I recently was thinking back to when I first started reading knit blogs, and I was wondering, "What the heck is Rhinebeck?" It's usually referred to just by that name, and not much explanation is given. So I thought I'd explain it a little bit.
Rhinebeck is the nickname for the New York Sheep & Wool Festival, which is held in Rhinebeck, NY. It's a big collection of vendors that are related to sheep (and other animal fibers) in many ways. You have animal care vendors, animals for sale, fleece, fiber, and yarn all together in one place. It's a little crazy and overwhelming.
The vendors and animals are mostly housed in 4-H barns on the fairgrounds.
As a knit blogger, I feel like I know a lot of other knitters and bloggers, but the amount of people at the festival is staggering. Most of the people there are strangers, but it will seem a little bit like you know them because they're wearing a February Lady Sweater, or a Tangled Yoke Cardigan, or some other sweater you've seen in knitblogland. It's easy to strike up a conversation about yarn or gauge or bad blocking, and it doesn't even seem like it should be weird at all.
If you take the time to walk through the animal barns, you will be able to find llamas, alpaca, and sheep.
At Rhinebeck, you have to plan for the weather, and this year it was cold! (Last year it was hot. I'm waiting for Just Right.) This is good because I got to show off my sweater, and I also go to show off my fingerless gloves and a cowl that Jessica knit. Fortunately, I did not have to show off my jacket, because it would have interfered with showing off my sweater.
At Rhinebeck, there are blogger meetups where I forget to take out my camera at all.
By about 4:30, I'm done with being at Rhinebeck. (Granted, I do get there at 8:00) I'm tired and I've bought all the yarn I can carry home. This year I went to Panera with some friends who spin, who freaked out the dining area with their triplet wheels.
I just enjoyed eating some soup and a little mindless knitting.
Eventually we went to the Ravelry party, which was crazy crowded and cold, but also fun. I do have to say that I was glad to finally get back to a bed to sleep in after that long day!
So this is what I got.
Clockwise from bottom left:
- Brooks Farm Mas Acero. I love Brooks Farm, and this was my first stop. I liked the Acero sock yarn I got in Maryland last year, so I thought I'd give this a try. I also love that it's a pale blue-- most yarns are super saturated, and this one is (wonderfully) not.
- Two skeins (red and dark turquoise) of Maple Creek Farm DK Superwash Wool. I'm planning to use these together in a vest. I went to this booth early in the morning this year, and the colors are definitely better then than they are in the afternoon. I'll have to keep that in mind!
- Trekking XXL in what is I hope a self-striping colorway. I've never tried Trekking before, and I want to!
- Maple Creek Farm sock yarn (the top one that's variegated) in browns and greens and oranges. David wants a pair of socks, and this is what I picked out for him.
- Cormo laceweight from Foxhill Farm. (the middle one that's white) Jody and I both decided to get this because it's so soft, and cormo is supposed to be strong also. We had the idea to use it double stranded to make socks.
- Shelridge Farm Sock Yarn in Marigold (the bottom one). I got this because the yarn is so soft, and because I'm currently obsessed with this color.
- Briar Rose Fibers Worsted Weight. This is a big ball of yarn! I saw a sample knit up in a similar color, and it didn't stripe or pool at all. Gorgeous!
- Green Mountain Spinnery's Green Mountain Green. I get this yarn every year, and I'm planning another session of natural dyeing with it!
I got to wear my Rainbow Venezia, and it was so well received. I was a little surprised at how many people stopped me to compliment me on it, and I loved every bit of it :) It was so much fun, and it made all of the knitting of last week totally worth it! I'm fixing the collar a little bit, and I'll have a full post on the sweater soon!
It was great to meet you, and that sweater really is amazing. The pic I took of you is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilithparker/2958974419/ :)
Posted by: Lilith Parker | October 21, 2008 at 09:04 PM
Yeah, I was the crazy girl that ran up to you at the Ravelry meetup on Saturday and was like "Ooh! I recognize your sweater from your blog!" Yeah, I was a tad bit excited. :)
Posted by: Lydia (punkcatknitter) | October 21, 2008 at 09:42 PM
I didn't see you this year. I hardly saw anybody and I was there all day. I think it was the yarn fumes. It was a day of buying so I felt like it was all a blur.
