Mountain and Valley Wool Festival 2023

Ah, fall wool festival season I have missed you. I was able to attend a few wool festivals in Oregon but I missed my October wool show off season.

Last year they moved and renamed the Taos Wool Festival to the Mountain and Valley Wool Festival (MVWF). It was moved to Santa Fe. How convenient for me, I know how to get to Santa Fe.

I was going to link my post from last year but it was never written up because mom's life was ending. I was having a hard enough time just dealing with my emotions. At least I took a picture of what I bought so I can document here.

MVWF 2022

I have knit up one of those skeins, and spun up none of the fiber. But that is OK all of my yarny time is independent of the actual space time continuum, so I have not yet bought it and thoroughly enjoyed working with all of it, at the same time. I have used all the stitch markers I couldn't wait to bust them out. Last year I hit Yank Your Yarn first for all the delightful stitch markers and only found Noti Yarns by accident since they were the last stall in a barn I didn't realize had vendors in it. 

So now that last year is on the blog let's get back to the now that was several weeks ago. While Yank Your Yarn was on my list to buy from again, I only stopped in quickly to glance at her wares before heading off to my must see booth of this year, Noti Yarns. I was struck by her gorgeous colors, but only bought a skein since I was primarily a sock knitter last year. This year my hands and wrists decided they needed a break from sock knitting and I found true joy in knitting shawls. I kept kicking myself for not buying shawl yarn. I discovered the joy of combining colors in a way socks hadn't. I decided I wanted to have a palette. Plus her colors are named; Loyalty, Feisty, Lucky, Confidence, and Success. Who doesn't want to wrap themselves up in Bold, Feisty, Confidence?

Now you all know I have a messenger bag I love that I take to all the festivals to tuck my yarn in, well Ms. Noti Yarns thought I should show off her yarns with pride since I had so carefully selected my palette. Into a clear bag they went and I tell you it is a smart idea. I had plenty of comments about the colors I carried. I had to send my NY friend a proof of yarn/wool festival picture. 

I went back to Yank Your Yarn and got a few stitch markers and had a heck of a time picking which smart ass bag to bring home with me. In the end this one suited me the best. 

Zyarns had some amazing colors that I know will knit up into some amazing socks. Hey I haven't given up sock knitting entirely, I just slowed down a bit and that green kept yelling at me to take it home. I am a sucker for some neon green socks. I love them with all my heart!!!

Look at that haul that Mellie had to inspect. Good thing she is such a trooper. I'm already twitching to get some of it on the needles. I might have to let it marinate for a touch longer since I'm finishing a shawl and just cast on some vintage Oregon sock yarn. My NY friend voted to use some old yarn instead of new. Sometimes listening to your friends advice is hard, especially when you have such colors to pick from.

Happy Knitting!!!!