Soft yarns and festivals

Barbara finished the hat I showed you last week. This very soft yarn has a sparkle thread running through it which is equally soft. That's the gull lace pattern making such a pretty hat.

Kathleen is just zipping along with her ABABA scarf and enjoying every stitch of it. She said she can't wait to see what color comes up next.

Dorah finished a snowflake cowl. She used Baby Alpaca Grande yarn which makes it not only the softest thing to wear around your neck but it's also hypoallergenic! It's a good fiber for people who itch from wool.

Beth made a square to add to the afghan Karin is assembling for our friend.

And Dorah made another.

Beth's scarf is growing.....

as is Dorah's.

And Maureen is back after a few works off for work and not feeling up to par. She's just starting a new project. Tune in next week to see what it is.

Karin started a watchcap and by the time we ended the evening she had a good 6 inches finished already!

I'm blocking two things for donation. The mitts are called Green Thumb and the scarf/shawl is Cedar Leaf shawlette. I used a baby alpaca yarn that is actually a burnt orange, not the brown that shows up here.

Sunday Amanda and I took Leo to the New York Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY while Moose took his Dad and Poppop to a playground.

Leo had just awakened from a nap when we arrived so he wasn't sure what was going on.

The weather was gorgeous on Sunday as were the trees. I much preferred attending the festival on Sunday since the crowds are not as crazy.

There was the usual pretty and unusual fibers.

And Amanda and I tried to count the Catkin shawls.

Amanda squealed with delight when she spotted Nancy Shaw signing her childrens' books about sheep. She purchased one for Moose and one for Leo, who doesn't look as impressed as his mommy.

There goes another Catkin. I think we spotted four or five, not counting the one I was wearing.

There was a parade of llamas and alpacas right down the center of all the festivities. They are so cute.

And there were the angora bunnies,

sheep,

and more sheep.

Two of my favorite trees at the festival. You can tell by the blue sky the weather was perfect.

But all too soon it was time to say goodbye to our fibery friends and get back to our knitting.

Before I leave you let me show you Barbara's 4 month old granddaughter wearing her Grandma's hand knitted set. It fits her perfectly! She's a beauty!

Well, Halloween is not too far off and I'll be taking Moose and Leo to a costume party next weekend. I hope to have some good photos to show of them next week. In the meantime, don't eat all the candy!

Those knitting needles were fired up this week! And check out the harvest festival

Barbara finished two scarves this week using a chenille yarn that was ever so soft. The first was a small triangular scarflette.

 This second one is a large rectangular scarf which can be cuddled up around the neck. Someone will be cozy warm this winter!

 Kathleen brought us a pair of slipper socks and...

 a matching hat and scarf set.

 Now she is working on a Mini Mochi ABABA scarf from Ravelry.

 Liz just started her ABABA scarf and it's beginning to show some pretty color changes.

 Amanda gave me a cowl of her own design to put into inventory. 

Barbara is now working on a hat using the Gull lace design. That's the same pattern in the February Lady sweater. 

 Carole is in the home stretch with her fingerless mitts. Such a pretty design!

 And Beth made a Fair Isle cowl from a pattern our mutual friend designed. It needs to be blocked still and then Beth will be warm all winter long.

 Carole and I are both working on the same scarf only using different weight yarns. Here is the Wingspan that Carole is making using Wisdom Yarns "Poem" yarn in a worsted weight. Pretty!

 I am making the same shawl/scarf using a fingering weight yarn from Jojoland called Melody.

 Last Saturday Ron and I drove two and a half hours to the Poconos in Pennsylvania for the Hawley Hoedown. Every year the citizens of Hawley, PA have a townwide harvest festival. The last time we attended our grandson Moose was only 7 months old.

 Look at him now!!! He and the rest of the family met us there for some fun in the fall.

 Leo made faces for Poppop.

 There was a farmer at the festival who taught any and everyone how to make rope using his little machine. Moose wound multi-colored yarns into the contraption.

 When it was fully loaded he took turns with the other children turning the crank to wind the yarns.

 And just look at that sturdy rope they made. It's just some inexpensive acrylic yarn! Who knew?!!!

 The horse drawn wagon ride was such a hit....

 Leo ran for a chance to take his ride too.

 But the aroma of lunch stopped him in his tracks.

 My handsome Collins boys, all three of them!

 The blue grass band was so good...

 Leo just couldn't stand still.

 Moose, on the other hand, didn't want to dance with me.

 He was willing to stop for a photo op though.

 Amanda had her hands full with wiggly Leo.

 The balloon animal man was very busy entertaining the kids.

 Then it was our turn to ride the horse drawn wagon. It was very windy, as you can tell. 

We took a walk to the sports field at the end of town where the boys could run off a little energy. Leo seems to be thinking "They're crazy if they think I'm going to just sit here!"

 Ha! Ha! You can't catch me!

 Running the bases

DeeDee, are you watching me?

 Beyond the sports field was the playground and the fire department's display. Moose couldn't believe the fireman could run up that ladder so fast.

 He had a nice conversation with the fireman where he explained about "Stop, drop, and roll" to the fireman.

 Leo used his hat to play peek-a-boo.

 Wondering how to get down now that he's way up here.

 Mr. Independence wouldn't let anyone help him!

 Until he got to the top, that is.

 After a long day of play we had to stop for dinner. My boys worked up quite an appetite.

It was great to have a visit with my babies. I miss them since they live 5 hours away. But they are coming up for a quick visit this weekend and we're going to take Leo to the NY Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck while Poppop and Dad take Moose for some other fun activity. I can't wait!!!