Going to Rhinebeck Wool Fest 2007 – Can You Recommend a Great Yarn Vendor?
March 29, 2010 by
Filed under sheep yarn
Going to the Sheep and Wool Festival this October, but new-ish to knitting. I would like to get into knitting socks, and have heard that there is a huge amount of products and vendors there. Can you recommend some great yarn vendors there to look for (especially sock yarn) that are reasonably priced and of decent quality? Also, if you have an opinion, a good vendor that sells roving. I would like to get into drop spindle spinning. Thanks!
Writing from the UK – I’d recommend a good knitting magazine. Buy one now and look in the classified ads, and you might fine several who will be exhibiting. It will also give you a chance to look at various websites in advance. Also, there are specialist spinning guilds and magazines over here, and there’s bound to be one where you are.
There are far too many great vendors of yarn, roving, and everything else fiber related to pick out a few to recommend – I have never had a bad experience with any vendor there (over many many years). You need to just cruise around and see what you like, then go back and buy after you’ve had a chance to look at everything. If you can spend both days, you can cruise on Saturday, and buy on Sunday after you have the night to think things over.
I love the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY: http://www.sheepandwool.com/vendors.cfm
For sock yarn, look for Blue Moon Socks that Rock. The main vendor at Rhinebeck is The Fold: http://www.handspinning.com/thefold/yarn.blue.html
There’s always a huge line for Tess’ Designer Yarns:
http://www.tessyarns.com
A Touch of Twist has huge skeins of alpaca. Roving, too: http://www.atouchoftwist.net
Crippenworks needle cases & knitting bags are beautiful (and practical): http://www.crippenworks.com
At Maryland Sheep & Wool this year, Little Barn Yarn had $1 skeins of a blend of cotton & Ecospun (which is made from recycled plastic bottles): http://www.littlebarninc.com/catalog.asp?CategoryID=8
My favorite food booth is Artichoke French. Sort of like Chicken Francese — egg-battered chokes sauteed with garlic in a lemon sauce. You can also get a side of white beans & escarole (beans & greens):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeinwny/191474017
On the way home, be sure to stop at Morehouse Merino in Milan, NY: http://www.morehousefarm.com