Midwinter Fiber & Yarn Tasting

3rd Annual

Midwinter Fiber & Yarn Tasting

Saturday, February 25, 2012

FREE ADMISSION!

Meet Wisconsin and Illinois producers of wool and other fibers including may breeds of sheep, llamas, alpacas, goats, camel, rabbits, as well as bamboo, silk and soy at the 3rd Annual Midwinter Fiber & Yarn Tasting on Saturday February 25, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Basics Natural Foods Co-op, 1711 Lodge Drive, Janesville, WI.

Clearview Farm Cormos and Ambrosia & Bliss will join Frene Creek Farms, Rainbow Fleece Farm, Rock Farms, Bumble Bee Acres, Pacesetter Alpacas, Booties & Handspun by Babylove, and the Green Yarn Company. You will find hand-spun and hand-dyed yarn, roving, tops, raw and washed fleece in addition to completed wool products that are all produced locally.

Presented by the Janesville Area Stitch 'n Bitch, the 3rd Annual Midwinter Fiber & Yarn Tasting will appeal to those looking for local, handcrafted items, as well as those who spin, knit, crochet, weave and enjoy all the fiber and needle arts. Free spinning, knitting, and crochet demonstrations and free lessons will be available all day. Admission is free for all ages.

Donations of new, handmade blankets will also be accepted for distribution to local children suffering any type of trauma by the Janesville/Rock Valley Project Linus chapter and a "Stash Bash" will be your opportunity to swap patterns, yarns and tools with other stitchers. If there are items remaining at the end of the day from the "Stash Bash", they will be donated to the annual Janesville Salvation Army sale.

Weekend at Rainbow Fleece Farm

SnB autumn field trip to Rainbow Fleece Farm 2010

Erin demonstrates backstrap weaving

Needle felting demonstration & teaching on the porch

Flower takes a nap in a cooler spot while
Paula demonstrates handspindle wool spinning outside.

Patti's shop is always a riot of colors and textures!

Another generation of fiber fanatics?

Midwinter Fiber & Yarn Tasting

What fun was had by all at the Midwinter Fiber & Yarn Tasting!
Thank you vendors for bringing such diverse and interesting fibers and products.

Thank you "students from Madison" for taking the time to learn how to spin with us. Thank you to all the curious and fiber-loving visitors who enjoyed some time with us exploring everything offered.

Thank you to Basics Natural Foods Co-op for inviting us to use their space.

And, CONGRATULATIONS to our contest winners:
Kellie Sinks
Amanda Tepatzi
Sarah Sahni
Anisa Irwin
and Jennifer Abb.

Annual Fall Visit to Rainbow Fleece Farm 2009

There are always opportunities to learn new skills at Patti's farm.

SnBer Erin Whitfield learns to needle felt
at Rainbow Fleece Farm.

The 2009 excursion included a tour of the
newly opened New Glarus Brewery.

Erin found her favorite!
Perhaps YOU will join us next time for the fun, too?

Spring on the Farm

Patient ewes and new lambs were in abundance
at the Tall Grass and Rainbow Fleece Farm
open house events the first weekend in April.
While some events had been canceled due to
the threat of inclimate weather, those SnBers
who came along were able to get a private
needle felting lesson with Patty at
Rainbow Fleece Farm!

Tall Grass Farm goats are famous for their incredibly soft fiber.

The lambs loved Snb Field Trip participant, Paula!

Shearing was part of the activities at both farms
in spite of the chilly spring weather.

New Jacob twins watched the watchers
while others were just hungry!

Sights from the 2007 Jefferson Sheep & Wool Festival

Wisconsin's Jefferson Sheep & Wool Festival
September 7-9, 2007