Monday, September 9, 2019

Never Before


This weekend I did something that I've never done before; I went to a fiber festival and didn't buy anything. This was the weekend for the Garden State Sheep Breeder's Sheep and Fiber Festival, and I was not terribly happy to find I had scheduling conflicts. A family obligation prevented me from meeting up with Vera and Dee on Saturday, and I had to wait until the family staying with us left on Sunday left before I could go. They had no desire to come with me to look at sheep and yarn - can you even imagine?! (I'm not sure I'm really related to them.)


I debated about not going at all, but I can't have sheep and yarn a mere 15 minutes away and not at least go and walk around a bit. I got there about 90 minutes before they closed on Sunday, and that was honestly perfect. I took a quick look around, checked out the animals in depth, and then went back to several of my favorite vendors.

I watched shearing,




and showing,



and laughed at this shirt.


It's not just sheep at the show; this giant angora rabbit was quite pettable.


I always enjoy the sheep herding demos and was glad to have been able to catch the last one.


I was tempted by Fibernymph Dye Works,







This cake in the middle almost came home with me, but then I remembered that I've got two skeins from White Birch that I bought last year that I haven't even cast on, so I resisted.


It was really a lovely time, full of sheep and plenty of beautiful yarn, and some self-restraint!

17 comments:

  1. Looks like you got just enough of the wool fumes to last you a while!

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  2. Thanks for the sheepy pictures. I wish I could have been there with you to see the showing and the herding. And the yarn.

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    1. Me, too! It was fun by myself, but showing, herding, and yarn are even better with friends!

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  3. I think that sounds like a lovely time and it doesn't look terribly crowded which is great!

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  4. I am impressed you did not buy but you mustn't have found anything that thrilling or you would have bought something. I'm really picky in what I buy so I scrutinize every purchase.

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  5. What a lovely Sunday afternoon! Sarah KnitWit's Fiber Nymph socks have tempted me many times ... I'm not sure I'd have been able to resist seeing the yarn in person.

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  6. Those sheep! They are such fun to see (and pet!!) I am in awe of your ability to leave with no yarn...

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  7. LOL - you certainly were restrained! I'm so glad you were able to sneak in for a little bit. I was tempted by those Inversible yarns - thought they were very cool...but didn't buy...

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  8. The very end of a fiber festival is the most chill time to go! You don't get caught up in the frenzy of the opening hours. Good for you!

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  9. I'm so glad you got to go. It certainly is a nice festival. Maybe next year we can all meet up. Of course, we could always plan a lunch/knit date when you are up in NJ. We have to try that taco place. I'm sure I could twist Vera's arm to come along. LOL

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  10. I'm so glad you went!! The Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival was also underway last weekend! I haven't been in a few years, but it's much more of a trek...

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  11. I'll bet you had a nice peaceful afternoon just meandering about! And good for you regarding the purchases. I'd like to go to NE Fiber this year because I enjoy the day with my sisters-in-law and lunch out but I do not need any more yarn! :-)

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  12. I'm so glad you were able to get over for a little fiber festing -- and you got to see the best parts! It's always hard to resist yarn purchases at a festival like that, so you are a very Strong Knitter! When I went to the Michigan Fiber Festival last month, I was determined to buy ZERO yarn. I almost succeeded . . . but not quite. ;-)

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  13. It looks like a lot of fun! I have never been to a fiber festival, and I love to read everyone's reports on them.

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  14. You showed tremendous restraint! Oh my gosh. And you provided me with new vendor information!!! I'll check them Out!

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    1. There were lots of great vendors and dyers, and the ones I linked struck me as having especially beautiful yarn. It's definitely worth checking them out!

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  15. Boy I am impressed. You showed some great self-control. I have been to two festivals with my sister - the one in Estes Park, Colorado and the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool. Both were a lot of fun. All of the vendors look as if they had some scrumptious yarns. Thank you for sharing your trip. It would be fun to see sheep-herding.

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