Textile Travel

Plimouth Plantation creates new line of yarn

Kathleen Lyons — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 17:11:47 +0000

On November 10, 2011, Plimoth Plantation will introduce its new line of 100% wool yarn. “New Plimoth Worsted” will be custom spun in the village of Harrisville, New Hampshire by Harrisville Designs. The new line will be introduced at the Plantation’s Winter-into-Spring Farmers’ Market, and will feature a lecture at 3:00 P.M. by John Colony, owner of Harrisville Designs. The public is invited.
Press release about the event is here.

The yarn’s unique color palette was created by the Historic English Clothing and Textiles staff at Plimouth Plantation, matching colors produced by using natural dyestuffs of the 17th century.

Plimoth Plantation’s “New Plimoth Worsted” is available exclusively in Plimoth Plantation retail shops and on Plimoth.org.

Read more about it here.

Peaches & Creme – Bad & Good

Kathleen Lyons — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:35:46 +0000

By now most fiber afficionados have learned that Peaches & Creme cotton yarn is defunct – a North Carolina factory produced the last U.S.-made cotton yarn; they sold their equipment, inventory and trademarks to a Canadian firm in early 2011.

The bad: 81 workers lost their jobs as a result of the sale & move of the company. According to one insider, the company’s management failed to develop new markets for their product, and relied on the grace and favor of Wallyworld to buy their inventory each month.
The good: though the Canadian firm now owns the label (apparently the most valuable asset), much of the ‘old’ stock of Peaches & Creme was sold to discounter Dollar Tree, where, through the jungle telegraph of Ravelry and other fibermedia, a veritable frenzy of seeking and buying has been unleashed. Spacloths, washcloths and dishcloths dancing in their heads, fibernuts are descending upon unsuspecting Dollar Trees like a plague of locusts, cleaning out Peaches & Creme balls in a flash of creative stash-building.
OK, I bought a few. Lovely ombre tones and some solids. But I’m not saying where in Dennisport MA, USA I found them. I just know I’m knocking out some rich spa cloths in travel size, for holiday gifts.

Road Trip to Yarnland – Stitches East

Kathleen Lyons — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 06:55:46 +0000

Textile Travel and a group of Cape Cod fiber lovers enjoyed a day trip to Stitches East in Hartford, CT.
Read more about it on our blog, Rovings & Yarns!

Road Trip! Bus from Cape Cod to Stitches East in Hartford, October 30, 2010

Kathleen Lyons — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 19:24:33 +0000

Stitches East Day Trip!

from the Cape to Hartford, Connecticut
Saturday, October 30, 2010

Come with a group of friends and enjoy an exciting day among fellow fiber lovers!

Our motor coach will depart from the Hyannis area at 7:30 AM on Saturday, October 30, 2010. We will stop near the Sagamore and Bourne bridges to pick up more passengers, then head to the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford to enjoy the sights, sounds and sensations of Stitches East.

Our destination is the Stitches Market, with its constellation of fiber stars, authors and vendors offering everything from fleeces to roving to felting supplies and, of course, yarn. Free demonstrations are ongoing on the Market floor.

There are also some educational Market Sessions available on Saturday at additional cost: you can sign up at the Knitting Universe site. We will be at the show in time for you to attend a Market Session at either 12:30 or 2:00 PM. Our motor coach will depart for the return trip to the Cape at 5:00 PM.

Trip cost is $54, including transportation via motor coach, and a discount ticket to the Stitches Market. Optional Market Sessions are additional; register and pay for these sessions at the Knitting Universe site.

Click here to Register for this delightful day out!

Space is limited, so book now! Registration will close on Friday, October 15, 2010.

You may pay by mailing a check for $54.00 as noted on the Registration page: make your check payable to FastNet Travel, and mail to: P.O. Box 326, West Dennis, MA 02670, Attention: Kathleen Lyons. Please include an email address so we can send you an acknowlegment of receipt of your payment.

If you’re paying via PayPal or the EventBrite system, a small additional processing fee will apply.

Snacks and a few surprises will be provided enroute. Lunch options are available at the Stitches show; you may wish to bring a brown bag supper for the ride home, or purchase food in Hartford for the return trip.

See the Registration Page for more information about the trip.

Questions? Email us or phone Kathleen at 508-760-8289

Let’s enjoy a relaxing autumn ride through the New England countryside, and indulge our fiber passions…
See you then!

FiberCulture London Program – 2010-11

Kathleen Lyons — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:14:28 +0000

We’re excited to share the news that Textile Travel will be introducing a new concept in group touring for fiber lovers.

