Vermont Sheep And Wool Festival

The 22nd Annual Vermont Sheep & Wool Festival has been chosen to host the Eastern Cashmere Goat Show. Wendy Pieh of Springtide Farm in Maine will be this year's show judge.

Pieh is an approved judge of cashmere goats in the U.S. and is currently president of the Eastern Cashmere Association. Show will be held Sunday, Oct. 3, starting at 10 a.m.

Beth Brown-Reinsel, an acclaimed teacher and author, will conduct knitting workshops on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Beth is the author of "Knitting Ganseys", published by Interweave Press. Her articles and designs have been featured in magazines such as Knitters, Interweave Knits, Vogue Knitting and Cast-On.

The festival is held at Tunbridge Fairgrounds in Tunbridge, VT, Saturday, Oct. 2 and Sunday, Oct. 3. More than 2,000 fiber enthusiasts will gather to attend the many workshops being offered, peruse the animal barns and browse more than 65 of the finest fiber artists.

Vermont's history has been shaped by the wool industry as it was once home to more than 1.5 million sheep and is ranked second in the nation for wool production.

Today Vermont and New England offer some of the finest wool/fiber producers, many of whom will be present at the festival. Handcrafted natural fiber clothing, yarn, wool crafts, knitting and spinning, weaving and felting supplies, meat and cheese will be available. Presentations on animal health and animal husbandry as well as demonstrations on sheep shearing, dog herding, weaving, spinning, and bobbin lace will be on-going through the week-end. Local food and live music all week-end as well as activities for the kids.

The First Annual Fashion Show will be held Saturday evening. Handspun natural fibers and handmade - sweater, vest, scarf, shawl, mittens, hat or socks. Open to all.

To register for a class, participate in a competition, see a list of vendors and extensive class offerings, print a coupon or learn more about the festival, visit www.vermontsheepandgoat.org.

Admission is $6; seniors, $5 and children under 12, $1.

Sponsored by the Vermont Sheep and Goat Association, dedicated to the growth of Vermont's sheep, goat and fiber industry.

We Love Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival

Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival, Tunbridge, Vermont is this weekend, Oct. 3 and 4.

Fiber lovers rejoice - there's tons of yarns, knitters, spinners, plus related vendors - and sheep dog demonstrations. Arrive early to get your pick of the roving and raw fleece.

Sheep, alpacas, angora rabbits, goats, and llamas too - plus spinning wheels, needle felting, ideas to last a whole winter long.

For details see www.vermontsheep.org.

Time For Sheep, Wool, Fiber Fest!

Claire Campbell of The Farm on Grindle Brook in Glastonbury will demonstrate how to shear an angora rabbit in Coventry this Sunday.

Some wonderful events coming up for those who love fiber arts, festivals, knitting, sheep, spinning - and being around other kindred fiber-obsessed folk.

The Coventry Farmers' Market fourth annual Fiber Twist event happens Sunday, Sept. 20 at the Nathan Hale Homestead located at 2299 South St.

Alpacas, sheep, llamas, fiber goats, and angora rabbits will be on site.

Events include (some inside the program tent in the Flag Field):

11:10, Claire Campbell of The Farm on Grindle Brook in Glastonbury will demonstrate how to shear an angora rabbit.

11:30, Regina Malsbury will demonstrate goat shearing.

11:00 to 3:30, Rose Ann will conduct a class covering several techniques including yarn sewing, knotting, shirring, and penny rug appliqué wool on wool. Registration and some supplies required. Call (860) 742-6917, or email hale@ctlandmarks.org.

11 a.m. Rose Ann Hunter will offer an introduction to rugmaking at her tent.

Noon, Leslie Wind will conduct a mini-lesson on shawl-making.

Noon, Dayna Mankowski will offer an art yarn spinning demo.

At 12:30, Kris Gonzales of The Painted Sheep demonstrates dyeing.

1 p.m., Gail Ignatowicz will demo her felted wool pocketbook techniques; 1:30 Fido’s Fiber show how to use a drum carder.

Throughout the market, there will be ongoing demonstrations on knitting, weaving, spinning and plus live music, food offerings, farmmarket, all afternoon.



Regional events:

Finger Lakes Fiber Arts Festival, Sept. 19 and 20, Hemlock Fairgrounds, Hemlock, New York. See www.gvhg.org/fest.html for details.

Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival, Sept. 26 and 27, Washington County Fairgrounds, Greenwich, New York.

The 21st Annual Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival, Oct. 3 and 4, Vermont Sheep and Goat Association sponsored event, Tunbridge Fairgrounds in Tunbridge, Vermont. For more, see www.vtsheepandgoat.org/festival.html.