Rhinebeck, it was fabulous. And perhaps best captured in photos... at 1,000 words a pop, that's a gajillion words I don't have to type!
To begin:
Who knew something so simple could bring such happiness? Particularly to three very sleep deprived knit bloggers, who realized that this meant that they could finally get out of the car. Actually, the drive up only took a little over five hours. But when you're on the road at 3 AM, there's not too much traffic. (3 AM - are we crazy? Maybe, but we prefer to think of ourselves as hardcore.) But happy! We were finally there! And they even opened the gates and let us in!
The yarn and the fleece and the animals were all amazing, of course, but the highlight of the weekend was definitely the knit bloggers. And they were everywhere!
At the 1 PM meetup organized by the fabulous Cara (click for bigger)
And at the hotel, which just seemed to happen organically. Some may call us weirdos, which is, um, true... but the "nicer" way to look at it is the innate recognition of kinded spirits. And I met so many of them... of course there were my carmates, Team Maryland, and my other roommates Paula, Christina and Ann. K8, a former Marylander, too. Then Team Georgia (sadly sans HEJ), Frecklegirl Jess (Casey too!), and Big Lug Jen. Kris, who I completely blog-stalked and attacked in one of the barns (um, sorry about that) and who was very gracious and nice about it. Alison, Johanna, Cara, Ann, Stitchy, Kelly and everyone else from the various meetings that admired and petted my sweaters (and I didn't even have to pay them!). I wore the Dreamcatcher cardi around all Saturday (which the backpack completely interfered with... I had to sacrifice good back health in order to show off the giant hole design element in my sweater by using only one strap, and even then it was kind of obscured). And at the hotel knit-in I finished weaving in all of the ends on my Kyoto asymetrical cabled cardi (or KACC, which sounds like my cat hacking up a furball. Name suggestions welcome, yo.) This is a sweater of my own design in Artfibers' Kyoto yarn. If you like the look of this sweater and think you might want to knit one, leave me a comment, cause I'm pretty close to writing up the pattern for it but I need a little motivation. And can I just say that I felt like a complete Artfibers salesperson (I swear I am not on commission!), but every one of the FO's I brought with me were made from AF yarn - Dreamcatcher, Clapotis and KACC, and everyone kept asking me what yarn they were, and once I get started I just can't stop. Especially the Kyoto, because it is just so soft and shiny and pretty and glowy and amazing. I love much.
OK, my summing up has taken me some time and I need to sleep (what with the sleep deprivation experiment that was this weekend and all). I will post the Sunday pictures (yes, there's more! Tell them what they've won!) and the haul pictures later on, 'kay? Hope this will tide you over until then...
Ugh! It sucked I didn't see you guys on Sunday - but apparently you got there around the time we were leaving. Sleep much? ;-)
It was so great to hang with you again and the sweaters are gorgeous! Excellent work!
Posted by: Cara on October 18, 2005 07:25 AMHey it was so much fun meeting you! I will remember our time at Quiznos together fondly! :)
I hope we run into each other again!
-Jen (The only "Team Pennsylvania" memeber...)
Posted by: biglug on October 18, 2005 09:29 AM*wave*
i'd definitely be interested in the KACC pattern (at least it's a memorable name!), although with the list of things i've got to knit, plus what i acquired this weekend ... it'll be awhile.
it was great to meet you!
Posted by: anne on October 18, 2005 09:36 AMLOL - it was totally cool that you introduced yourself! It was great to meet you. :)
Posted by: Kris on October 18, 2005 11:04 AMI sooo wish I could have been there! Schedule conflict suck. I would have worn my dreamcatcher cardigan all day too! ;-)
Posted by: Maya on October 18, 2005 11:46 AMwe were right around that area of the meet up around 1, but we didn't see anyone, and then we got really hungry, so we ate lunch... i wish i could have met up with everyone!! hopefully there will be more sheepy fun soon!
Posted by: kim on October 18, 2005 04:42 PMI had such a great time ----- and I loved petting your sweater, thanks for holding still!
Posted by: ann on October 18, 2005 06:16 PMSo THAT'S where you were!!! Give me a call. I have news from here too!!
Love
MOM
Sarah, I DO dig that sweater of yours, whatever the name! Is it really a cardigan? So envious of your NY trip, but there's always May in Md. . .
Posted by: Maggi on October 26, 2005 04:41 PM