First Ever Granny Square

I’ve known how to knit for more than 20 years, but I only learned to crochet last year.  I tried to teach myself crochet at the same time I taught myself to knit, but never quite got it right.  So last year, my friend Stacy taught me how to crochet.  In that year, I’ve crocheted dishcloths.  That’s all.  I wanted to expand my crochet skills, but just hadn’t gotten around to it.  Then I discovered that the Ravenclaws are planning a Blanket Square Term for the Harry Potter Knitting / Crochet House Cup (HPKCHC).  I decided to jump on the bandwagon.

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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.

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My Wheel Arrived!!

My spinning wheel arrived.  I bought the wheel on Friday at The Fiber Event in Greencastle, Indiana.  Susan told me that by ordering it on Friday, I should have it on Monday.  All day, I was distracted, waiting for the wheel to arrive.  FedEx and UPS deliver to my house late in the day.  I rarely get packages before 5:oo pm, and at busy times of the year (December), I’ve gotten packages delivered as late as 9:00 pm.  Still, I paced around the house.  I randomly peeked out the window at my front stoop, just in case I missed the sound of the doorbell ringing.  Finally, at 6:10 pm, the doorbell rang. My wheel had arrived!!!

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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.

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