Fiber Events - Through The Yarny Curtain

Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, May 3 & 4, 2014

Back in February, I turned 40. My parents wanted to do something extra-special for my birthday present. They came up with the perfect idea: all travel expenses to Maryland Sheep and Wool for me and my friends Stacy and Beth! We had an awesome time!

A 4-H girl took our picture. In the back, left to right, are Stacy and Beth. I look ridiculously formal because I'm standing in a little ditch, trying not to lose my balance! — A 4-H girl took our picture. In the back, left to right, are Stacy and Beth. I look ridiculously formal because I’m standing in a little ditch, trying not to lose my balance!

The Florida Sheep, Wool, and Herding Dog Festival, April 25-27, 2014

Week 2 of Fiber Event Goodness! I knew the Florida Sheep, Wool, and Herding Dog Festival would be a very different event than the others I am attending or have attended. The other events were all organized by fiber-crafting people for fiber-crafting people. The Florida Sheep, Wool, and Herding Dog Festival is organized by the Meat Sheep Alliance of Florida. I knew fiber was definitely part of the event — the Festival’s website included a list of workshops and identified a “Fiber and Creative Arts Pavilion” — but I wasn’t sure how big of a part. The website did not include a list of fiber vendors, so I assumed none would be there. I assumed the event would be mostly about the sheep, and that was great! Since I was going to big fiber-shopping events on the weekends before and after, just seeing sheep sounded awesome.

The Fiber Event, Greencastle Indiana, April 18 & 19, 2014

I don’t go to a lot of Fiber Events. As far as I know, there are only two (now three, but I’ll get to that) fiber events that take place near me: Distaff Days in early January and The Florida Fiber In in mid-September. I have not made it to Distaff Days yet because I’m often away for the holidays the first weekend of January. I have been to The Florida Fiber In twice. The third event is the Florida Sheep, Wool, and Herding Dog Festival, which is a new event, held for the third time this year. I have not been to that event before, because I did not learn about it until after the second time it was held.

This year is an exception to the few fiber events pattern. I am actually attending fiber events three weekends in a row. The Fiber Event in Greencastle, Indiana was the first, held April 18 & 19. Second is the Florida Sheep, Wool, and Herding Dog Festival held April 25-27. Third is Maryland Sheep and Wool on May 3 & 4.