Like Minty, I was a little overwhelmed when I first got to the festival. There were so many people and yarns that I wasn't quite sure what to do with myself. When I went to Rhinebeck, C and I immediately got in the line at The Fold, and then went directly from there to Brooks Farm. You might say that we jumped in with both feet. At Maryland, I think I slowly dangled my feet in the pool, and I had a harder time adjusting.
Don't worry about me, though! I managed to get used to the water and I was really happy with my purchases. I feel like I got enough to feel like I took advantage of the festival, but not so much I feel sick thinking about it.
I got these first. They're from Autumn House Farm, in the Bracken and Fox Grapes colorways (100% wool sock yarn). This was one of my planned stops. I used their yarn to make my Here Be the Dragons socks, and I wanted to try out some of their other colors.
My next purchase was at Tess Yarns. I was tempted by their non-sock yarns, but all I ended up getting was for socks. These are "growth" colors for me-- I don't usually knit with blue or pale green. I think it will be nice to try something different! I didn't get any kind of ball band with these, but according to her website, her sock yarn is 80% wool and 20% nylon. It was only $15 a skein-- a really great deal!
By the time of the blogger meetup, I had made it through all of the vendor spaces. It was nice to take a little bit of time to think about what I wanted to go back for. I decided my trip just wouldn't be complete without a stop at Brooks Farm.
Have you noticed yet that I bought all of my sock yarn in pairs? This is Acero yarn, which is 60% superwash wool, 20% silk, and 20% viscose. I haven't worked with this combination of fibers before, and I really hope that it works out as sock yarn. It isn't as elastic as my other sock yarns, but I'm hopeful I can make it work. The colors aren't coming across as beautifully in the picture-- the yarn has a really heathered, sophisticated look. I love it!
Jenni inspired me to get this yarn, and I'm so glad she did! This might be my favorite purchase of the day (OK, they all feel like my favorite purchase). It is called Solana, and according to Brooks Farm's website, it's only available at shows. It's 100% superwash worsted-weight wool, and it's incredibly soft. It's so soft it feels like it must be mixed with silk or alpaca, but it's completely wool. I'm envisioning making a very comfortable, simple sweater with it.
All that and a T-shirt. I was very happy with what I got, and I think it will be a lot of fun to use them up!
what a great bunch of yarns! I missed Autumn House - I had them on my list but got a bit sidetracked. Glad I went back to Tess - her sock yarn is such a deal and her colors are so pretty! The Brooks Farm is really pretty - love the red!
Posted by: stacey | May 08, 2007 at 02:05 PM
Nice haul! Nice t-shirt too. You're the first person I know who got a t-shirt. The t-shirt line was the biggest line at the whole festival!
Posted by: Kim | May 08, 2007 at 02:16 PM
You definitely made some really nice purchases. I love your color choices too. Great range of colors. Enjoy it! :)
Posted by: Jessica | May 08, 2007 at 02:56 PM
omg, that Solana is gorgeous!!
Posted by: pamela wynne | May 08, 2007 at 05:22 PM
Sounds like you had a blast! Wish I had been there to meet you! (And to buy myself tons of yarn, like you did! ;)
Posted by: knittingphilistine | May 08, 2007 at 07:11 PM
I'm drooling on my keyboard, it's all so beautiful!
Posted by: Jean | May 08, 2007 at 08:55 PM
LOVE that Autumn House yarn! I keep seeing awesome yarn photos of booths that I missed, boo. I also picked up a skein of the Acero, it's so shiny, I just couldn't resist.
Posted by: kelp! | May 09, 2007 at 02:07 AM
Oh, this is too, too much!! Maybe I should start something similar down here...
Your yarn choices are stunning!
Posted by: Nora | May 09, 2007 at 06:11 AM
good scores! looks like everyone bought some of that acero. I'm so used to knitting on skinny little sock yarns, i had assumed the acero was DK weight, but I was working up a swatch last night and oh boy it's not. So i'm trying to see how to make it work for the project i want to make with it!
Posted by: Mintyfresh | May 09, 2007 at 07:43 AM
Aw, man, I was totally admiring your sweater, but didn't say hi! Maybe next time...our hauls are pretty identical, and I am really looking forward to what everyone makes from their Acero. I'm planning man-socks, but wondering about how they'll wear....
Posted by: Liz K. | May 09, 2007 at 09:00 AM
OK, now I'm really going to slap myself for not getting myself some Acero. I was feeling it up for quite awhile... :p Let me know how it knits up.
Great finds!
Autumn House had some neat colorways, I got two skeins there myself.
Posted by: Sacha | May 09, 2007 at 06:37 PM
Such pretty yarn! sigh...
Posted by: tiennie | May 09, 2007 at 07:56 PM
Awesome haul! Looking forward to more single socks in your pretty, pretty new yarns!
Posted by: Ariel | May 13, 2007 at 12:16 PM