Whew...I'm back!! Miss me??
Warning, this post will be heavy with photos, links and some "name dropping"! I had my laptop with me but I found no time for posting...busy~busy~busy!!
Needless to say I had a FANTASTIC time. I must admit that I was a little put off prior to leaving and wasn't sure how the weekend was going to turn out.
(The only way to get a really good shot of the room was to wait until everyone was gone to dinner)
This was my sixth event and probably the best so far, it was the LARGEST I've seen! By Saturday night we had 27 spinners, 4 others learning and purchasing their first wheels and 5 vendors 3 of which were toting fiber & roving.
I learned a couple new techniques and have been enticed into the world of weaving, DD is going to lose her room sooner than she thinks!
I saw old friends I haven't seen in a while and my "teacher" who taught me how to use my first spinning wheel but also...this time taught me a new technique~~I learned to navajo ply!!!
See~~
After spinning up the singles I couldn't bring myself to 2 ply it so I fell to my knees and begged "My Teacher" to tutor me in this new (well~new to me) technique. Najavo plying only made the roving more beautiful! No "barber polling"~all the color runs stayed together.
This is the superwash merino that Krafty1 sent to me. It's called "Fruit Salad" the funny thing is that as I was spinning the dye came off on my fingers so I look like I've been capping strawberries! I'll rinse the yarn in vinegar and it should be just fine.
The other spinning I finished up was a merino/silk blend I bought last year at Smoky Mountain Spinnery called....Denim. This is a simple 2 ply...
Now I must find patterns for my finished yarn!
There was also a lady who demonstrated an ancient weaving or twining technique called Sprang also check out this link(pronounced sprong). The teenage daughter of one of the attendees immediately made herself a frame and started herself a project!
I spent the entire time seated next to one of the ladies I've known since attending this event but this time I had the opportunity to chat with her much, much more...the subject? No, not spinning...well a little but mostly about weaving! She's a local (Blacksburg) weaver who has stoked that fire in me to learn yet another hobby! See....DD is going to lose her room! Yeah~~like I need another hobby!
Are you ready for the "name dropping"!
Among those arriving on Friday night and Saturday there was Joanne, Margaret and Lawre (If you haven't seen her bags take a look at her website)! Of course David Simpson was there...I know many of you have asked me why his "fluff" isn't on his website, I think he has color cards he can send to you if you ask but his colorways are "limited edition" so when a colorway is gone...it's gone, he doesn't reproduce it. He just comes out with other colors, and let me tell you~~what he's coming up with next is going to be MINE...all MINE!!! Just kidding, I can't buy it all up!
Speaking of buying...I'm proud of myself, I didn't buy one single fleece even though Debbie Dull was there, she's Eva Braun's mom. There was also a new lady there selling Coopsworth fleece. Yes, I felt it, pet it and hugged it but I didn't buy it!
I DID buy this:
On the left is "Cinnamon Stardust" and the right is "Seascape"
I seriously didn't need to buy anything at all! Temptation gets the best of me!
The ride to Hawks Nest on Thursday it snowed on us...one word~BEAUTIFUL then on Friday it rained~hard all day. However, on Saturday afternoon Hubby and I did get a afternoon of hiking in.
Mark your calendars for the Fall Event....September 25-28, 2008! If you want more information email me at spinnerknitter at aol dot com
Keep on Knittin' & Spinnin'!!
12 comments:
wow! that looks like a fun event and in a beautiful setting. Where can I get more info? The fall event is literally right after my wedding so I probably have to wait for next year.
It sounds so fun and educational! Glad you had such a good time and learned some new stuff and got to see pretty stuff =)
Sounds like a great time! And thanks for the image at the bottom...I actually wasn't paying attention to the name of where you went because you distracted me with yarn pictures, but as soon as I saw that, I knew it was WV! Made me feel a bit homesick...such a beautiful place.
Never been to Hawks Nest. Looks like you had a great time.
Sounds fabulous! Looks wonderful!
Sorry to hear about the strawberry fingers...but it looks aazing done up. I'm just glad you had such a great time!
WOW! Looks like you had a great time. That sprang looks interesting. As you said, you really need an other hobby. Poor DD!
Just looking at all those wheels makes me wish I'd been there! Such a pretty location too. Hope to make it next year.
Sounds like you had a ball! I'm glad. :o) Great to have you back though.
I'm so glad you had a good time. I love the pretties you brought home with you and I admire the restraint you showed!
Hawks Nest is a great place. Next time you're in the area check out the mill at Babcock State Park also.
Could you send me info on who held this event and anything else appropriate? I have a budding interest in spinning.
I am very envious... I have been really yearning for two or three uninterrupted days to spin. I like Navajo plying quite a bit, though it took me a while to get the hang of it. The colors come out so much differently than 2-ply. One day, it just clicked, but my plying from spools still looks a lot neater. Good thing washing and 'whacking' the skeins always improves their finished appearance.
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