Monday, May 21, 2012

Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival

I took a little road trip with a friend to the Third Annual Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival last weekend in Lexington, Ky. This was my second trip to the festival and it just keeps getting better! I really didn't need any more fiber to spin but that has never stopped me before from buying more. There were lots of booths with all kinds of fiber related products and activities - spinning, weaving, knitting, felting, etc. I was especially interested in the natural dyeing. There were yarns dyed with marigolds, walnuts, cochineal, queen anne's lace, onion skins, and lots more. I moved natural dyeing up pretty high on my to-do list.

Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival

There were more fiber producing animals there this year such as alpaca, llama, sheep, bunnies, goats. 

Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival

My friend bought this French angora bunny at the festival. She is 7 weeks old and loves to be held. She rode the entire 2 1/2 hour trip home in my lap. She will produce lots of fiber for spinning in addition to being a sweet, gentle pet.

Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival


I almost got away without buying fiber until I walked through the last vendor tent. This bluefaced leicester wool from yarngeekfibers.com was calling my name. I couldn't resist. I've already started spinning it into a fairly fine yarn which I will 2-ply and make into I don't know what but I'll figure that out later.

Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival



Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival

I just happened to be in the livestock pavilion when the sheep shearing demonstration started. As much as I love to spin wool, I didn't watch this demo very long. I know the wool has to come off but that poor sheep didn't enjoy it very much!

Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival

Great festival. Great vendors. Can't wait until next year!

5 comments:

  1. I was the one who "made" you buy spinning fiber? Well, that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! It is spinning up quite lovely, even if I do say so myself :)

    Kentucky was amazing, I wish it was longer so I could have seen everything. Oh, and the bunny, adorable!

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    1. The yarn is plied and very pretty. I can't wait to start knitting with it! I'm so glad I stopped by your booth.

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  2. Hi, I came across your journal via PR. (I'm a natural dyer and novice sewer.) If you're interested in natural dyeing, I highly recommend A Dyer's Garden by Rita Buchanan. It's my go-to book! So far I've had the most luck with dyer's coreopsis (turns wool a lovely orange-yellow) and some luck with purple basil.

    It's so much fun. Good luck!

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    1. Thank you so much for the book recommendation! I actually have coreopsis in bloom right now. I would also like to try marigold. I'd love to see your natural dye projects!

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