Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival!

This blog post is several weeks late, but I wanted to put out the full report from my recent trip to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. I met up with my friend Laura from Alexandria, and together we headed to the Howard County Fairgrounds for two days of fibery goodness. It's a good thing I was going with a previous festival attendee, or else I would have been completely lost. There's a lot to do and see, and you really need to know where to go.

We really sort of lucked out with the weather. On Saturday, it was threatening rain most of the day, which I think made the festival a little less crowded. When we got there around 2:00, we had no problems getting parking, walking around, or approaching the Koigu mill ends! Sunday was nasty and rainy, which wasn't a whole lot of fun, but again I think cut down on the crowds. All in all, it was a really fun festival and I have already started saving for next year!

Here's one of the furry guys that we met in the barns.

This was a picture of some sheep butt at a showing. Actually, a lot of sheep butt.

One of the highlights of the festival is appreciating the animal and what it can provide not only in fiber, but in sustenance. We did enjoy lamb sausage with peppers and onions (and it was from Gettysburg, too!).

Below are Saturday's purchases. From left to right: three skeins of Brooks Farm Solana for a February Lady Sweater, two skeins of Dancing Leaf Farms Bee Bop for some fingerless mitts, two skeins of Claudia handpainted for socks, one skein of dark blue for socks, the orange guy is more sock yarn (will update when I remember what they are), and four Koigu mill ends (each of which should be enough for a pair of baby booties).

Of course, I went back for more on Sunday. From left to right: Carolina blue Zen fiber arts sock yarn for some NCAA tourney sock knitting, Brooks Farm DK weight, most likely for baby hats or a baby sweater, two skeins of Socks that Rock mill ends that are currently being knitted into a Chevron scarf, two skeins of brown Socks that Rock for my husband's next pair of socks, and finally, one skein of Socks that Rock Silkie that will be a lovely Lace Ribbon Scarf for me!

After all this, I decided I needed a ball winder. I ordered one from Knitpicks. Let's just say that without a swift, the yarn winding has led to special quality time with my husband. I think he's ready to buy me a swift now ;0