Exactly one week from this moment I will be in the sky somewhere, on my way to London. It's been far too long since my last UK visit. I miss England most of the time, having lived there for nearly 3 years. England feels like my second home, plus my ancestors are mainly British anyhow, so it sort of is my home anyway...

Before I get too nostalgic, I will return to the point... my UK visit next week is for one very specific (and totally exciting) reason - I'm going to POMFEST!

I've been a fan of Pom Pom Magazine since it's beginnings...although I still have an unfinished Netherton cardi in my WIP pile (no fault to the pattern, all to the knitter). So being involved now in the celebration of the 5th year of their fantastic magazine is such an honour.

You'll be able to find me amongst the fab lineup of stall holders in the marketplace on Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th of July. I'm bringing along lots of Mohair Lace and Polwarth + Alpaca, the two yarns I used to knit the Soireé Sweater in issue 21. Both yarns are held double througout the entire sweater and knit up into a soft, lightweight and warm fabric. I think it's just about the dreamiest combination of yarns, and had lots of fun coming up with some new colour options for future Soireé sweaters...

I'll also be bringing my tried and true Sock yarn - always a favourite of mine. I've dyed up lots of the LYDIA colourway, which is used in the Kipper Socks from Pom Pom's issue 1 reboot (very cool reprint of their original issue!)

I'm bringing along lots more colours on Sock and as well as a rainbow of Sock MIni skeins too. It's all so exciting, really!

I'm also looking forward to sharing a little bit of what life is like behind the scenes at Viola. Join me Saturday the 15th @ 1 PM (details here) to hear about how Viola and I have come to be in Mooresburg Ontario; from the beginnings of Viola, to our future direction. No two days are alike in quiet (but surprisingly not quiet) Mooresburg. My short time here has inspired and changed Viola and myself. Dyeing yarn in a 125 year old general store that is surrounded by beautiful wilderness and pick your own strawberries (😍) turns out to be a pretty darn good life. I'll also talk a little bit about how I find colour inspiration in my new home, and how I turn that into colours on yarn.

Over the past few months, preparations, dyeing, packing and planning have taken up much of my time (and most surfaces in the house too!) Seeing it all come together now is quite thrilling. With just one week to go, I'm in a flap about getting it all done (and likely forgetting one thing or another), but actually not worried because I'm just too excited!

Lucy, on the other hand, is downright pooped and napping it all off. Hope to see you at beautiful POMFEST very, very soon!

Emily xx