Estes Park Wool Fest!
I went to Estes Park Wool Fest waaaay back in June and this post has been sitting in my drafts since then but whatever. I definitely should have had someone with me to stop me because I spent way to much. On the other hand, I am SO FUCKING PSYCHED about my new fibers and spindles! I also took a few pictures of some of the more unusual spinning wheels I saw there. Some wheelmakers are having really clever ideas! Ideas that might be useful if I ever begin seriously looking at building a cheap, ultra-portable, ultra lightweight spinning wheel with aluminum and 3D printed parts (an idle dream for now- should probably make sure I can actually build a functioning spinning wheel and finish the one I’ve started, no?).
Start with the fun stuff: FIBERS!!!!
I got a fleece! My first fleece, and the first fibers I’ve bought that aren’t commercially prepared! I’m super psyched to process this fleece and card it myself (with my mom’s handcarders. Hey, I’m home for the summer, and she doesn’t need both sets, soooo).
Isn’t it beautiful? It’s a Jacob fleece, apparently a threatened breed- glad to support the vanishing heritage sheep of america, even if only by accident. It’s from a sheep named Abby, from Schafewald Farm in Loveland, so a local gal!
(picture of Abby, from the farm’s website).
I also got three beautiful fiber braids, a bag of gorgeous chocolate-colored CVM, two mini fiber braids, a turkish spindle, and a tahkli spindle with a little bowl, along with some cotton to try out.
I already spun one of the mini-braids on the turkish spindle. I found that it spins a lot slower than I’m used to, and therefore the yarn ends up much lower twist and I have to be careful not to draft too quickly or it drifts apart.
I have since used this single in an experimental skein of the floofiest boucle/crepe yarn ever, which I will hopefully maybe post at some point.