Estes Park Wool Market

Last weekend I was lucky enough to spend time at the Estes Park Wool Market.  Not only did I get to spend two days working with one of my favorite people, Alison, but I was also surrounded by the most beautiful yarn.  Yarn makes me happy! I feel the same as some would describe being in nature, or a beautiful mountain view, the peaceful sound of a river flowing, or a breeze and the waves of the ocean.  All of those things make me feel amazing and yarn is right up there with them. I know it is weird….

Anyway, not only did I spend my weekend with yarn but every time I walked outside I was surrounded by the magnificent Rocky Mountains.  The more time I spend in Estes Park the more I love it. The wool market is at the fairgrounds and what I think is unique about it is that it is actually a wool market where they bring animals for showing and shearing.  They judge fleece, have angora rabbit shows, have a ‘sheep to shawl’ contest where contestants spin their roving into yarn. There are also some amazing hand woven pieces and very pretty hand felted art and clothing. A local mill is represented to educate about the milling process, and they have two days of classes.  It isn’t just a place where vendors are selling yarn, it shows you where the yarn actually comes from.

Seeing the animals is a favorite of many and this year they had alpacas, goats, paco-vicunas, llamas, sheep and rabbits.  I didn’t have time to go and see all of the animals but I did have time to visit the sheep and goat barn. I did not know what paco-vicunas were so I took some time, while writing this, to learn about them.  Paco-Vicunas are a new breed of animal that is a cross between a vicuna and an alpaca. Vicunas are the wild ancestors of alpacas and are more prominent in Chile, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. They look very much like an alpaca but produce softer and lighter fiber than alpacas while still providing warmth.

Also at the Wool Market was Willow Creek Fiber Mill. They are a family owned business in Estes park that processes fiber.  I had the pleasure of meeting them and their children. The children come to the wool market and tell visitors all about how they process fiber.  They are very inspiring and I hear from others how knowledgeable the kids are. For the little town of Estes Park I think the Wool Market is really impressive.

In the vendor hall there are so many booths full of that beautiful thing we call yarn. The colors are just amazing. I like to walk around and just touch and feel the yarn and see all of the amazing colors.  You see everything from roving, felted clothing and accessories, hand woven Navajo rugs and hand made bags to sheep inspired art.  If you can get past the overload of products available you will find very unique, one of a kind treasures. There is one booth in particular that caught my eye, however I have been thinking about their products since I first saw them at Yarn Fest in March. Greenwood Fiberworks is a company from Utah which provides hand dyed yarn.  The quality, softness and color of their yarn grabbed me and knotted me all up! Just kidding, but it did get my attention.  I loved the models they had made up and every time I walked by, their booth was stuffed full of people.

The Wool Market is a great family event.  The animals are always a big attraction for the kids but the educational side to the wool market is also fascinating.  Estes Park always hosts this event the second weekend of June. I would encourage you to come and bring the family. I don’t know if it will put you in your happy place, like it does me, but I am sure it will inspire you to pick up a project, knit something you have just purchased or knit something from your stash.  I find that Wool Market makes me so excited about knitting; not sure how I can be more excited about knitting than I am every day, but I am. Do you ever feel like you want to knit so many things but you just don’t have enough time? Me too, always. I love hearing from you so tell me about the projects you are working on in the comments section.  Maybe another time we will explore the topic of clearing everything off our to-do list so that we can just knit!

Knit with Love my Friend,