The Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival Recap

I had a plan. Really I did. Then I actually walked onto the fairgrounds and that wonderful plan went out the window. Honestly though, I did pretty good compared to past years of random buying with no thought in mind as to what I would do with everything. This year all the yarn was bought for a purpose, and of course plenty of patterns for future use (but patterns don't really count anyway.)

So let's get to the yarn porn!

First up is this gorgeous yarn and pattern from Kiparoo Farm Studio. I love their stuff and the people of Kiparoo. If you're out this way, they have a cute little studio/shop you can visit too! All of this is going to be the VERY FIRST SWEATER I've ever knit! What's not shown are 3 skeins of a solid green that they are dying for me and should be here in another week.

A close-up of the pattern. It's a wrap-around sweater/pullover. It's so very beautiful! I'm a little nervous since the trim around the neckline and the end of the sleeves is crochet but mom said she'd help and the people at Kiparoo said to come by on a Saturday and they'd assist too. There are several buttons on it that I think I may bead but we'll see when the time comes. First things first, I've got to actually do a gauge swatch (EEK!) and get the right needles out.

What's this? Could it actually be? Yes, I'm going to finally break down and make a Clapotis! I hope it comes out as nice as the colors look like in those skeins.

I wanted to know what the big deal is with Koigu so I picked up some yarn to make the Traveler's Stockings from Interweave Knits. I had planned on doing the entralac one's from a different issue first but I think this is as good a place as any to start.

There was a lady at the show selling among other goodies, skeins upon skeins of recycled sari silk yarn! She runs a shop that helps support women in other countries by having them help themselves through craft and this yarn is one of those products. The large skein and skein to the left are for the Unbiased purse. If I run out, I have the extra skein for that. If I don't need it, I want to make a cute little cap out of it.

These two skeins of tropically yarn almost became socks but instead they will be turned into the Morning Glory caplet from Interweave Knits. I had a lot of colors to choose from but this colorway caught my eye.

SOCK YARN! No more need be said.

Mom and I chatted with Anne at the show and she was a pure delight. I picked up this kit to felt onto a felted purse later on. I have a good idea which pattern it will be but I think I have plenty of projects to work on right now at the moment. Don't you agree?

When mom and I came upon Elaine Eskesen's booth, it was pretty well wiped out and it was still the first day. We saw samples of the work in this book, Silk Knits, that she had out but when we went to buy the book from her, she was sold out! We walked a few booths down and found 2 copies sitting there just waiting for us to buy them. SNATCH! Trotting back down to Elaine's booth she laughed and happily autographed them for us. Such pretty patterns!

Two gorgeous shawl patterns by Hand Jive Knits. When I first saw the Criss Cross Poncho (Clapotis-like with all the dropped stitches) on the left, it was in a booth that would only sell the pattern along with their yarn. My problem with buying kits of any sort is that I don't always like the colors being offered and sometimes I'm not ready to buy everything at that moment. I do however want the pattern so I can remember to work on it later. I was in luck this time because a booth several barns away had plenty of the Hand Jive Knits patterns for sale so I grabbed a couple.

An elegant fingerless glove pattern and an interesting spiral sock pattern also by Hand Jive.

A lovely sideways knitted shrug and a gorgeous shawl by Maggie's Rags. I'm new to these patterns but I was impressed with how they looked knit up. I'll report later how it went.

I plan on making the cropped version of Amanda's Romance by Green Mountain Spinnery. The people are Green Mountain Spinnery are just so pleasant and they have a nice selection of products. I have their Slouch Hat pattern already and I really need to make it soon.

Another stunner from Kiparoo Farm. Just gorgeous!!! I just can't resist their stuff. =)

And as for bead stuff, though I had all the books I wanted that were offered at the festival (there were several "coming soons" I was drooling over however), this year offered several glass button makers so I picked up these gorgeous buttons to turn into a necklace and possible earrings.

Yeah, I know. I can get all this stuff from stores and online but nothing beats the excitement of a fair, festival or convention. =)