Knitting@roosterhillfarm.com

Sunday I took a bus trip from Fingerlakes Fibers in Watkins Glen to NY Sheep and Wool in Rhinebeck.

It was my first bus trip, and my first bus trip as a knitter. The bus was filled with 24 knitting ladies. From them I learned to always be prepared - as in bring your tape measure, scissors and sewing needle. On a 5 hour bus ride you just might finish a sock or a hat and these tools come in handy. I also learned that magic loop is more conducive than a set of DPNs when sitting in small bus seats, and an index card and a safety pin to hold it on the headrest in front of you is handy for remembering your pattern repeats.

We left Watkins Glen shortly after 6am (contrary to my husband’s prediction, I was not the last person to board the bus but next-to-last!). Arriving in Rhinebeck shortly after 11, I hightailed it to the author tent so I could get some of my books signed and to get my hands on Clara Parkes’ new book, Knitter’s Book of Yarn. Here Yarn Harlot Stephanie Pearl McPhee signs my copy of “The Secret Life of a Knitter,” wearing her new Kauni cardigan. It is impressive!

Ann and Kay sign my copy of Mason-Dixon Knitting. They say their new book will be out in Fall, 2008.

I purchased Clara Parkes’ book early and I am glad I did as I heard it sold out. can you believe I did not take Clara’s picture? She was wearing a cardigan from her book too.

While waiting in line in the author tent, I spied this man travelling around. I heard he did a performance on the track but I did not see it.

This sign pretty much belies the spirit of the whole festival

Here is the first booth in the first building I visited: Spirit Trail Fiberworks. After that I was too busy touching, looking and buying to take too many pictures! Most of the booths were pretty picked over by Sunday. The Fold was pretty empty, Briar Rose had worsted and buttons, Morehouse Merino didn’t disappoint with all of their kits. It truly was overwhelming and my eyes started to glass over after about 2 hours! (maybe the 3am alarm and the long bus trip helped account for that!)

The Culinary Institute of America was on hand carving pumpins in a big display.

If real pumpkins weren’t your style, there were some kits for felted pumpkins too.

What surprised me about this festival is that it is so family-oriented. It’s not about a mad throng of people pawing over batts and bags of fleece, hanging skeins of yarns and patterns and kits (although there is plenty of that). It’s also about having a great time on a fall day , drinking cider and choosing pumpkins and corn stalks, riding amusement park rides (kiddy-sized) and going through haunted houses. There was also a petting zoo.

An agricultural museum is also on the grounds with a large display of hit and miss engines and belt drives.

And lots and lots of fiber critters! I did the rounds of booths first before I hit the animal barns. then I took my time with the animals and talked with some of the farmers.

A good time was had by all, maybe too good. Here is true dedication to the task! We stopped at the Roscoe Diner on the way home for dinner, and soon after most of the bus was snoozing!
It was a great time, I have now experienced Rhinebeck and met a lot of great people. Now it’s time to get busy and knit up all that yarn!

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