to try out wheels it’s a good idea to call ahead.
I love how happy Sarah looks in this photo. We managed not to take any wheels home (this time!), but we did stock up on some fibre, which is beautifully displayed in the shop above the workshop.
They had lots of colours of merino and icelandic wool.
Along with some more unusual (like milk protein!) fibres in natural colours.
The shop doesn’t just sell spinning things though. They also had a good selection of yarn, felting supplies, books, some quilting fabric
and adorable little jars of beads.
Thank you to the sweet man on the right for the great time.
The weather was miserable so we left Newburgh and headed north east towards bluer skies and St. Andrews. We got some lunch, very late since we’d been trying to ignore our hunger so we could keep spinning and then visited another yarn shop – Di Gilpin’s.
You reach the shop by walking through this pretty little courtyard.
And find yourself in a cosy room full of yarn and knitted garments.
They had a pretty good selction with an interesting mixture of yarns I’m used to seeing here – Rowan, Debbie Bliss, etc and some that I haven’t seen elsewhere locally like Louet and the Fibre Co. There were also some fantastic, but out of my price range, skeins of hand spun cashmere and baby camel. Very pretty.
We finished our day by wandering down to the beach.
Where the rain eventually caught up with us and drove us back to the car.
We’re already planning our next day out though. Maybe to here.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
What fun! Your trip looks like it was really wonderful. I went to university in St. Andrews and one of my best friends lived in the courtyard pictured in your photo, where Di Gilpin’s shop is. Happy memories! Glad you had fun too.
Oooh I’m going on holiday to Dunning near Perth in October…. I shall have to add those two places to the list to visit as I don’t think they are too far away.
Hi Saz you look like a pro on that wheel. I will start saving for you. Bro x
I love the knitted top Sarah wears. Is the pattern available somewhere ?
And I envy you for this nice trip :-)
So glad that you had such a lovely day. Sarah…you look like you are right at home beside all the sunny colourful yarns. Is this because you are a sunny and colourful lady?? Like your bro I too will start saving to make you happy!
Sounds like the perfect day. I’d love to have a go at the spinning.
That last comment of mine linked to the wrong place – my blog is nicolaknits.blogspot.com now. I’d better keep my eye on wordpress!
Twist fibre craft is amazing, I went to a class there last year to learn how to spin with a drop spindle and they are just so enthused about their products.
New Lanark is a great day out too – enjoy yourself :)
Oh, the yarn heaven you went to!! Wish I was there…. with a fat wallet!
oooh, looks lovely – makes me want to take a trip up there myself! just thought i’d pop in & let you know that most of the yarn left over from saturday has been added to the online shop (www.oldmaidenaunt.com) although there’s still more to come!
What a lovely day out – would love to have been with you! Will hear later how much you bought!!
What a lovely post! It’s so rare that (knit)blogs blog about places I know well, so this was extra special.
TFCS is fantastic, isn’t it? I don’t spin (yet!!), but even their selection of ‘regular’ stuff is amazing. And they’re so nice!
And St Andies – ah, ’tis a pretty fine town (and I’ve lived here for about three years now, so I ought to know). It’s been raining a lot this summer (which isn’t too bad as it’s kept the golfing Americans at bay).
I’ve been to Edinburgh a few times these last two weeks (for the book festival) and I keep thinking how nice it would be to live in a city, and how nice Edin is, but then when I get back to the ‘bubble’ I don’t want to leave ever again!
I come from Fife and you’ve making me homesick! I’m a (newbie) spinner, so I look forward to a trip to Newburgh when we come home.
I remember going to New Lanark on a field trip in primary school. The thing I remember most was being given a tour of one of the houses that people still lived in. It had a lot of stairs.
Aw, man, I’d KILL to find a yarn store with such an amazing fiber selection. My LYS has lots, but not quite that much. Lovey.
I love how you have woven the story of your day with a sense of place and joy. You spin a very lovely tale! The photos are wonderful too.
Looks like a good heavenly trip!
I read your knitting news regularly and photos are lovely & oh so informative. The photo after the beach was of Newbrugh. I did a google search and that did not look like Newbrugh, NY. Yes, Scotland.
Yes, been to Scotland & it is lovely.
I live in SE Asia & love to knit, just some light cottons & bootees for babies. There are few incentives-selection of yarn is very limited, weather is too warm, it is not the culture-but the art of knitting surpass such trivia.
Thank you for your knitting blog. It is an education.
that looks like my kind of day! thanks for sharing :)