It all
started with the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival. That was last weekend. And what a weekend it was! I taught, I shopped, I ate,
I talked. This was the first time that I had a half day off from teaching so
that I could get some serious shopping done. I bought fiber, of course
(Bluefaced Leicester wool, Cormo wool, silk hankies), and I bought yarn. I was
pleased to see so many vendors with breed-specific yarns. I got yarns made from
Lincoln, Teeswater, Border Leicester, and Tunis. I’ve added these to my large
bin of breed-specific yarns at home. Very satisfying.
And I got
some hemp yarn. It was in a discount bin in the Interlacements booth. It’s very very skinny yarn. I had
no idea what I was going to do with it until I saw a woman with a skinny inkle
woven strap for her reading glasses. That’s
what I’m going to do. Yes!
Another
purchase was a small beaded purse kit. It was so cute! And I’ve not done any
beaded knitting before. High time, then. I also got a couple of pieces of
pottery: a very large mug/soup bowl with “buttons” on it from Alison Wheeler, and a “whiskey cup” from Jenny the Potter. I’ve
already used both pieces.
But there’s
more! I am busy this month. Really busy. Really. Here’s the schedule:
Fiber Fallout. This is a spinning retreat in Johnsonburg, New Jersey, sponsored by the North
Country Spinners, Inc. It’s held every other year. The dates this year are
September 19-21. I’m teaching Variations
on Long Draw, Spinning & Knitting Energized Singles, and Spinning Marl Yarns. This is my first
time at this event and I do look forward to it!
September
ends with a bang! The weekend of September 26-28 contains multiple events of
interest to the fiber enthusiast. I will be involved in a new fiber event, the
Interlochen Fiber Arts Weekend.
It will be held at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. I’m
teaching multiple sessions of Beginning
Spindle Spinning and Diversity of
Wool. These are short workshops, only 75 minutes, just enough to pique your
interest. This event also includes a panel discussion about growing a regional
fiber-shed, some vendors, and mini workshops on spinning, knitting, weaving,
and crochet.
In addition
to Interlochen, there are other events that may interest you. The beautiful
northwest corner of the lower peninsula is the site of the Greater Traverse Area Yarn Shop Hop, September 26, 27, and 28. Hours
are Friday, 10 am to 7 pm; Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm; and Sunday, 12 noon to 4 pm.
Passports are $5, The participating stores are: Yarn Quest, Traverse City; Lost Art, Traverse City; Plover Dunes,
Glen Arbor; the Yarn Shop,
Glen Arbor; Wool and Honey, Cedar; Warm Fuzzy,
Alden; Thistledown, Suttons Bay; and the Yarn Market in Beulah.
If
that’s not enough for you, the Crystal Lake Alpaca Farm is hosting National Alpaca Farm Day,
Saturday, September 27, 1-5pm. Chris and Dave Nelson have a lovely farm and
fiber boutique at 4907 River Road, Frankfort, Michigan.
But
wait! There’s more! This very same weekend is the weekend of the Northern Michigan Lamb and Wool Festival,
at the very lovely Ogemaw County Fairgrounds in West Branch, Michigan. Vendors,
classes, shearing school, and more.
If
you’ve ever wanted to spend time in northern lower Michigan, and you love
fiber, this is the weekend for you. Take advantage. Do!
