Beth Brown-Reinsel's musings on traditional knitting everywhere
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Angora bunnies for sale
Sheep being judged
the vendor barns...
Barns full of goodies
outdoor booths
One vendor outside had lots of spinning fibers she had dyed with vegetal dyes:
Vegetal dyed wools
One thing I don't like about the bigger festivals is the human crushing that goes on in the barns. Here, there was lots to see and plenty of room to look comfortably!
Spacious barns
Loranne and her beautilful yarns and garments
The Mostly Merino booth
angora/wool blend for spinning
My Krygyzstan Rug
Tags: Ann Feitelson, Massachusetts, Mostly Merino, spinning, wool festival
I was also anticipating another wonderful workshop with Margaret Klein Wilson of Mostly Merino and a slew of students, many of whom were returning from previous sessions. This event has become a permanent part of many of the knitters' summers. Over the years, our friendships have deepened, while new faces are always welcomed and made a part of the family immediately.
The Farmhouse
The view from the Farmhouse
My wonderful class and their awesome work!
Yummy Yarn
Gorgeous Sweaters
Tags: Hand dyed yarns, Lusekofte, Mostly Merino
Here we are eating delightful Dutch pancakes. Mmm, very fattening...
Nancy M. had let a few knitters know that Nancy B. and I would be in town, and what started out as an intimate get-together turned into a formal presentation of our respective knitting interests. I was amazed that over 40 knitters showed up! It was gratifying to see that our work is known and appreciated beyond the US border.
Read the rest of this entry » Tags: Amsterdam, brioche stitch, Church of the spilled Blood, Denmark, Germany, Holland America, Lolland-Falster Museum, Margaret Klein Wilson, Marianne Isager, Mostly Merino, Nancy Bush, Nancy Marchant, Norsk Folkemuseum, Oslo, St. Petersburg Russia, Tallinn Estonia, Vivian Høxbro
Here, BJ is unwinding her yarn for the Two-End Knitting, or Twined Knitting, class. We made little mittens to learn the techniques. Two-End Knitting, Tvåändsstickning in Swedish, is aptly named because both ends of a center-pull ball are used. The knitting is not like stranded knitting even though two yarns are used within each round. The yarns are twisted after every stitch yielding a thick and very warm fabric with unusual textural (or color) motifs possible.
And check out those Sanquhar Gloves!!!! My class worked so hard, but enjoyed themselves immensely. One of my students dubbed them "Sasquatch" Gloves and the name stuck. Silly, funny Janet!
I am looking forward to teaching this very class at the Olema Inn in Olema, California, north of San Francisco on Wednesday and Thursday, November 12 and 13. (I will also teach Norwegian Mittens on Saturday, the 15th and Seamless Arans on Sunday the 16th.) If you are interested in joining us for fun classes, exceptional food, and warm comraderie, call 415-663-9559. I hope to see you there! Tags: Autumn, Mostly Merino, Sanquhar gloves, twined knitting
Now where did four months go? Well, I'll tell ya... As Grace Slick says, "It's a new dawn" and it surely is. I was going along this year minding my own business, teaching my workshops, when in August I went up to my beloved Vermont for my annual workshop there, held by Margaret Klein Wilson of Mostly Merino. Dear Margaret listened to me whine yet again about how I wished I could live in Vermont and she handed me the newspaper so I could look through the rental section. Well, long story short, I found, or was directed to, the most wonderful house in the world. It fits me like a glove and I couldn't be more thrilled! The room that has a whole wall of windows is my bedroom and each morning I wake up to a view of the meadow and woods beyond. (That's my daughter Chelsea in front of the house.) Of course, this photo was taken in August, and the leaves have turned and fallen now. There's even been some snow. I have brushed up on my fire-building skills from 30 years ago, to use the fireplace. 
It's a new phase for me, living without the kids around. I am excited with the prospect of having time to do all those things I want to do... like spinning, weaving, maybe get back into dyeing, as well as finishing up a bunch of knitting patterns and sweaters, and The Book. I finally figured out what the real name of this blog is, so once again I have changed it-- this time, for good. And I am rethinking my goal of writing every week. I simply do not have that many interesting things to write about. So rather than waste your time and cause myself great stress, I will aim for posting once a month. And if I am seized by a need to post an extra time, well, fine. Tags: Mostly Merino, Vermont
Note the threat of rain that hovers over the festival most years, which separates the rabid fiber fiends from the families on a weekend outing.
We live in magic times--so much at our disposal as fiber artists. What can be had at these events? Wool rovings, fleeces, dyes, baskets, spinning wheels and other tools, sheep cheese (a personal favorite of mine), lamb burgers, plus the usual wonderful fairground junk food, yarns, patterns, wool garments, sheep, sheepdogs, the handspun skein contest for spinners, the handmade wool garments, all the vendors, soap, herbs, the parade of sheep breeds, the sheep to shawl contest, whew! Even classes are offered by nationally known teachers. This year was no exception. However, with my stash of fiber exceeding my humble stash of yarn, I resisted the ever-popular Fleece Sale.
I attended with my sister, and dumped off some old spinning equipment that had been gathering dust for awhile. These were sold at the annual spinning and weaving equipment auction there. Now I have money to buy more yarn! Then I went straight to the sheep-cheese stall. MMMMM.
This is the cheese-man I go looking for every year. He is from Menhenett Farm in PA. Wicked good sheep cheese. If you search him out next year, PLEASE don't buy it all before I get there.
Sixteen members of the Houston Knitting Guild flew up as a group to see what all the fuss is about! It is certain that they had a fabulous time. Those knitters will have a fabulous time anywhere they go! I know this because I went down to Mexico with them to teach a workshop in 2005. They are a blast, and so was San Miguel de Allende. You should check out Casa Luna where we stayed: FAB-U-LOUS! But I digress. Here are three of my favorite knitters from the Houston group, Vicki, Margaret, and Beth.
They bought so much they had to dump their treasures at the car in order to go back to buy more. Sigh. So fun!
One of the main reasons I go to the Wool Festival is to see old friends. I always try to get over to see my dear friend Margaret Klein Wilson of Mostly Merino. What a trooper she is! She broke her foot a couple weeks ago and STILL managed to dye up a bunch of yarn, pack for the show, drive down from Vermont, set up for the show, and still smile! She's holding the sweater she made (Stone's Sweater) for Barbara Albright's book The Natural Knitter. I can't wait to go up to Vermont this September for our annual knitting retreat.
And I was lucky to catch Ron Schweitzer, one of my favorite designers, in the Yarns International booth. With him is Bonnie the co-owner of YI along with Betty, who was helping a customer at the time.
Well, hopefully I have enticed you to consider attending the wool festival next year. People come from all over the country, including Canada. You can get on the mailing list to receive next year's catalog on their website.
Enjoy your weekend!
Tags: Casa Luna, Houston Knitting Guild, MAryland Sheep and Wool Festival, Mostly Merino, Ron Schweitzer, San Miguel de Allende, sheep cheese, The Natural Knitter, Yarns International
