Petunia rambles on and on….

I’ve never been to the Maryland Sheep and Wool or to Rhinebeck.  So on Saturday, I was determined to get to the Fiber Fest held in Snow Hill, Maryland, a small town on the Eastern Shore, about 20 miles southeast of Salisbury.  My friend who had planned to go with me had something come up at the last minute, and I debated about not going, not liking the idea of going alone.  But I went anyway.  And halfway down, my GPS had some sort of seizure.  It told me exactly where I was, but would not plot where I should be going.  All it told me was that I was on a road, clearly pictured on the screen, but I could tell that just by looking out the window. 

The Festival was easy to find, plenty of parking, and they were fortunate weather-wise.  It was beautiful, a bit of a breeze. Sunny.

I walked around all that was there several times, because I wanted to make sure I saw everything! 

Booths a-plenty.  See the striped tent of The Sanguine Gryphon, currently in the Loopy Limelight!   Lovely and talented lady.  Last time, I got beautiful sock yarn from her – this time roving.  And a delicate spindle.  Her colorways are amazing.

These goods are from Misty Meadows Farm.  This side was all spun yarn – the other side was FIBER.   ALPACA FIBER.   8 ounces of dark brown jumped into my arms.  I thought, a warm hat for someone’s who’s ears are often chilled.  Also found a beautiful 8 ounce package of Amethyst merino roving. wonderful shading.  And I got invited down to see the alpacas.  (They do not realize that I can talk to the alpacas, pet the alpacas, soothe the alpacas for HOURS)  (Would the neighbors believe it was just an odd-looking poodle?  One with an unusually long neck?)

AND…..

There were alpacas there.   Two of them, little girl alpacas, sweet alpacas.  If I was still out at my old house, I would have alpacas.  I petted them both.

This is a Suri Alpaca, noted for its long stranded coat.  Love those huge eyes – and they have the longest eyelashes.  So gentle.  They are shorn only every other year, to get longer fleece, more desired by spinners.  They hum – when they are contented and feeling safe.  And the crowds didn’t bother them, strangers coming up to them, touching them.  They stayed close to each other, and hummed.

This lovely lady is a Huacaya alpaca.  The coat is completely different.  When you pet their back, as I did for a very long time, it reminds me of the softest plush carpet – not the long strands of her friend, Suri, in the background.  I think the eyelashes show up better in this picture.  And this Huacaya lady is in the “family way,” too.

I was surprised by their size – I was expecting them to be bigger.  Their backs were about as high as my kitchen table; their heads were at my shoulder.  If I had brought one home, I would probably have had it sleeping in my bed.

They always stay near each other, and don’t do well alone.  It’s not recommended to keep one animal; breeders advise you to get two or more.  And it doesn’t need to be a breeding pair – two females are fine together.  They just need to have a friend.  There’s no herding them – just put a halter and leash on one of them, and they all follow.  Heh, like sheep!!!!   (haha)  This picture shows the difference in the 2 coats, with Suri in the back – and see how closely they stick together!

Along the Pocomoke River – what a nice day.

Tomorrow (or as soon as I get to it), pictures of the goodies that I got.

There’s something really, really wrong with the way my mind works – or perhaps, it’s simply that my mind doesn’t work at all.  Maybe all I have are those few brain cells that are needed for the most basic of instinctive body functions.  The ones that allow me to breathe, pee, and cook dinner for everyone.  None of the others work anymore.

The other day, while at work, I saw a fellow that works in another section of the building walking down a main corridor.    He had on what we used to call a “polo shirt”??    Pullover, not tucked in, 3 buttons in the front, collar – Pop wears these shirts when he plays golf.   It was bright orange.  REALLY orange!   And stripes of black and white.   Nice looking shirt with black pants.

I said the first thing that came into my head.

“Sir, you look just like Nemo.”  He looked back at me rather blankly.

Thus showing that:

1. I don’t know when to keep my mouth shut.
2. I can not deal with people on a professional level.
3. I spend a lot of time with the grandchildren.

Beginning my quest to improve my skills with colorwork

I chose to start with the Norwegian Star Earflap Hat.   Simple directions, small project – didn’t want something with lots of stockinette stitch to get to the color parts, acres of body or sleeves and little practice on what I’m trying to learn!  This hat is started, do the colorwork part, and then it’s finished shortly after.   The color chart is 15 rows, and a 16 stitch repeat around.  There are variations for different sizes, from child to adult.  Pattern is well-written and accurate for the size I made.  The longest float is over 5 stitches, twice in the pattern, making it a quick knit, easy for a beginner to colorwork, and a great stash buster.  With the holidays approaching, all those points are great.

Norwegian Star Earflap hatCaron yarn, Country

75% Microdenier Acrylic, 25% Merino Wool

 

Sure, I see the error, too, in the colorwork.  Might have been able to turn over the hat and no one would be the wiser!!  But I don’t think the average 3-year old will notice or care. To minimize the amount of odd little balls of yarns I’ve got all over the house, I’m making another hat, reversed colors, dark pattern on a light ground.  Changes?  Well, of course.  The pattern directs you to make the 2 earflaps, then knit across one, cast on XX stitches with backward loop (for the front), go across the other flap, cast on X/2 stitchs (for the neck area) then join and do several purl rows.  Purl rows curl just as much as knit rows.  On version 2.0, I did a purl rown, then a knit, then a purl row.   The garter stitched beginnings do not seem to be rolling as much. Daughter says purple is a “girly” color, so we’re going to give these hats to the daughter of one of K’s friends – a young lady of 4 years who loves purple.  We’ve picked out deep blue and cream for the grandtwins, with perhaps a 2-row border above and below in deep red??    That’s more appropriate for menfolk, doncha think?

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