Monday, June 28, 2010

Estes Park Wool Market

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Two weeks ago was one of my favorite events of the year - the Estes Park Wool Market. One of the best things about living in Denver is that I live within driving distance of this fiber paradise. And this year I managed to talk Denise and Megann to come to Denver and go to the Wool Market with me.

It was unseasonably cold in Colorado, but that didn't stop us from having a great time. We stayed up in Estes one night so could get to the market early and enter some of my handspun in the handspun competition. We even had a chance to meet up with our friend Lynda - a fellow Spring Flinger and fiber junkie. I can always count on seeing her at Estes and Taos.

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We ooh'd and ahh'd over the Paco-Vicunas, Alpacas, angora bunnies and the goats and I made friends with one of the goats. He was so soft!



If you happen to know this goat and would like to send me it's fiber to spin, I wouldn't complain!

One of the highlights of the weekend for me was the handspun competition. I entered two categories, thin wool singles and goat fiber other than mohair.

My wool singles won 1st place!
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And my pygora won 2nd place!
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Not bad for the first time I've entered! I learned a lot from sitting in on the judges comments session at the Market and can't wait to enter again next year.

The rest of the weekend, we spent our time knitting, spinning and setting up my new loom. Since I didn't have enough hobbies, I decided to take up weaving. I'm really excited to see what I can make. This is my first project in progress.

First weave

This photo makes it look much more neon than it really is. These are the skeins I used:

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The purple is the warp and the green/blue is the weft (look at me go with the weaving terms!). I've finished it, but haven't had an opportunity to take photos yet. I'll show it and the dish towel that is currently on the loom off in a future post.

Happy Adoptiversary to Purl and Ashford! It is hard for me to believe that three years ago my sweet tortie girls came to live with me and Xena. I'm so lucky to have these goofy cats in my life.

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5 comments:

Crafty Pancakes said...

I had so much fun up there with you and Denise! Thanks so much for inviting us up there to spend the weekend with you! And I'm so happy for you and your fab ribbons you won in the spinning comp at Estes. Seeing your face light up as the judge was giving comments on your yarn...priceless. Thanks for being an awesome friend. Estes again next year? :)

A :-) said...

It looks like you guys had a WONDERFUL time in Estes!!! And you all look so beautiful in that photo :-) And congratulations on your ribbons - your yarn is always so lovely!!

Unknown said...

I had so much fun with you guys - thanks for the invite! I can't wait to see the finished weaving pics. Oh, and thanks for the spinning lesson, too, although I don't think I'll be winning any ribbons (congrats on yours, though!). :)

LadyDragonfly said...

It was very nice meeting you all. Congratulations on your wins.

Dana and Daisy said...

Congrats on your riboons! Amazing! And your first weaving looks just awesome!