~Saturday Morning~ I woke up in the mood to write and thought I should share our Rhinebeck experience before it is outdated.
For those of you that know me a little, you are probably aware that I have been following designers and reading their blogs for a long time. I have read and seen pictures about Rhinebeck for years, so when we decided to go this year it was quite exciting, yet at the same time I still didn’t know what to expect.
A lot of people have their rooms years in advance…it is an annual thing. We were lucky enough to stay in Kingston, where the Indie Untangled Trunk Show was held on Friday night. This was one of the main justifications for going…I needed to see some of these new yarns. We arrived just in the nick of time…put on a cowl, and went to the Trunk Show. The room was too small and it was packed with people hoovering around booths grabbing their goodies. Now keep in mind the vendors here did NOT have a booth at Rhinebeck. In the back corner of the room was Sandra with her Duck Duck Wool. It was a mob scene. Everyone had DDW by the armloads. I managed to get close enough to say hi and before I knew it I was helping check people out. I am so proud to have DDW in TKH (The Knot House). Meanwhile, Dami and DeeAnn were checking out other stuff like Bare Naked Wools, Astral Bath, and Cannon Handdyes to name a few.
Saturday morning we were on the road to Dutchess County Fairgrounds. I had heard horror stories about the traffic, so we left early. We made it there with no traffic or parking issues and even got good spot in line.
I wore my new Aeon Vest and got lots of compliments. 🙂 You can see how crazy long the line got. Finally the gates opened and you hear cheering. It is really beautiful in NY in October, the trees are fall perfect. The perfect sweater weather. Everyone picks their latest sweater masterpiece and calls it their “Rhinebeck Sweater” and proudly parades around the fairgrounds. The fairgrounds are exceptional. Plenty of wide open space with paved walk ways. We knew it was going to be a good day when there was an attendant directing traffic in the ladies room. In and out with efficiency. After getting a few souvenirs, we methodically went booth by booth keeping our eyes peeled for goodies. We were in the Julia Hilbrandt booth when Dami grabbed my arm and said “Heather, that is the Loop Shawl your Mom is going to do.” Sure enough it was..better yet it was worn by the designer Casapinka! We quickly introduced ourselves, gave her our card with a pin (have you gotten a pin?) She was so nice and happy that we recognized her shawl. We inspected the shawl in detail and told her Mom’s plans to make it, and took pictures as proof to Mom we were working.
So we kept going. Everything was so crowded by now. Dami had the list of things we wanted to see, so we made it to the O-Wool booth and met Jocelyn, the owner. It was so crowded in this booth that Jocelyn and I agreed we would follow-up about a trunk show after the show. Just when we were leaving I spotted Jocelyn talking to Thea Coleman of BabyCocktails. At least I thought it was Thea. I have been reading her blog for probably 5 years…so I had seen pictures. But when I saw the fabulous teal sweater she was wearing and the camera, I knew it was Thea. I told the girls…and they tried to get me to talk to her but I was star-struck and couldn’t do it. I know I know….So for the next hour I was kicking myself and now I wanted to find her again and get a picture. This is funny. So awhile later..Dami and I were in the bathroom, and my phone dings. It is a picture of DeeAnn with Thea…yup. We stopped stalking her after that…Dang it!
We found Going Gnome and were so taken with these little felted creatures. Check these little guys out. I think we might do a workshop in 2015.
So we finished up around 3PM and headed to the Village of Rhinebeck. It is like Frederick but different. Lots of little shops and restaurants and you think there is more than what there really is, but it is cute for certain. Which is why everyone books their rooms a year in advance.
Sunday’s plan was to go back to the booths on our list and then hit the road home. We got up early…and again no traffic. Yea well this is because it didn’t open Sunday till 10. So we sat in the car and yes… knitted. It was much cooler Sunday and note to self…always take a coat..We froze standing in line.
We hit the Apple Cider Doughnuts stand first along with the Maple Syrup Cotton Candy. I can’t describe how delicious these doughnuts are.
We were finishing up in the Moving Mud booth when I spotted Anne Hanson! Again I told Dami..and she said no way, are you sure? I approached Anne and told her about the shop and how she is Mom’s favorite sock designer. We talked about her coming to Frederick and her new yarn line…Bare Naked Wool. Anne is so approachable and pleasant, I left very pleased with that connection.
That about covers it…we headed home about 1PM. There are some things I wish we would have done…like take more pictures of the trees and the people on the Ravelry Hill. We did book a room for next year, and think I have convinced Mom to come too.
~Heather