amimono note

Black Sheep Gathering

It's already a few weeks ago, but... I went to the Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene, on Saturday, June 24th. Since BSG and OFFF(Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival) is the only chance I get to touch spindles and fibers in person, I always look forward to these events.

Unfortunately, there was a heat wave warning on the weekend, so we stayed there only for a few hours, but it was fun. My mission was to find a lightweight spindle, a nice-sized nostepinde and some fibers. The mission was accomplished!

(Click the image to see a blurry larger picture.)

For a spindle, I had a Bosworth Featherweight in mind, but there were not as many choices as I had hoped. I tried several spindles and I bought a Shasta by Cascade Spindles.

The ice blue fiber is by Three Bags Full. Love the color! I already spun a bit and knitted a swatch. I'm thinking about knitting a small lace shawl... I love products by Three Bags Full and Crosspatch Creations, and have a small stash.

The multicolor fiber is merino/angora blend "Dutch Canyon" colorway by Blue Moon Fiber Arts. I didn't know they made rovings!!

I saw only about 5 total in the booth (including other fibers/colors), even though I was there Saturday morning. Maybe people bought most of them on Friday... It's a wonder there were no fights over the rovings! If I had had enough money, I would have bought all of them. The color of the rovings was so very beautiful that their famous sock yarn looked like an ordinary yarn. And, I usually don't buy...actually never have bought... multicolor stuff for spinning.

I spun this fiber too and made 2 ply yarn, but the result is a bit underwhelming, considering the gorgeousness of the roving. As I feared they might (and this is the reason I don't buy multicolored fiber), the beautiful colors mixed with each other and the yarn became a mud-ish color. You could still say it's "Dutch Canyon" though...wherever that is.

I'll knit a swatch and I may have to think about how to ply the singles.