Just a quick entry to document a finished object…

 The Urban Vest by Norah Gaughan, Knitter’s Magazine - Fall 2007.

Yarn:  hemp for knitting - hempwol at The Local Needle.  65% Italian Wool and 35% hemp, 250 yards/skein; worsted weight; Retails for $12.00. 

I made a large and used not quite 3 skeins.

Started it in October and finished it yesterday.

We had the opportunity to enjoy SAFF (Southeast Animal Fiber Fair) again this year and what a wonderful weekend of fiber fun it was!  These folks sure know how to put on a wonderfully organized fiber fair.  There were people everywhere, taking a class, shopping the vendors, or just visiting our 4-legged fiber friends, but the show was never “crowded”…instead it just kind of flowed. 

 For us, SAFF is a family affair, Mom and I from The Local Needle, sister- Pat from Crystal Springs Alpacas, and sister-in-law– Carolyn drove down from Painted Post, NY.  If you have never attended a fiber fair, I can only encourage it.  It’s not just the classes and vendors, but the people too.  Just a healthy fiber environment! People walking around with fiber gobs on their clothes, fiber balls in the corners of the restroom, dyed hands as well as yarns, and the ever so cute fiber animals.

We stayed at our favorite remote cabin in the woods…(cough, cough) ok, so it was a 3 story house in the woods, but it did have bears, we had one visit the first night we were there! 

Before leaving Macclenny, a Local Needle customer, Patty, requested that I eyeball the sock yarns for her.  I first I picked up some yummy sock yarns from Catherine at Knitting Notions, a variegated for Patty and a Ruby red for myself.  I then meandered over to Miss Babs and found one that had Patty’s name written all over it. 

Sure enough, she scooped them both up on my return. 

I met up with Sarah House and purchased a beautiful Yarn bowl, you can visit her http://www.skhpottery.com/.

I stopped by the Interlacements booth and spoke with Judy Ditmore.  I’m excited about some of their new yarns that I had the pleasure of seeing, and picked up a couple of patterns while I was there. 

Brooks Farms…might be the only reason that some attend this event.  After stroking several of their yarns, I selected a skein of Limited Edition 3, a 50/50 wool/silk in a thick/thin twist and then went back for some Primero, 100% kid mohair in purple.   

At the Kokovoko, I picked up a new drop spindle, roving and a nostepinne (back at the cabin the nosty became the brunt of many jokes and was quickly referred to as Joe).

I took a dyeing class from Phylleri Ball at Steam Valley Mountain Fiber Farm, multiple colors from the same pot.  It was a pretty cool class. Here’s one of the yarns we dyed.

I also enjoyed talking with Jean Castle from Ranmar & Lorien Alpacas.  I might have to bend her ear when I prepare for the next “Where’s The Fleece” article for Alpaca Solutions Magazine. 

And we will be back again next year!