Rhinebeck '09

We got a late start this year, completely my fault, arriving around 9:40am and then had to wait on quite a large line to get into the fairgrounds. While it was cold, I was really glad that the weather held out and stayed dry for the day. I wish I took more pictures, especially since I met so many great people this year but I just wasn't thinking. My shoulder was killing me about halfway through the day which distracted me, so if I seemed off or rude to anyone I apologize, I wasn't really myself.

We grabbed some lunch from the Polish food vendor and was able to catch a pretty cool frisbee demonstration with some interesting dogs.



Of course there were cute animals:









This came home with me


8oz Sea wool from Creatively Dyed, 4 oz Merino/bamboo from Fiber Optic, 1oz Angora Rabbit wool, Sheep Incognito picture for our new house, Socks that Rock Medium weight Rare Gem for socks for Scott, and Socks that Rock medium weight mill end for me.

I also met a bunch of lovely people I have only ever known on Flickr, however I forgot that I had a camera with me when I meet everyone!

Rhinebeck '08!

Warning Picture Heavy Post!

The alarm went off at 4:45am while it was still very dark and very cold outside but I was excited. Scott and I hit the road by 6:10 after stopping to pick up breakfast, money and gas and were in the parking lot by 8:45. We scored a spot very close to the entrance (I think it is the back gate) by getting there fifteen minutes earlier than we did last year. This allowed us to head back to the car to drop some bags off so we weren’t lugging them around all day. I was definitely not dressed for the weather this year. I knew that it would be cool but it did not register in my mind that it would be that cool throughout the entire day. Thankfully I told Scott to grab a jacket for himself, I on the other hand did not have as warm of a jacket as he did so I bought a long sleeved Sheep and Wool shirt to wear over the light ¾ sleeved shirt I was wearing. Pair with my scarf I was okay for the rest of the day, but man what a difference from last year’s weather! Next year I would like to actually finish a sweater to wear to Rhinebeck but knowing my luck it will be 70 degrees again.

My first stop of the day was Creatively Dyed yarns because I had seen a specific colorway when browsing her photos that I wanted to pick up. I ended up with some seawool roving in this beautiful green color.


The next stop was the Fold. I knew that since we were inside the festival before 9am that not everything would be sold out but we both knew that the line would be long. Scott was great and waited on line while I picked over the colorways and decided what to get. I didn’t go crazy knowing that what I really wanted was a sheep 2 shoe kit but the colors they had just didn’t strike my fancy. I did however pick up two skeins of lightweight yarn in Nyame (For the Rivendell socks) and Treehugger. I wanted to see the spirits in person and am glad I did because I think I am going to pass on these colors. I’m not too sure why but I don’t really care for them. I was expecting a bit more, maybe more of the color that they are ghosted from instead of being almost completely white. By the time I was finished picking out colors Scott almost next in line which worked out perfectly!



While in the Fold’s booth I ran into Joanne and her kids. I then ran into a slew of ladies from my Guild. While wandering around aimlessly, well not aimlessly I just didn’t have a plan of action at this moment, I ran into Stacey, Liza and forgive me but I forget her name. They told me that they were headed over to the Little Farm (?) had some great yarn for cheap so we all walked over there. I picked up a bag (10 skeins) of Galway Worsted in a Navy color for a sweater for Scott and some pretty blue merino to spin.



Scott and I were getting hungry by this point and decided to sit and grab a bite; while the Mexican food was pretty good I think that next year we will be brown bagging it since all the food was a bit pricey. We missed most of the Ravelry meetup due to the fact that I never really looked as to where it was going to be. I recognized Julia and gushed over her Apres Surf Hoodie (hers is the reason that I started mine) and she told me where the meet up was. There weren’t that many people there but I did get a chance to meet FreckleBrother and FreckleMom. I had a blast chatting with FreckleMom!

The rest of the day we spent walking through all the tents and visiting the sheep, goats, alpacas and bunnies. We also watched a sheep dog trial and some of the sheep auction. I picked up some more Merino Tencel sock yarn from Ellen’s ½ pint Farm.




Scott and I kept going back to the beautiful Sheep prints trying to decide which one to purchase. In the end we both decided to get an artist embellished glecee but we are still unsure which one choose. We are still trying to decided but we will be ordering one at a later time.

