Looks Like Fall... Feels Like Christmas

I just love Rhinebeck. I was telling my husband this week, "do you know how exciting it is to go to a festival that's all about your hobby?!" (I suppose he can relate when he goes to a swap meet/car show combination.) Between the fun of it all, and the goodies I came home with, it really felt like Christmas.

I still can't get over the greatness of it all. Truly. The foliage is always amazing.... the fair grounds are lovely, they have the best fair food ever... there is everything a knitter and spinner could ever want to do and see and buy.... and the icing on the cake is when you run into fellow bloggers!

Last year, being my first at Rhinebeck, I was very overwhelmed (happily, though).... and knew that I needed a plan for future visits. This year, the plan was put into action, and I'm happy to report that I GOT TO EAT LAMB TWICE AND I NEVER HAD TO WAIT IN LINE!!!! Yes. Lamb kabobs and lamb ravioli. oh my.. so good. It meant that we ate lunch at 10 am, but who cares! This year I went with a shopping list too.... and shop I did. Mostly, I purchased roving for my new friend...... wanna meet my new friend?....

YAY!!! I just love spinning on this. She doesn't have a name yet..... Any suggestions?.... and here's a picture of my very first plied yarn... Mr. Knitche thinks it's very manly, and wants a hat out of it, despite the pink.

...and here's the rest of my loot. Roving, for a new earflap hat for Special K.....


.... and roving from Fantom Farms. I tell you, this stuff is so nice to spin. I bought some last year and loved it. This year I didn't see them on the vendor list and was bummed (because you can't buy it online), but then I came around the corner and saw all of the bags....hanging like sweet little bags of cotton candy. I started drooling, grabbing bags, and then looked at the woman next to me who had her arms full of bags, and saw that it was Adrian from Hello Yarn. The funniest thing I heard all day, was Adrian saying (as she was trying to check out, and get a handle on all of her bags of loot) "I need a sherpa". I think the festival organizers might want to consider this for next year. Sherpa rental.

..... and my new niddy noddy (what a great name)! I had to look up directions on how to wind the yarn onto it. The best directions I found were here. How exciting to now be able to wind my yarn into measurable hanks. (ok... there's something I never thought I'd be saying) I never realized it before, but niddy noddy's are also useful to knitters. Theresa explains why here.


I also bought another bobbin for my wheel, and an orifice hook (what a terrible name.. could someone come up with something better than that?!) I'm all ready for a winter full of spinning and knitting now.

I can't wait to do it again next year!