Oh, sheep! Weeeelll, here’s a bit about a couple of shops I visited the last time I was in London.

Loop, in Islington, is probably the quaintest yarn shop I’ve ever visited. If you’re looking for a unique shop with unique knitting notions, this is it. It’s small and cozy with a couple floors full of all kinds of luscious yarns that one could ever want. Plus, how can you not love a shop that uses the word “haberdashery” on its site!? They’ve got everything from classes to designer works. Not gonna be in London any time soon, but want to partake? They ship! Just shop online. Believe it or not, the shop was opened by a New Yorker, so Northeasterners, you might feel right at home, even if you’re shopping abroad 😊.

Students and local health workers even get 10% off their purchases—love that! I highly recommend going if you get the opportunity. Camden Passage, the street where you’ll find the shop, is a a must-go for those of you who love everything antique and vintage. Don’t forget your wallet!

Another shop I visited was Knit with Attitude, because is there any other way to knit? It’s in the Stoke Newington in North East London, just a 20-minute ride on a double-decker bus toward Walthamstow Central and you’re there. (Don’t know much about Walthamstow, but I once lived in Waltham, MA 😃)

Knit with Attitude is an eco-friendly and sustainable yarn shop, specializing in all things ethical knitting and crochet. It’s a small but vibrant shop with lots of books and yarn (of course), and a neat little area for lessons and workshops.

They don’t sell that bag anymore, but they have some really cute kits if you’re looking for a new project!

I ended up with so much yarn on that trip that the reusable shopping bag I was carrying them in broke as we were rushing through Heathrow Airport! There I was in the middle of the airport with yarn all over the floor LOL. I ended up having to buy a backpack just to get home with my massive UK yarn haul.

Even though I didn’t get a do-over of yarn shops this time around, I did bring some yarn with me and whipped up a hat to get me through the last couple of cold, rainy days I was in London.

Enjoy a few photos from what I did get to see while pretending to be a Londoner for a week!

Sadly, it was time to get back to the States. I woke up Sunday morning, mildly jetlagged to discover that the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival was happening over the weekend. Despite the jetlag (and the suitcase full of laundry waiting for me), I hopped in the MINI and took an hour and a half road trip to New Friendship, MD to see what this festival was all about! This was my first sheep and wool festival, though I had previously been to Waltham’s Sheepshearing Festival when I lived there several years ago.

You’re probably wondering what goes on at these types of festivals. Well, sheepshearing, for one—obviously! 🐑

But there are also food vendors, handmade goods, yarn, and things related to fiber arts and crafts, and well, more yarn! You’ll also find music and performances and other events and activities. Vendors were there from literally everywhere! This year’s Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival had more than 600 sheep! Here’s how you can spot the Merino—they’re all cozy in blankets (spoiled sheep = super soft sweater 😉)

I picked up a few things so that I wouldn’t leave completely empty-handed, including 5 yards of some very fun embellishment yarn from historic Ross Farm. And, from Dancing Leaf Dyeworks, I bought an equally fun giant pom pom and some really beautiful wooden buttons (anyone see a project coming together here?).

For food, I grabbed a lamb gyro and overindulged in the biggest cup of strawberry lemonade I’ve ever had in my life! Thankfully the rain had let up. I walked around in my muddy rain boots for about 2 hours, and I still didn’t see everything there was to see, but I took in as much as I could before deciding to take the drive back through Baltimore and back home.

More photos from the festival!

Can’t wait to check out the next festival. And I’ll keep you posted on my next international yarn haul…TBD…!!