Posted by: Oiyi | October 21, 2008 at 09:45 PM
Thanks for the Rhinebeck update, but I wanted pics of you in Venezia! Thanks to Lilith for posting a link to her flickr -- it's AMAZING.
Posted by: Liz K. | October 21, 2008 at 09:54 PM
Beautiful, beautiful stuff. And Venezia looked just amazing in person! It was good to see you again!
Posted by: --Deb | October 21, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Yes, I was one of those who ogled it at the Ravelry party. It's truly a work of art!
Posted by: connie | October 21, 2008 at 10:35 PM
great post. Some yummy yarns you added to the stash, can't wait to see your sweater.
Posted by: Kelly | October 21, 2008 at 10:40 PM
It was nice to meet you, although I felt like a big dope afterwards. There is something odd about walking up to strangers who you "know."
Posted by: kim | October 21, 2008 at 11:08 PM
Oh I am so, so jealous. My husband selfishly turned 40 this weekend and I had to take him away from the kids for a birthday thing. I almost made the birthday event going to Rhinbeck! "Honestly, honey, I had not IDEA that there was going to be wool here!" Do you think he would have bought it?
I just finished some socks in Trekking and I lovelovelove them! I can't wait to se a mess 'o finished objects!
Posted by: emma | October 22, 2008 at 06:26 AM
sounds like a great time!!! it was freezing here too! one of these years, i'll have to go!
Posted by: stacey | October 22, 2008 at 07:55 AM
YAY! sounds fab. I'm going to have to one day make the trip over to the US just for rhinebeck. Anyway, I can confirm that trekking XXL is striping: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/jiva/ribbit-socks :)
I love mine.
Posted by: jiva | October 22, 2008 at 08:02 AM
Oooh, I'm so very sad I missed it this year. You got stuff from all of my favorite booths! :)
Next year, let's hit Brooks Farm together.
Posted by: Amy | October 22, 2008 at 09:26 AM
You know, I never get the excitement leading up to it, but reading the accounts afterward -- it sounds amazing. Wish I'd gotten to see something like Venezia in person! It sounds like it was great.
Posted by: Stephanie | October 22, 2008 at 09:44 AM
I just love to read Rhinebeck posts! Excellent haul of new yarn. My friend Misa almost bought the Sheldridge sock yarn in Marigold but opted for a simialr color in worsted (Mango). I'm a bit obsessed with that yellowy-orange autumny goodness. My new fall coat is that color. Your Venezia was the belle of the Rhinebeck ball!
Posted by: Kim | October 22, 2008 at 10:00 AM
So glad we got to hang out. We really should get together-- maybe Jody can have us over and cook for us ;-).
We really should have taken a picture of the three of us.
Posted by: Christy | October 22, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Again, I am so sorry that I missed you (and the sweater). It looks like you did well for yourself though! I am glad you had a great time.
Posted by: nova | October 22, 2008 at 10:57 AM
Your sweater is truly beautiful, especially in person! It seems like every time I saw you, someone else was admiring it. Deservedly so! :)
Posted by: Anne | October 22, 2008 at 04:12 PM
Thank you so much for your explanation! As a newbie knitter (aka, knit blog stalker) and in Australia(!) I've been wondering what all the fuss was! I'm looking for something similar here (and asking the Yarn Harlot to take a trip....).
Thanks!
Kristen
Posted by: Kristen | October 22, 2008 at 05:49 PM
Lovely yarn! I used some Briar Rose Fibers yarn for a sweater earlier this year and I was amazed at how well the yarn behaved! No striping, no pooling, just gorgeous variegated color!
I can't wait to see how your Venezia came out!!!
Posted by: Alli | October 22, 2008 at 06:16 PM
It was great seeing you again, albeit it so briefly at the festival. Your sweater was gorgeous and has me somewhat more motivated to finish my darn Kauni :)
Posted by: Risa | October 23, 2008 at 01:40 PM
I really want to go someday!
Posted by: tiennie | October 23, 2008 at 03:17 PM
You are the person who was wearing the beautiful Rainbow Venezia! I saw you at the Ravelry meet up on Saturday and was admiring your work ( only from a distance though).
Posted by: Anna | October 23, 2008 at 04:52 PM
Glad we got to hang out for a bit that weekend. Definitely looks like you found some good stuff. But I seriously can't believe you haven't knit with Trekking yet!! It's a great yarn. :)
Posted by: Jessica | October 27, 2008 at 10:07 AM