Saturday, July 28, 2007

Big Post! Lots of Pictures!

ETA: This is my real inspiration for spinning. If I could ever learn how to make something so gorgeous, I would be very happy indeed!

Oh my God, Eric and I went to a fiber festival today just down the road from Tulsa. It. Was. Awesome! I don't know how those of you who go to the giant ones all the time do it--I brought home so much good stuff. Here's a peek inside the bag I brought home with me. I'll get to all that in a minute.


So, without further ado, let me lead you on a tour of the festival.

This was mostly a gathering of local spinners, dyers, and Alpaca/llama/sheep raisers. I've never seen so much fiber in one place--and I had no idea what one does with most of it

But that didn't stop us from making the round several times, visiting each booth, some more than once, and handling all the fiber, even the oily stuff.



There was just so much to see--and touch!

The above is the East Winds Farm booth (etsy seller NakedSheepStudios). I see she doesn't have any sock yarn up at the moment, but keep checking back because this stuff was beautiful.

She had two varieties--a Corridale/nylon blend (465 yards for $10!), and a Merino/tencel blend (410 yards for $12). Eric and I nearly cleaned her out, buying three skeins each.

One of these will be going to my Sockapalooza pal. I just have to decide which I can stand to part with.

Handspun yarn:

Handspun bamboo yarn (very shiny!):

And this booth had some of the most amazing stuff I have ever seen--silk caps! If you don't know what it is, and I had never heard of before now, I've already googled it for you. Check out the link, because they are just impossible to describe.

These things are so strangely strong to the touch, but filmy and delicate looking. Eric and I each bought two.

Apparently we can either spin them on our new spindles, or just peel off the layers, stretch them out and roll the fiber back and forth to create instant yarn.

I got pink with green, and blue with green, so I'll be able to combine all the colors together when I decide what to do with them.

Endlessly entertaining!

Before we left, we sat down with Janine and Tara to rest a minute. They were also quite the happy little shoppers, so our table was loaded down with our purchases--and my new green spindle!

Janine gave an impromptu spinning lesson, and she made it look so easy. Which I prompty found out it is not once I tried my hand at it. I'll need tons of practice, but seeing the amazing handspun yarns today gives me an incentive to get going immediately!

13 comments:

Sheepish Annie said...

Oh, wow!!! I've only ever been to one festival, but I was like a woman possessed! I'm still recovering...

Welcome to the world of spinning. You are now lost to the rest of humanity. It allllll about the fiber! And it is allllll good!

IrishGirlieKnits said...

Wow! How fabulous is all that! I still can't get over that gorgeous sock yarn (those colors are fabulous!!) for such a great price!

Kristy said...

I've been to a couple of festivals, and I always feel so overwhelmed...

That's some awesome sock yarn! You're a very generous Sock Pal :)

Caroline M said...

Welcome to the time sucking hole of spinning. It will make you look at your knitting yarn in a whole new way. Next time out you'll be feeling the fbire even more.

nicole said...

Too cool. Now I need to visit a fiber festival at some point! I'll be curious to see what you do with those silk caps -- they are just beautiful. And what a great deal on sock yarn. I wonder if she sells it at that price on etsy too. *Goes off to check her PayPal account.*

Knit and fall back in it said...

What a fun day! You must bring one of those silk caps to knitnight.

Gigi said...

Oh what a fun time! The roving you purchased is just gorgeous. I look at roving like that, sigh, and remind myself that I do NOT need to learn to spin.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Fiber & yarn overload. I've never been to a fiber festival....now I want to go. :~)

Anonymous said...

Looks like you had a good time and what wonderful goodies you brought home!

Rachel said...

What fun! I got to go to my first fiber festival this spring, and I was hooked, even though it was a little one.

Sock yarn for $10? That's a real deal! Wow!

Unknown said...

Wow...that looks FUN. I know nuthin' bout spinning but I'm sure I could get sucked in too. Thx for the link to Naked Sheep...that sock yarn IS great!

knottykitty said...

Sounds like you had a wooly good time! Everything looks awesome. I can't believe the price on the sock yarn--drool, drool....

Macoco said...

Yum, yum look at all that great yarn!