Some beautiful merino roving that I cannot wait to spin!


And finally some pictures from Rhinbeck:

Rhinebeck 2007

I have been looking forward to Rhinebeck for the last year and a half. I wanted to go last year however I had to take an exam that I could not skip so I did the adult thing and took the exam. This year I was so excited to be going to Rhinebeck that I couldn’t sleep the few nights before Saturday. My sweetie said that he would go with me (i.e. he would drive so I could knit the entire way up) so we left at 6 in the morning to make the two and a half hour trip.


I haven’t seen a sunrise in a long time; this one was beautiful. When we travel early somehow we always manage to go over a bridge right around sunrise; which always makes for a beautiful drive.

We stopped paying attention to where we were going because we were chatting too much and got a little turned around. However we managed to get back on track and arrive at the fairgrounds around 9:15am. Our first stop we hit the souvenir booth where I picked up a Sheep and Wool tote (which came in handy).

Then we booked it straight to the Fold to pick up Socks that Rock. I know that I can buy it online, but I wanted to check out the colors in person and have Scott pick out a color. I picked up STR in “Downpour”


Scott picked “Lucy in the Sky”


The line wasn’t too bad; we were waiting maybe about 15 minutes. While online I was eyeing the sheep to shoe kit, but without a wheel there was no point in purchasing one. Also while waiting I ran into Ann who introduced me to Cara.

Then I stopped by Tongue River Farms to pick up some sock yarn, which I am thinking of using for some knee highs from Meg Swansen’s Knitting.


Then off to the Blogger/Ravelry meetup.


Where I meet up with Kristy.


Scott and grabbed some lunch and then we were off to find yarn for “Bird’s-
Eye Mittens for Scott from Rowan’s Knitting for Him. We finally found some yarn in the right colors and the right softness for him from Green Mountain Spinnery.

Mountain Mohair in “Raven” and “Wintergreen.”

We stopped for a bite to eat and Scott says that if my parents are still willing to split the cost of the wheel that we can bring one home. So I called my parents right away and got the green light, I was about to purchase a Lendrum double treadle before we left the fair.
I picked up 4 oz of Merino Top in “Denim” from Stony Mountain Fibers.


Then I picked up some Merino/Tussah from Clover Leaf Farms in “Concord.”


Scott liked “Red” (again Merino/Tussah from Clover Leaf).


Then we went back to get my wheel from the WoolRoom. I purchased a Lendrum Double Treadle Complete with a pound of Coopworth.

While Scott was paying I went back to Skaska Designs to see is they still had some cashmere I was eyeing.


This may be the most luxurious yarn that I’ve ever purchased. I’ve finally learned my lesson and decided to purchase high quality yarn for a project that will become an heirloom. This yarn, although 60 yards short, is destined to become the Lily of the Valley Shawl from Lace Style.



We both had a great time at the Festival. We didn’t make it to the Ravelry Party but there’s always next year.
Other highlights:

Sheep Dogs




Sheep (I get a kick out of the “Naked” sheep)


Alpacas


Bunnies


Meeting Jess and Casey

My newly finished shawl:



Pattern: Icarus
Needles: Addi Turbos Lace US 3
Yarn: Alpaca with a Twist Fino in “Rose Petal”

This was my lunch project; I kept it in my work bag and took it out on lunches, two days a week I was able to work on it for at least a half hour. I started around June and finished October 17.
Please excuse the bad hair; these photos are at the very end of a long day.

Baa Baa Black Sheep, have you any wool?

I’m going to my first Rhinebeck Saturday and I couldn’t be more excited!

Things I want:
Some Sock yarn
A shawl pin
Yarn for Endpaper Mitts
Yarn for Mitts for hubby
Yarn for the Tangled Yoke sweater
Yarn for a sweater for hubby
Lace yarn for either Peacock Shawl or Lily of the Valley Stole.
A Sheep Mug
A festival tote bag.
Some fiber
A lightweight Spindle
A wheel(I know I won’t be getting one of these)

What I’ll be wearing:
My newly finished, just blocked Icarus Shawl and maybe some socks if it isn’t too hot.

What I’ll be bringing:
Some socks to knit
My camera
Some Snacks
My hubby.

Rhinebeck here we come!