WOOL from Rhinebeck--and those who love it

Two full days at Rhinebeck, aka New York State Sheep & Wool Festival, has left household heavier with many bags of roving purchased by Ron for spinning.  Virtuously (wink, wink, as I calculate how many projects it will take to use half of current stash) my purchase was one skein of Seacolors from Maine--which one can only obtain by being there.  Self-control gave way in the adventure's final moments. 

How It Began.  Through the miracle of cell phones, Xtreme English, on-sabbatical Elderblogger, and I meet up.  She does not currently knit, reveals a longing to make colorful socks like the ones she buys, hands me her latest take on the world.

She first graced these pages under the guise of MAW, an emerging artist.   Pleased to introduce M.E.C., who meant to sign this jaundiced interpretation of knitting wimmim.  However, she, her daughter and I were totally fixated on watching Saturday afternoon's Sheep Dog Trials.     

America is dotted with Sheep & Wool Events to give breeders of these fine animals an opportunity to meet, judge their animals and fleeces.  In this event, the farmer/handler directs her/his dog to go through timed paces in herding sheep.  MEC must have better photos; mine give sheep and one competitor a bit of visibility.  Massachusetts Sheep and Wool was the first place I saw this--andhas glorious close-up.  Their entire site puts the wool source up front--Rhinebeck, please note.

Famous Online Person & Fan Meet 

Clara Parkes, first time book author, creator of Knitter's Review, was gracious in her receipt of her very own Condom Amulet, "Orange, my favorite color!" (Knit from impulse-purchase synthetics, decorated with vintage buttons, plus New York City Condoms and Post-It pad inside.)  My thank-you for her telling the knit world about my Safe Sex project on Knitter's Review.

Read section on "Color" from Clara's The Knitter's Book of Yarn, as we drove back to the festival on Sunday morning.  Ron was driving.  Find it something I've been waiting for--an informed discussion of terms, especially hand-dyed and hand-painted.  Pretty patterns.  I like the name and look of Scaruffle, could be right candidate for stash yarn.

We'd stayed overnight with our friends Mike and Mary whom we'd visited this summer in Cragsmoor.  What a treat to see the Fall colors from high up in the mountains.  The four of us talked about our need to leave "the City" for refreshment in more natural settings.

More Author Meet Ups  Luckily learned about Sunday Book Tent happening (hidden on Rhinebeck website) from Kay Gardiner, friend and knitter of The Ballband Keychain Condom Amulet, soon to appear in online zine (see button at left).  I'd wanted to meet Ann Shayne, Kay's writing partner in book and blog, Mason*Dixon Knitting, a production bringing together Nashville and New York City in a non-musical way.  Sent her home with red amulet. More vintage buttons,  yarn-- found in Pennsylvania antique store-- from torn-up wool dress, probably Amish.  Busy signing books, Ann works away;  Kay smiles for the camera. 

Across the way, Clara Parkes is also busy.    Knitters want to buy books!

Faster than a sheep to shawl competition (inside joke, M.E.C. could illustrate), Ann and Kay on Monday posted someone's photo of elegant, heads-up Ann in a BIG hat.  Made by the irrepressible Lisa Daehlin, here wearing it. Knitter/opera singer, Lisa and I have known each other through yarn, knitting circles song recitals for years.

She's created two Amulets for  Condom Amulet zine.  I was carrying around the most recent--amulet as wire bracelet.  She and a member of the new Ravelry community have a technical exchange.  A months-old online group, Ravelry was everywhere. Saturday you knew who they were by their ID buttons; Sunday, tee-shirts.  Kay and Lisa tell me it is the latest, best idea. 

Comments

[M.E.]

great photos of the sheep! i forgot my camera in NJ, so heaven knows when i'll get my own photos downloaded. discovered at the sheep & wool gig there is a big sheepdog trial at....tada....the javitz center in ur town! who knew? i mean, is it big enough??

you certainly knew toute le monde up there, btw. such a celebrity!