Connecticut Sheep and Wool Festival

What a lovely spring weekend, friends! On Saturday I went to the Connecticut Sheep and Wool Festival and it was definitely a fun time.  

From lambs to alpacas to angora bunnies and back to sheep, this festival certainly celebrated all things fiber.  I saw my first sheep shearing and was amazed to see these giant animals put up hardly any fuss when the clippers started buzzing (my dog? Not so much...).  I also saw sheep dogs work a flock. It was highly enjoyable.

I have wanted to learn how to spin for some time now and this was the perfect opportunity to watch and learn.  And finger roving and enjoy the lotiony feel of lanolin fresh of the sheared sheep. Janet, Nate's mom, and I watched the spinners corner amazed at how easily roving turned into beautiful yarn.  All of the ladies and gentlemen spinners were so helpful and answered all of our questions.  After getting a personal drop spindle demonstration from a very nice lady, I decided to put actions to words and bite the bullet so to speak.  

I purchased a cheap, basic drop spindle and another more pretty drop spindle in the Dogwood design by Spin-A-Bit.  Of course, I then needed some roving so went back to my friends at Flatland Alpacas (where I had earlier in the day purchased a yarn bowl) and picked out a 50/50 Alpaca and Merino roving blend in colors that reminded me of the sea. I also picked up a kool-aid dye kit from the 4Hers (not pictured).  When all is said and done, Janet and I will be signing up for the drop spindle class at Webs this July.