I went to the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY this past weekend. (We stayed in Hudson, NY, in a beautiful B&B in the woods, which is whole 'nother post. For now, let's just say I'd like to move.) I really love the Sheep and Wool Festival. It's like a giant farmers' market for fiber enthusiasts. Just like the farmers' market, it offers a wonderful way for knitters, crocheters, spinners and others to see where all that fiber comes from, and how it gets from the animal (or plant) all the way to that gorgeous hand knit sweater or shawl or whatever.
I spoke to the people who made a lot of the yarn I bought. I got some natural (undyed) alpaca yarn from an alpaca named Anita, for instance. (I didn't get to speak with Anita herself, unfortunately, but her owner was awfully nice).
We saw herding dogs give a frisbee demonstration. We saw some sheep and even some angora rabbits being sheared. I stopped by the Journey Wheel booth, because ChuckieT has been incredibly enthusiastic about having me learn to spin lately. And I got drawn in. I bought a gorgeous drop spindle (it looks something like this) and the owner of the booth spent fifteen minutes teaching me how to use it. Then I went to another booth (I'm embarrased to say I didn't write down the name) and said "I'm a brand new spinner, and I'm told I should start with this kind of roving." The owner of that booth wouldn't let me buy anything. She gave me samples of various kinds of fiber to practice on first. She wouldn't let me pay!
And that's, I think, what prompted me to post. The generosity that's inherent in the fiber community is astounding. I've been trying to figure out why? What most of us have in common is really only the love a particular craft. Otherwise we're as different as any given random sample of the population. And yet I've seen it again and again. Knitters and crocheters making blankets and scarves and sweaters to send to people who need them. Afghans for Afghans, the Red Scarf Project (note: this link is to a zip file with the poster for this year's project). Chemo hats and newborn hats for hospitals. And those who are experienced seem to feel that it's just another part of the craft to pass it on to anyone who wants to learn.
Is it something about the ancient nature of it all? That's part of what I love about knitting. That my grandmother taught me how to do it. And she learned from her mother and grandmother and so on and on. And so it's a way to touch history. My own as well as that of the human race.
I don't know. I do know that two strangers can be sitting somewhere, say on the subway, ignoring one another as strangers tend to do. But let one of the bring out some knitting and if the other is a knitter too, they'll start talking, compare projects, maybe even let each other know about a great knitting meetup. Email addresses may be exchanged. Help will surely be given if needed.
It's really the most incredible thing.
Besides, who can resist those faces?
