October 25, 2008

This ain't your MA's Wool Festival

Whoa. I've been to MA Sheep and Wool a few times now, so I thought I was kind of prepared for Rhinebeck. I was not prepared.

I was in fact dazed and overwhelmed by the number of vendors, the lines, the sheer number of people. And the yarn. Good god, the yarn. I think the yarn haze explains why I spent two days there and emerged with almost no pictures. And why it's taken me almost a week to write something semi-coherent about it.

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My knittahs Jenny and Sarah were most excellent company on the trip, and not just because they can always be counted on to say "Yes, you DO deserve that hand-dyed sock yarn!!" Though that didn't hurt.

So what did we do in NY, besides buy yarn?

I watched Jenny entrance passersby with her spinning. I know she convinced at least one person to buy a spindle (or as I think of it, lured another member into the coven).

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We stood in line for an hour to buy Socks that Rock. Turns out, knitters make excellent company. Best damn line I've ever stood in. And well worth it for these pretties...

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We saw a lot of bloggers.... I completely forgot that reading each other's blogs does not actually mean I know someone in real life and totally hugged Kristy of Eleven Stitches when I ran into her on Saturday. Sorry about that. Your Venezia really was stunning.

We ate next to Franklin Habit at a diner. We stalked the Yarn Harlot. I felt kind of bad when she totally busted me right after I Kinneared her...

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Until I saw this picture on Ravelry. Heh.

We enjoyed ourselves immensely at the Ravelry party, where we scored goody bags, free beer AND a sweet spot in the heated tents with the always-charming Susan of Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm, and her equally charming family.

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We ate a whole lot of greasy food...

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And I even did a little knitting...

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I have the second sock about halfway done and I'd like to finish it before I start something else.

But damn, all that pretty new sock yarn is calling to me...

8 comments:

Sarah said...

I am impressed you had photos of people. I seemed to have almost none! Most excellent time - we must do it again.

Kristy said...

I think I hugged you first, and I was hoping I didn't scare you too much with that :) It was nice to meet you! I'm glad you had fun at the festival, and came home with some pretty purchases (as opposed to the boucle and polyester ribbon yarn that I got at my first festival).

Unknown said...

Eeeee! I'm still working on getting my pics up and a post done, and it looks like it ain't happenin today!

Anonymous said...

Looks like it was a great time! I'm totally jealous of that cupcake. Oh and the yarn too, of course! :)

Jenny said...

Oh, so much fun!!! I'm still in withdrawal, honestly. I also just finished the last of the maple cotton candy. I seriously plan on saving up about $500 for next time so I don't even have to THINK about money. :) I can't wait. Fall is SO much cooler now.

Karen said...

Awesome, awesome, awesome!! So sorry I missed you though. And FYI, I totally would have hugged you.

Quirkles said...

Waaahhhhh!!!! I wish I coulda been there! Next year definitely!

Lucia said...

This was my 7th Rhinebeck, and it's still total sensory overload, and I still have trouble not buying everything in sight, because heaven knows more sock yarn is exactly what I need. And, speaking of sock yarn, that's an awesome sock. I may need some of that Meilenweit...