The cosy and woolly winter festival that's coming to East Neuk foodie hotspot
Look out your knitting needles and crochet hook
If you know your garter from your purl, East Neuk Knits is for you.
This inaugural festival will be popping up at foodie venue Bowhouse in Fife - as well as a few other nearby locations - from November 29-30, and will celebrate all things knitting, craft and heritage. It’s being organised by some real woolly experts - aka Di Gilpin and Sheila Greenwell, who are currently appearing on Channel 4’s Game of Wool alongside Tom Daley.
Expect vendors including Bowbridge Alpacas and Balmerino Yarns, workshops and talks on subjects including steeking and bastetweave.
We asked Gilpin to tell us more.
Tell us about your time on telly
As there are still another few weeks left before the final, there’s not too much I can say, other than that I absolutely loved being a part of it. Tom Daley is just as engaging, enthusiastic and supportive as he appears on camera, and is a genuinely talented knitter. The contestants are a brilliant bunch of people who all made some lovely pieces. Working with my friend and co-judge Sheila Greenwell was wonderful, and it really was a privilege to be part of such a special programme. It's been around four years since I first met the Glasgow-based production company Hello Halo, so a lot of time and effort has gone into creating what you see today.
And tell us about your day job
Originally a teacher, I’m now a knitwear designer, working from a beautiful studio and showroom in the East Neuk of Fife. We create couture crafted pieces reflecting the knowledge and tradition of Scottish hand knitting in a contemporary way, using the finest cashmere and wool, and have worked with some incredible brands including La Fetiche, Connolly England, Wolsey, Erdos 1436, Netflix and Nike. When my Auntie Doris taught me to hand knit as a little girl, I had no idea that this would lead me to a career I’ve loved for over four decades.
Tell us about the festival. Will it be a one-off?
Definitely not! We’re already making plans for next year. It’s almost eight years since we first discussed the possibility with Bowhouse’s Toby Anstruther, and after a bit of delay thanks to Covid, we decided to give it a go and put a team together, including Alison and Susan who had organised the successful Woolly Gathering in Edinburgh. There’s a real community feel to East Neuk Knits workshops and talks will be based at Bowhouse, Kellie Castle, Ardross Farm and the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther, bringing visitors to some of our favourite spots in the area. We’ve also put together a very well-tested coffee and cake trail - we’re spoiled for wonderful places to eat and drink here in the East Neuk. Above all, we’re expecting it to be a welcoming, inclusive and fun weekend - it’s a great opportunity to showcase so many makers and to celebrate the Scottish knitting tradition.
Any particularly exciting producers/makers?
There are so many that I’m excited about - I’m delighted that the Journal of Scottish Yarns will be there as it’s a high quality, inspiring magazine. I’m also looking forward to seeing Shilasdair Yarns, who make very beautiful hand-dyed British yarn coloured by foraged plants from the Isle of Skye. I helped set up the company in 1995, so it feels like we’ve come full circle. I’m really pleased that TJFrog is joining us - Tania Ashton-Jones will also be leading a workshop on the wonderful world of Dorset Buttons where a 400 year old heritage craft meets contemporary design and fabulous yarn.
At the last count, we have 46 vendors lined up, so if you’re inspired to embark on a new project or simply to top up your stash, you’ll find the Bowhouse marketplace full of beautiful yarns, kits and patterns. There’s also lots of non-knitting vendors, selling jewellery, ceramics, glassware, cards, gifts and more. There will even be some cute animals, courtesy of Lunan Bay Cashmere (home of the sweetest baby goats), Bowbridge Alpacas and more.
Why Bowhouse?
It’s the perfect location and it’s helped make East Neuk Knits a real community event. It’s close to a handful of farms who raise sheep, goats and alpacas, giving visitors a chance to meet the animals and use their yarn in projects. That’s something we couldn’t do in a city centre setting and it’s quite special. And of course Bowhouse is known for fabulous food - something that knitters love.
Does the East Neuk have a lot of keen knitters?
There’s a long tradition of knitting in the East Neuk - not least because of the connection between fishing and Gansey knitting along the North Sea Coast. There are lots of knitting groups in the area and enthusiasm for all sorts of yarn crafts. We’re delighted to be welcoming so many East Neuk knitters to the festival, as well as others who have travelled from the Borders and beyond. Weekend tickets have been popular as people take the opportunity to explore more of the area and enjoy everything that the East Neuk of Fife has to offer.
Might Tom Daley appear?
We’re not expecting Tom to visit, but maybe next year! I loved working with him - he has an exceptional understanding of hand knitting and we share a passion about bringing children into knitting, so I’m sure he’d approve of the children’s knitting classes we’re running at East Neuk Knits.
What will you be teaching at the event?
Workshops and talks run across the weekend, covering everything from Fair Isle knitting and intarsia to Tunisian Crochet. Sheila and I are giving a talk in our Wool Hoose, reflecting on the influence of Gansey knitting on modern fashion design. We’ll look at our design process, how we work, and how we use traditional techniques to create a unique garment. Knitting is good for the soul - every stitch tells a story and honours our heritage.
What attractions, apart from wool, will be at the event?
There’s lots to enjoy - top of my list of non-knitting activities will be snuggling an alpaca, eating cake and shopping for handmade Christmas gifts from a selection of talented makers. The grain loft at Ardross Farm is our meeting place across the weekend, giving people a cosy space to relax, meet friends (and to knit of course!). We’ll be fundraising for two Scottish charities: CHAS provides care for children who may die young, and their families. St Monans 1875 Memorial Garden opens later this month and commemorates local fishermen’s lives lost in a disaster 150 years ago.
www.eastneukknit.com
Read more: “From iconic castle to twinkly cobbled lanes: Where to find Scotland’s 12 best Christmas markets”
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