NY Sheep & Wool Festival – Rhinebeck Bound
For the New York Sheep & Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY, our friends Kathy and Bill invited us to spend the weekend at their cabin in the Catskills. While Kathy introduced me to Sheep & Wool Festivals five years ago, this was our first Rhinebeck adventure in four years.
Cabin in the Catskills
Catskills Cabin in the Woods
A sheep and wool festival means serious stash enhancement with yarns that are difficult to purchase at retail. Despite my overflowing stash containing over a year’s worth of yarn, I still wanted more. We arrived around mid-afternoon which enabled us to snag a great parking spot near the back of the fair grounds. We also got to see some of the dog trails which I had never seen before (too much yarn and too little time! I have my priorities.)
Back Entrance to NY Sheep & Wool Festival in Rhinebeck
Alpacas enjoying the NY Wool Festival
October Sunlight on Felted Hats at Rhinebeck Sheep & Wool Festival
Horse Drawn Train at Rhinebeck Sheep & Wool Festival
Lace knitting has captured my imagination this year. Maybe it’s the mathematical increases and offseting decreases that create amazing patterns. Whatever the reason, I focused my shopping on yarn for future lace projects and I found wonderful yarns to add to my stash. Top on my list was some true Shetland Lace from Jamison and Smith, the purveyors of the true article. I bought two skeins (870 yards) for a bargain $20.00! In addition, I bought a hank of Icelandic lace weight in a natural beige, which the hubster liked. It was a generouse 2,400 yards for $24.00. Lace weights definately help you stay within a budget!
Near the front of one of the barns was low priced wool from a variety of sheep bred in Maine. I bought a cone of sport weight in a wonderful turquoise containing 1,750 yards for $18.00. (While the yarn was a bit course, the finished garments were softer. I thought that it would make a nice jacket sweater.)
Lastly, I indulged in a qivuit blend, the most luxurious of fibers. It comes from the wild musk ox in Alaska and makes cashmere seem reasonably priced! I bought one skein with 436 yards of a plum lace weight. In addition, we purchased some New York state dessert wines and a pair of ear muffs.
It was a great weekend to be in the country where the leaves were colored glorious reds and yellows. The fall sunlight was ever so bright. We went into a nearby town to check out some local galleries and to have brunch.
Halloween Spirit in the Catskills