Beginning in September, 2010, we will host our inaugural FiberCulture program in London, England. Participants can sample from the broad palette of textile resources in one of the world’s most dynamic cities, while taking advantage of the many theatres, museums, exhibitions and shopping opportunities available in London.

For a period of weeks, Textile Travel will host fiber lovers in a convenient hotel or a chic, centrally-located London apartment. Come when you can, stay as long as you like (subject to availability). High-quality, professional travel and concierge services are augmented by our deep knowledge of the London cultural landscape, and our love of all things fibrous.

Each morning, our experienced staff will be on hand to brief you over continental breakfast, on the many options you can choose from that day: These could be:

A fiber event at a large venue
Knitting circle in a local yarn shop or pub
Visit to an exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum
Day trip to the greenhouses at Kew Gardens
Walk through Hyde Park with tea at Kensington Gardens
Visit to Portobello Road, Petticoat Lane or other London outdoor market

Without adhering to a rigid itinerary, alone or with friends, you can relax among a companionable group of fellow travelers with lots in common – notably an independent streak. In the evenings, we will offer options for dining out and theatre forays, or you can sit and knit in front of the telly with some take-out and a bottle of Beaujolais.

Details are forthcoming – we are in the planning stage but will have some definite dates for September/October ready soon.

Cape Codders! Spinners Guild heads to Stitches East October 24, 2009

Kathleen Lyons — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:55:29 +0000

Cape Cod Spinners Guild will be traveling to Stitches East in Hartford, CT on Saturday, October 24, 2009. Textile Travel is coordinating registration for this fun trip.

Non-members are welcome to join us! Cost is $39.00 per person, tax included.

Our coach will pick up passengers in Hyannis and Wareham in the early morning, returning about 7:00 PM.

More information here.

Registration is open for Freeform Fest 2009 Cruise with Prudence Mapstone

Kathleen Lyons — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 02:46:35 +0000

Freeform Fest Cruise Itinerary

Textile Travel’s summer Freeform Fest Cruise for crocheters and knitters (friends and family invited!) is now open for booking. We will embark from the port of Rome (Civitavecchia) on August 17, 2009, returning on August 27, 2009. Cabin prices start at $999 per person, with special upgrade offer if you book before February 1!

Fiber guru Prudence Mapstone is our featured instructor on this relaxing ten day sojourn to exotic Mediterranean ports. Special events, workshops and shore excursions, as well as pre- and post-cruise programs complement our exploration of the historic and modern cultural gems of the Mediterranean.

Download the information/booking packet here, print the registration page and reserve your place now for this sure sell-out cruise and tour.

EMail us: or Call us (800-696-8935) with travel or booking questions!

Freeform Fest 2009 – Mediterranean Cruise with Prudence Mapstone

Kathleen Lyons — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:17:39 +0000

Our 2009 Freeform Fest for crocheters and knitters is in the works!
Sailing from Rome on Holland America’s Noordam August 17-27, 2009, our cruise will visit such ports such as Corfu, Dubrovnik, Ephesus, Santorini, and Messina Sicily, and features Freeform Goddess Prudence Mapstone with her big knitting bag full of beautiful examples of Freeform fiber art!

We have inside, outside, verandah and suite cabins blocked for our 10-day cruise-and-learn adventure. There will be a series of workshops targeted to both our ‘veteran’ cruisers, and those who’ve never studied with Prudence before.

More details will be available here later this week, but if you’re anxious to book your cabin right away,
email us or give us a call at 1-800-696-8935. Our third annual Freeform Fest promises to be the best yet!

UK Fiber Shows

Kathleen Lyons — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:54:31 +0000

Friendly Lake District residents

Textile Travel is a big supporter of small, sustainable fiber producers and farms. We love events that celebrate and spread the word about hard-working fiber animals and the people who shepherd them, worldwide.

Fiber Farmer Mary Bell of Crookabeck Farm, Patterdale, England

Over the years, we’ve been lucky enough to attend numerous fiber festivals, conferences and outdoor shows. Among our favorites are the Woolfest in England’s Lake District, held each June, and Wonderwool, an April event in beautiful Wales.

Read more about travel opportunities to festivals and fairs in 2009.
If you are a guild member or LYS owner, we can arrange all travel details for your group at competitive prices – Email us for more information!

Bermuda Cruise Video

Kathleen Lyons — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:03:13 +0000

Our slideshow of the wonderful 2007 Bermuda Cruise with Prudence Mapstone has been uploaded to
YouTube, or view it here:

Photos of our 2008 Alaska Cruise will be published shortly, in between trips to new LYS and the wilds of the Green Mountains of Vermont.