Are you attending any Fiber Festivals this autumn?
If so, which ones and why?
Why yes, yes I am. Can you believe it… only 17 days ‘til the big one, Rhinebeck here I come! My excitement this year is more muted than in years past, but I still fall prey to that feeling of restlessness that bedevils hardcore Rhinebeckians. (Yes, I made that up.) Rhinebeck presents several questions:
What to wear?
My Tilt sweater is back on track, full steam ahead. Unfortunately it wasn’t until today that I realized I’d not only been using the wrong size chart for the four pieces that make up the top of the jacket… but I’d also been working the directions backwards. Or something. So, the first two pieces (of four) need to be ripped out and redone, the third was so few rows in that it was no problem to restart. It’s already making more sense to me, which is good because the floppy things you see pictured below at the bottom there made no sense whatsoever. I decided to start the top pieces vs. continue with the second sleeve because I believe I’m running out of yarn. I knew I might not have enough when I planned the project, therefore I have a nice heathered charcoal solid waiting in the wings. It’s Cascade 220, and it’s a close enough match to make it work. I won’t mind having solid sleeves if it comes down to it, I think it’ll be a nice contrast.
Tilt to be.
I also have no fewer than three accessories knit this year to wear should it be too warm for a wool cardigan/jacket. I could wear my black Maja stole, the lavender Garden of Alla, or my Miss Lambert scarf. I may even be able to finish up the Panda Fan shawl if I don’t screw up the sweater again. I shall not want for handknits.
Do I Compete?
This is a tough one. What yarn have I created this year that I feel is “good enough” to compete? I think Dark Star might be a contender, and if I ply up my bobbin of Redwood Forest that might also stand a chance. I’ll have to take stock and see what looks good. I don’t always remember to document my handspun which means it sometimes goes in a bag and I forget about it. I have to change that.

Not quite lace weight.
Then there’s the matter of mom’s wedding shawl. Do I put up for review something I know isn’t perfect? Why do I feel that perfection is required? Are the other competitor’s items free of any flaws? Is perfection the sole point? I feel that it mostly is, and therefore I should know better. However, there’s another part of me that wants to show the world what I made for my mom, the challenge I set for myself and blew away, to show what is – by far – the most complicated and largest project I’ve ever tackled. I learned a lot, and I’m very proud of how it came out. Though I may regret it and be horribly put in my place by the judge(s), I figure I’ll go for it. If I don’t place, well it’s not the end of the world. After all, mom loves it and she’ll cherish it ‘til the day she dies… and that’s why I made it in the first place.
What to Hunt?
This Rhinebeck may very well be my last big hurrah for a good long time. We’re still waiting to hear any news on our mortgage; our proposed closing is only 2 weeks away! So, I can be pretty darn sure that my spending money is going to shrink as we grapple with the new responsibilities of home ownership. Knowing all this, and knowing the size of my stash to be bordering on epic… what will I be bringing home? Less than in year’s past, I can say that much for sure.
This year I think I’m going to exercise some restraint when it comes to Buckwheat Bridge. If they don’t have any colors that just SCREAM my name, I think I’ll pass. I can’t believe I’m writing this. Oh, and if anyone sees me with a bag of BWB in sage green or anything with terracotta in it you have my permission to smack me upside the head. No Spinner’s Hill batts either, I have two 1lb bags still waiting to be spun. Seriously, smack me.
Whatever comes home with me, it’ll have to be truly spectacular. One place I’ll visit for sure will be the mysterious ladies who sold me the Dark Star roving. I shall give them a talking to about business cards, when I find them. There may be a braid or bar of soap here and there, and definitely back issues of Spin Off, and natural colored roving to dye. If I find something good for my two swap partners, that’ll be about it.















Can you fill the white space with a word that you think describes me, my yarn, or the experience of falling in love with yarn and fiber? Don’t be shy, there are no stupid suggestions, the worst that’ll happen is that I won’t pick it. I’ll reply inside your comments so people can see what kind of things have already been taken.