Confessions of a Fiberholic -- Maryland Sheep & Wool, part 2

So I decided to return for a second day -- and what a contrast from Saturday! On Sunday, the booths that had been too mobbed to even get into Saturday were open for leisurely browsing. Of course, that means that I bought more, but not so very much really.



The spectacular blue Tess Merino Petite is for a Nancy and Judy Shawl - after seeing the designing wearing hers on Saturday, I knew I had to make one. And the Tess yarns come in such nice big hanks that I'll be able to knit the entire shawl with no extra ends to weave in.

As for the Socks that Rock, well ... I know I didn't need any more sock yarn, but there was no line to get into the booth, and no wait to pay, and that color was so pretty, that I just lost my head.

Of course, it wasn't all about buying more. One of the main reasons I went back was to watch the Sheep to Shawl competition. Having seen this competition twice now, it still amazes me that it's even possible to go from unshorn sheep to finished shawl in only 3 hours, but these amazing teams pulled it off. I've got lots of photos, but here are just a few.

A nice fluffy Corriedale ready for shearing,



a half shorn sheep,



and the spinners from Mount Vernon.







And now ... only five and a half months until Rhinebeck!

It's Too Darn Hot!

The Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival is this weekend, and it's just too darn hot! Forecast was for 88 degrees today, and it felt like it got there by 11 am. Scarcely an ounce of wool to be seen actually being worn in this weather. But the heat didn't seem to keep anyone away.


And it certainly didn't diminish the desire to buy wool! So much gorgeous fiber in one place, so hard to resist taking home far too much of it. But I'm in the midst of reorganizing my craft room, so I recently had to come face to face with the size of my stash...and there was just no way I could possibly bring home more than a token amount of fiber. I was actually quite restrained -- aside from a lazy kate, this is all I bought.

A glass shawl pin from Moving Mud, some malabrigo sock yarn for a Daybreak shawl, some BFL spinning fiber from Three Waters Farm, a little batt of cashmere/silk/baby camel from Faerie Mountain Fibers (who could have resisted?), and some gift cards that say “I made this. I expect to see you wearing it.”

I also came home with a new project for my queue -- the Nancy & Judy shawl, which I saw being modelled by the designer. Can't wait to start one, but I really ought to finish at least one of the three other projects I've already got going.

I finally got myself a pocket-sized digital camera, so this year I took photos at the festival for the first time. Naturally, cute, cuddly lambs had to be captured.




And some Blue-Faced Leicesters, since I'm so fond of their wool for spinning.



And what's up with this one ... is she getting a pedicure?!?


Two years ago, I bought my first Loop batt at Md S&W at the Cloverhill booth, and now Steph has a booth of her own. I wanted to bring home bagfuls of her fiber, but had to resist. Maybe next year, though ...