FARNHAM Maltings’ annual international festival of knitting, unravel, will return for its eighth year next month. unravel 2016 will take place over three days from Friday, February 19, to Sunday February, 21.

Since its launch in 2009 the festival has fast become one of the leading independent events for knitting and crochet enthusiasts from across the country, and around the world.

There will also be a series of talks and workshops with experts and stallholders to learn the secrets behind their craft and for visitors to develop their own skills.

Gavin Stride, director at Farnham Maltings, said: “Of all the things that happen here unravel is my favourite. It is the most convivial three days involving everyone in making it special. And each year people are coming from further and further afield to see, hear, look and buy.”

As part of the unravel 2016, there is going to be an exciting new selection of workshops and masterclasses from knitting experts from the UK and around the world.

These include internationally regarded knitwear designer Veera Välimäki from Southern Finland teaching her Shapes/Shawls workshop; Vicki Twigg from Pennsylvania, who will be giving an introduction to her two-colour, double-sided knitting technique ‘The Twigg Stitch’ a new twist on reversible knitting; and following the success of her 2015’s class, renowned crochet teacher, designer, writer and editor and co-founder of The Crochet Project Joanne Scrace returns to unravel 2016 to teach a new textured crochet workshop.

unravel is designed to get people interested in taking up knitting by showing it’s a fun and social activity where you can produce beautiful and practical designs and the whole workshop programme is designed to welcome knitters of all standards and abilities.

Visitors can learn how to design practical items from hats to socks and phone pockets and also take their knitting to the next level by exploring stitches, patterns and techniques.

Alongside the workshops, have-a-go sessions and the marketplace, visitors of all levels will have the chance to attend free talks led by experienced professionals.

This year the programme of talks include Alison Ellen discussing ‘Knitting, stitch-led design’; Amy Twigger Holroyd on ‘Revealing Re-knitting’; and Susan Crawford introduces her new book ‘The Vintage Shetland Project’.

As with previous years, unravel’s marketplace will provide visitors with the opportunity to browse and buy diverse products from more than 80 leading companies.

Featuring a marketplace bursting with inspiration for new projects, a wealth of expert advice and the chance to take part in a variety of creative workshops, unravel represents an unrivalled knitting ‘meet’ for all ages and abilities.

For more information or to box call the box office on 01252 745444 or go to www.farnhammaltings.com