Maryland Sheep & Wool 2008
We’ve been going to the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival for several years now. This year we went on Saturday. We got to the fairgrounds about 10:30 a.m. The fairgrounds opened at 9 but the parking was already up into the hills above so it was a bit of a hike down to the gate. There was a pretty fair sized crowd. Of course, since it’s over an hour’s drive and I drank coffee on the way the first stop or line was for the restroom. Then it was off to admire the animals and the fiber.
Since the parade of sheep, sheep shearing, sheep farming lectures, and sheep judging goes on all weekend, it not uncommon to see people out walking their sheep. Of course, some of us who can’t afford sheep must find appropriate substitutes to walk around the fairgrounds with. 
There’s so much going on and so many vendors that it’s often difficult to see everything. So we missed the sheep dog demonstrations, the auction of spinning equipment, and many of the lectures and demos. Though we did stop for awhile to watch the women who were making socks on sock knitting machines. It’s rather fascinating to see them crank the handle and have a sock slip out the bottom. 
It looks like it is more difficult to make multicolored or patterned socks. We stood and watched this woman for a while but the observers were packed pretty tightly in a building that was getting warmer by the minute, or so it seemed.
One of the problems is that May, while relatively cool, can be in the upper 70’s to lower 80’s and then walking around in the open air or in enclosed barns can be a bit overwhelming. So, naturally we had to take a break and eat. One thing there is plenty of is lamb — lamb burgers, lamb sausages, lamb gyros, lamb just about everything. We tried the lamb burger and lamb sausage. Really good, especially if you can grab a piece of shade to sit in and wash it down with old fashioned lemonade (the kind made by using a real lemon, sugar and the lemon is plunked in the glass.
One booth I always stop at is Goldings. I own a couple of his spindles and love the balance and the way they spin. In fact, I have several other spindles but like the feel of these more. I usually stop at the booth and look wistfully at the spinning wheels. While there are many artisans at Maryland Sheep and Wool — this is where you can truly see that a tool can be both functional and beautiful. These are the kind of tools you want to have around you house because they make you feel special while doing something you love to do. And yet, they are all perfectly balanced, rugged, and work as they should.
I didn’t buy much this year. I picked up a pound of soy silk to spin, and enough sock yarn for three pair of new socks, and a cable needle. Mostly, I just enjoyed the color, texture, and feel of many fibers. Maryland Sheep and Wool is a feast for the senses. If you’ve never been and you love fiber, fiber animals, and yarn it’s a great festival. It’s always the first full weekend in May. Check it out.
