Fiber Overload

Thursday. Arrived at Dutchess County Fairgrounds for our pre-NYSW festival class. Beautiful day, piles of luscious fiber in a pile in the center of a circle of whirring spinning wheels. It was a great class taught by Jillian Moreno. I know so much more about yarn construction now.

Then it was back to the hotel room for some pizza and knitting. Our brains were full! 




Friday Morning:
My eyes open with a random thought. I grab my phone from the nightstand and do a quick check in the map App.
Me: You know... Web's is only 2 hours away.
Pause
StringthingGirl: Let's do it. {it's her birthday today, btw} That's what we're doing today.

A few hours later, we crossed the threshold.

I know why people say "I was high on yarn fumes" 

Yarn. Yarn. Needles. Spinning supplies. More Yarn. Amy Herzog.

Yup. Spotted the lovely creator of CustomFit in the check-out line. I'm a few rows from being done with the first sleeve. Not in time for the festival tomorrow, but I didn't think it would be done.

Spent some time this evening plotting tomorrow's fun. Can't wait!

Rhinebeck Week

It's Rhinebeck (officially New York Sheep and Wool Festival) Week! I should have been spinning... I should have been knitting the sweater. Nope. I had to stop on Friday evening and make this bag. I have been thinking about this bag pattern ever since I saw it a week or so ago and pinned it to my "Want to Make" board on Pinterest. A quick trip to the fabric store and downstairs to the printer and I had everything I needed. Three hours later, I had a bag. A fabulous 241 Tote by Noodlehead. I have been knitting and spinning so much in the past few years that I'd forgotten how much I love to sew.

In other news, it's Rhinebeck Week. By this time Thursday morning, I'll be in a spinning class. Not that I'm at all excited. To celebrate, I've put my Roadtrip to Rhinebeck sock pattern on sale half price for a week! 50% off! You can get a great sock pattern for $2.50 this week! Coupon code: NYSW

WinterFest

My BKF and I took our kids (Well, I took the younger of my two. The teen declared that it was just too cold out for her to go.) to Winterfest at The Lands at Hillside Farms. Alpacas were pet, chickens were chased, ponies were ridden... the girls even braved the "stinky" cow barn and were rewarded with calves!

There were ice sculptures and ducks to see, and even a woman spinning some Alpaca fluff. L, who is nearly 10, was quite pleased to be included in the "oh, we're spinners, too" statement.  She was thrilled with all the animals - from the cows to the barn cats. We'll be watching for more programs from this farm. It was a lot of fun for all of us - moms, two year old and pre-teens alike.

Love this chicken. Makes me want a backyard coop!

One of the ponies near the barn - not the one L got to ride.

This old greenhouse made me want to shoot artsy photos!

Black Alpaca

The photo just doesn't do this fluff justice. I ordered this from Jakira Farms to make a -- for my -- for Christmas. The fiber is so soft and lovely. It did take a little fiddling before I could spin it properly on my wheel. (operator inexperience - not at all the fault of the lovely alpaca!) I actually went over to the drop spindle for a bit to get the feel of the fiber. Now, it's spinning beautifully. I have a full bobbin and I'm going to Navajo ply it and see how much I get before I spin the other 4 oz.