Taos Wool Festival, Part I: The Haul

Oh good Lord. I blew my wad of cash three times over at Taos, and it was worth every single penny. I'm fondling my purchases and am dreaming of what to make of each treasure.

For the first time ever, my stash enhancement requires a knitting section and a spinning section.

Here's an overview (click to make bigger, and ignore the Constitutional Law book lurking ominously in the upper right corner....):



Knitting Goodies:





Starting in the Top Right, then going clockwise:

• Knitting Vintage Socks: New Twists on Classic Patterns, by Nancy Bush. First purchase of the day.
  
• 2 skeins (1000 yards) of Brooks Farm Primero 100% Kid Mohair in fabulous browns and blues. Like buttah. AND it was on SALE. Booyeah!
  
• 1 skein (500 yards) of Brooks Farm Duet 55% Kid Mohair and 45% Fine Wool in amazing shades of red.
  
• A handknit hat in shades of Teal from Carol Mullen, who, sadly for the fiber world, is retiring this year.
  
• Two skeins (~500 yards) of heavy worsted wool in oranges and blues. Really spectactular stuff.
  
• Two Skeins (400 yards each) of Plain & Fancy Sheep & Wool Co. Single Sport, which will become two fabulous pairs of socks. One is a lovely minty green and the other is peach/orange/yellow sherberty colored.

And now for the spinning haul:



Starting with the big red blob and working down clockwise:

• A ton of Carol Mullen's handdyed Corriedale Roving, and it was CHEAP.
  
• A walnut niddy noddy from Magpie Wood Works. Holy cow, this guy is amazing. The wood is so. SOFT.
  
• A mid-whorl walnut spindle, also from Magpie Wood Works. I went to visit this spindle four times before I finally broke down and bought it. The wood is so soft- it's absolutely amazing. And it makes me feel like I can spin!
  
• An ounce of white angora rabbit roving- ha! I can't even pretend like I'll ever be able to spin this.
  
• The white blob is about 3/4 of an ounce of plain white corriedale roving from a sheep named "Nicholas." The first roving I bought, and when I bought it I honestly thought it would be the only roving I was going to buy. HA. I am absolutely in love with Nicholas- the wool makes me feel like I actually have a chance at spinning- the fibers slide and move and spin up the way it seems like they're supposed to. I should call this vendor and buy up the rest of Nicholas's bounty!!!!
  
• Last but not least, a ton of roving from Fiber Fanatic (Laura Easterling). The colorway is "Crayola" and it is actually brighter in person than in the picture. I know. Scary.
  

Yes, friends, it was a very, very good day in Taos.