October 5, 2000
I saw my first flock of geese in the sky this morning.
While I can barely jog a mile without collapsing,
these amazing little creatures engage in their annual
heroic journey without thought, costly cross-training
shoes, or even a dose of caffeine. It's humbling to think that these are the same
creatures that feed and warm us. Likewise, if you love natural fibers, there's
nothing more powerful than meeting and interacting with the animals that
produce them. That's exactly what I did last weekend at the Vermont Sheep and Wool
Festival. If you've never been to such a show, I strongly encourage you to find
one in your area. In the meantime, I'll share my experience with you. Majestic Merino Fur-bearing animals are impressive, and the Merino breed is the most
awesome of them all. The oldest and most revered sheep breed in the
world, Merino produce a strong, fine, soft fiber that doesn't itch.
Merino garments are lining the racks in stores this fall, and lucky for us, yarn
manufacturers are doing the same with more varieties of Merino than ever
before. This week, we'll discuss the history and characteristics of Merino. Then next
week, we'll roll up our sleeves and look at the Empress of Merino herself,
Australia's Jo Sharp.
Sincerely, P.S.-Do you have friends who would enjoy Knitter's Review? If so, use our simple Tell a Friend form and let them know about us.
New This Week...
Show Wrap-Up
The Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival
The 12th annual Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival took place on September 30th and
October 1st at the Snowshed Base Lodge in
beautiful Killington, Vermont.
There were spinners, weavers, knitters, dyers,
and breeders from across all of New England.
Here's my take on the show, with plenty of
pictures.
full story
Fiber Profile:
Merino 101
Merino is the finest wool on the market, and it comes from from the oldest, most established sheep breed in the world. Best of all, you can actually afford to buy the stuff! Get the full scoop on Merino.
full story
Knitter's Review Poll:
What's your favorite fiber? Participate in our Knitter's Review Poll
and you'll see instantly a tally of all the votes.
We'd like to hear from you!
Send us an idea for the newsletter Ask us a question Tell us what you think
Copyright 2000 by Clara H. Parkes. All rights reserved.
Feel free to forward this, in its entirety, to others.
To subscribe, send an email to subscribe@knittersreview.com and I'll gladly add you to our list.
To unsubscribe, send an email to unsubscribe@knittersreview.com and I'll remove you immediately.