Yarndale has announced the recipient of its 2026 Start Up Bursary ahead of the popular yarn festival's return to Skipton next month.
Sabina Aiuto, founder of Wood, Stone, Feather & Bone, has been awarded a complimentary stand at Yarndale, which takes place at Skipton Auction Mart on 26th and 27th September.
The annual Yarndale Start Up Bursary, held in memory of Amanda Bloom and Jenny Machin, gives emerging creative businesses the opportunity to exhibit at the festival.
Sabina is a needle-felting artist who creates small characters inspired by woodland folklore and the natural world, using wool and other natural fibres.
Her collections include Mushlings and Flower Fae, with her work inspired by the idea of "small magic", or Hud Bach as it is known in her adopted home of Wales.
After spending 15 years working in mental health, Sabina decided to pursue a more creative career and is now growing her business through local markets.
She is also developing beginner-friendly needle-felting kits aimed at making the craft more accessible.
Visitors to Yarndale will be able to see Sabina's needle-felted creations and folklore-inspired fibre art, alongside live demonstrations throughout the weekend.
Sabina said:
“I am absolutely delighted to accept the Yarndale Start Up Bursary. Thank you to everyone involved in the selection process.
“It is a wonderful opportunity, and I am incredibly grateful to have been chosen. I am very much looking forward to working with the team and being part of Yarndale 2026.”
The recipient was chosen by the Yarndale team alongside Julie Park, a close friend of Amanda Bloom.
Julie said:
“We were delighted to receive so many great applications for the Bursary this year!
“I often find myself wondering ‘What would Amanda say’ or ‘What would Amanda do’. We spent so much time together, we really felt that we knew how each other thought, and when Kate, Emma and I were looking at the applications we agreed it would be wonderful to select someone whose work would appeal to Amanda.
“Having scrolled through @wood.stonefeatherbone on Instagram, I knew straight away that Amanda would have been drawn to Sabina, just the business name alone would certainly have appealed!”
Sabina has also offered to create a special needle-felted sculpture which will be raffled to raise money for the Brain Tumour Trust in honour of Amanda and Jenny.
Julie added:
“I hope visitors will stop by the Bursary stand to say hello to Sabina and give her a warm welcome into the fold.”
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