Kate Beard and Emma Sandoe, the team behind Skipton’s Yarndale Festival, are celebrating after picking up a top industry award for the second year running.
The show that champions the brilliance of wool has been named the ‘Best Yarn Show or Event’ in the 2024 Yarn Industry Awards, presented by CraftWorld, after earning the same accolade last year.
The awards were only launched last year, so Kate and Emma are delighted to have won on both occasions.
Now in its 13th year, Yarndale, which attracts visitors to Skipton from across the UK and all around the world, plays host to an impressive line-up of talented and passionate exhibitors, tutors and speakers, and appeals to everyone who is interested in making. It is designed to encourage everyone to get creative with yarn, share ideas, inspire individual creativity and become enthused by new project possibilities.

Alongside the annual show at Skipton Auction Mart, Kate and Emma have also introduced year-round creative workshops and regular making sessions in Skipton. Held weekly at Skipton Town Hall, Yarndale Social is a chance to share their love of wool and the possibilities it offers, as well as showcasing its versatility and sustainability.
And they have created, in collaboration with West Yorkshire Spinners, their own Yarndale Yarn with six exclusive colourways taking inspiration from the colours of the Yarndale Sheep mascots.
Speaking of their awards success, Emma said:
“Kate and I are incredibly happy and very proud that Yarndale has once again won Best Yarn Show or Event at these prestigious awards.
“We’d like to thank all the members of the public and the readers of Knit Now, Crochet Now, Your Crochet, Knitting and CraftWorld who voted for us and who have supported us since Yarndale was established back in 2012.
“Yarndale is very much a team effort which wouldn’t be possible without the enthusiasm and dedication of so many of our contributors, exhibitors, speakers and volunteers, and we’re all looking forward to being back at Skipton Auction Mart for Yarndale 2025.”
Chris Cooke, Business Development Manager at awards’ organisers Practical Publishing said:
“A huge congratulations to the Yarndale team on this outstanding achievement for the second year running. It is clear that Yarndale has truly captured our readers’ creative hearts and this recognition of their excellence in the industry is very well deserved.”
Yarndale 2025 is on 27th and 28th September. Tickets and Yarndale Yarn are available to buy at: www.yarndale.co.uk.

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