While knitting will always come at the top of our crafting list, we’re always impressed by the folks who get involved with the raw material earlier on, such as the spinners, weavers and dyers.

After all, they prepare all that lovely yarn ready for us to play with!

So we’re definitely intrigued by an exhibition celebrating these fibre arts, taking place at The National Trust’s Hardcastle Crags and Gibson Mill in Hebden Bridge to mark the 30th anniversary of the Bradford Guild of Handweavers, Spinners and Dyers.

August is almost here, so now’s the perfect time to plan which knitting workshops and events to head out to!

4 August The Toft Farm and Studio Open Day, Dunchurch

Toft Alpaca farm in Dunchurch, Rugby, will open its doors for a summer open day where you can meet the alpacas, tour the farm and enjoy taster sessions in a variety of crafts, including knitting, feltmaking and crochet. FREE OF CHARGE. Just turn up.

Find out more at thetoftalpacashop.co.uk or call 01788 810626.

5 August Professional Finishing, Weston Super Mare

Taking place at The Wool Sanctuary in Weston Super Mare, this class is led by knitter and hand knit designer Susie Johnson and costs £49.

Book your place at thewoolsanctuary.com or call 0115 947 4239.

After a fantastic launch as the East of England’s first ever fibre festival in July 2011, Fibre-East returns to the intriguingly named Scald End Farm in Thurleigh, Bedford, on 14-15 July 2012!

The organisers promise shed-loads of sheep, shearing displays, weaving and, of course, knitting.

Whether the sun is shining or rain is streaming down your windows, there are plenty of ways to get out and make the most of your summer – yarn, needles and all!

1 & 29 July Wool Workshops in North Yorks

We love the idea of these introduction courses to wool and its many uses (we can think of one or two!) at Hesbert Hall, Tosside, Skipton, North Yorkshire. Hosted by Gary & Maggie Lightfoot from North West Wools and expert spinner Pam, the full-day course will cover the techniques to enable you to make an item to take home. The day costs £50 including lunch. Find out more at  www.savingrarebreeds.org, or send an email to info@savingrarebreeds.org.

2-16 July Fairisle and intarsia in Essex

This three-week course at Roses and Rue in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, to take your knitting to the next level with pattern and colourwork.  The course costs £45. 

Call 01702 474177 or go to www.rosesandrue.moonfruit.com.

On Friday 22 and Saturday 23 June, the natural fibre fiesta will be taking over Mitchell's Lakeland Livestock Centre, Cumbria. Entry costs just £6 per day, allowing you access to all kinds of knit-friendly events.

With craft demonstrations, knitting workshops, stalls of yarn and more sheep than you can shake a knitting needle at, not to mention angora goats and rabbits, plus some dreamy-eyed alpacas, Woolfest is drawing knitters to Cumbria from across the world!

Relax, develop new knitting skills and get inspired with June’s knitting workshops and festivals.

9 June Hap Shawls & Lace Knitting

Hap is a Shetland word meaning a warm covering, or to wrap up warmly, and this class at Fibre + Clay in Cheshire will equip you to start your own project.

Book your place at www.fibreandclay.com; 01565 652035.

9 & 16 & 23 June Learn To Knit Gloves

This three-week course at Prick Your Finger in London will teach you all the stages involved in designing and making your very own pair of gloves. Book your place for £100 at www.prickyourfinger.com; 020 8981 2560

9-17 June World Wide Knit in Public Day

This knit-centric day last a whole week! It’s global, but there are lots of knitting events happening in Britain. Go to www.wwkipday.com to find one near you.

15-17 June Contemporary Craft Festival 

This bustling festival in Bovey Tracey, Devon, has a whole section devoted to textiles with exhibitors including the fabulous Ruth and Belinda of R&B Interactive as well as Ingrid Wagner and Zoe Miller.

Book tickets at www.craftsatboveytracey.co.uk; 01626 830612.

There are plenty of fibre fairs, knitting workshops and craft shows to inspire you this month. We've picked out a few of May's knitting highlights for you to choose from. If you sign up for any, let us know how you get on!

3,10 & 17 May Toe-up Socks

Develop your kit socking skills with Sherry James over at Create with Wool in Ilkley. West Yorkshire.

This class is suitable for people who are comfortable with casting on, knitting and purling. Cost: £45 including tuition and all materials. Find out more at www.createwithwool.co.uk  or call 01943 817788.

If you happen to be in Birmingham on the weekend of Friday March 16 and Saturday March 17, why not pop into British Alpaca Futurity 2012?

We’ll all be busy at the Stitch & Craft Show in London, but if you can’t make it to us, we’d love you to go and give the alpacas a kiss on our behalf, especially if you email us a picture or two to SimplyKnitting@futurenet.com!

British Alpaca Futurity 2012 is the first ever alpaca show to be held at the NEC, and promises to celebrate all things alpaca, with over 300 animals being shown, an international fleece show, a special ‘Introduction to Alpacas’ presentations for visitors, stalls of alpaca products, plus workshops and seminars on everything you could possibly want to know about alpacas!

A bright fresh new year dawns in just a few days’ time, making this the perfect time to challenge yourself with a new technique. If you haven’t tackled it before, why not try knitting in the round?

This technique is essential for seam-free, comfy socks, and so useful for hats and other projects, including Amanda Crawford's cowl neck jumper, featured in Simply Knitting issue 89 - in shops now. It’s not as scary as it looks, we promise. Once you get started you’ll never look back!

We also vote for making 2012 the year you go to a fibre festival or a workshop.