Fiber Gathering: Knit, Crochet, Spin, and Dye More Than 20 Projects Inspired by America's Festivals

Brief Description:
Join author Joanne Seiff as she details the rich heritage, sprawling agriculture, and unique flavor of eleven fiber events throughout the U.S. From the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival to Oregon's Black Sheep Gathering--and lots of others in between--you'll get a taste of what each festival has to offer through a rich mix of photography, essays, lore, and even a local recipe.

Jacket Description/Flap:

For fiber lovers, a festival is more than a setting for buying and selling materials--it's a gathering place where artisans, designers, farmers, and friends come together to teach, learn, share, and celebrate this timeless art in a unique 21st-Century marketplace.

Join author Joanne Seiff as she details the rich heritage, sprawling agriculture, and unique flavor of eleven fiber events throughout the U.S. From the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival to Oregon's Black Sheep Gathering--and lots of others in between--you'll get a taste of what each festival has to offer through a rich mix of photography, essays, lore, and even a local recipe. Talented designers have contributed top-of-the-line patterns for you to knit, crochet, spin, felt, hook, and dye your own distinctive masterpieces using fibers that are ubiquitous to each festival. Whether you're working with a sophisticated mohair-silk blend or skirting a fleece on shearing day, the twenty-five projects in this book are representative of the best of America's fiber festivals.

Perfect for the armchair traveler and fiber enthusiast alike, Fiber Gathering lets you bring America's most celebrated festivals into your heart and home--and inspires you to create clothing, art, and meaning from these time-honored crafts.

Northeast.

Chapter 1: Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.

The Food.

Sheep Dog Demonstrations.

Mary Jane Socks.

Spirited Entrelac Polo.

Learning to Hand Dye Multicolored Yarn.

Chapter 2: New York State Sheep and Wool Festival.

New York Wine and Cheese.

Festive Fingerless Mitts.

Deep V.

The Curious Ewe.

Chapter 3: New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival.

What's NEAOBA?

Apple Crisp Recipe.

Unmistakably Warm Cowl.

Natural Alpaca Ruana.

South.

Chapter 4: Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair.

Asheville.

Quick Felted Sweater Bag.

Blossom.

Chapter 5: The Tennessee State Fair: A Spinning Competition and Fleece Auction.

How to Wash Fleece: A General Guide.

Spinning for Speed.

Midwest.

Chapter 6: Michigan Fiber Festival.

Kumihimo.

Inexpensive Tools for Spinning: A Drop Spindle.

Inexpensive Tools for Knitting: Knitting Needles.

Creating a Skein.

Chapter 7: Heart of America Sheep Show and Fiber Fest.

The New U.S. Lamb Market.

Sit Upon: A Crocheted Wool Roving Seat Pad.

Icelandic Winter Cap.

Chapter 8: Shearing Day.

Preparing for and Helping at a Sheep Shearing.

Skirting a Fleece.

West.

Chapter 9: Black Sheep Gathering.

The Woolen Mill.

Fishtail Vest.

Evergreen.

Chapter 10: Estes Park Wool Market.

Lamb's for Lunch.

Mountain Ripple Socks.

Men's Crochet Mock Cable Sweater.

Chapter 11: The Wool Festival at Taos.

New Mexico Weaving Traditions.

Navajo-Churro Sheep.

A Trio of Southwestern-Style Pillows.

Chapter 12: Conclusions: Building Your Own Fiber Gathering.

Thick & Thin Baby Coat & Cap.

Classy Aran Long Skirt.

Andean Plying.

Techniques.

Resources.

Index.

Meet the people, sample the flavor, and experience the kinship through 11 unique events and more than 25 inspiring projects.

Yarn enthusiasts from coast to coast are embracing fiber festivals with gusto, from New York's Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival to Oregon's Black Sheep Gathering. This large-format, full-color book is a stunning visual celebration of eleven fiber festivals throughout the U.S., showcasing the rich marketplace and sprawling agricultural exhibits that attract visitors in astounding numbers. Perfect as a coffee table book, it also includes instructions for creating 25 unique knitting, crocheting, spinning, and dyeing projects that reflect the rural couture of these popular gatherings. Fiber Gathering brings America's most celebrated festivals into readers' hearts and homes-and inspires them to create clothing, art, and meaning from these time-honored crafts.

Throughout history, we've gathered together in the market square. We're there to buy and sell, to get good deals on fibers, fabrics, fruits, vegetables, and bread, but we're also there to see friends, gossip, trade recipes, and admire new clothes. We've got an eye on each other's animals, and we're going to keep them from getting into any trouble. It's our chance to hold someone else's baby or to congratulate a new grandmother. It's a chance to connect, to touch, and to bond with others.

Review Citations:

• Library Journal 08/15/2009 pg. 79 (EAN 9780470289358, Hardcover) - *Starred Review
• LJ Best Books of Year 12/15/2009 pg. 52 (EAN 9780470289358, Hardcover)

Contributor Bio:Seiff, Joanne

Joanne Seiff is a freelance writer, author, educator, and knitwear designer. Her articles have appeared in places as varied as the CBC online, The New York Jewish Week, The Forward, Salon.com, Vogue Knitting, and Interweave Knits. Joanne holds graduate degrees in Religious Studies from UNC, in Education from GWU, and a B.A. cum laude in Near Eastern Studies and Comparative Literature from Cornell University.

Joanne is a fibre artist who enjoys making things from scratch, from sheep to finished garment. Her handspun yarn and handknits have won awards and her knitted fiber art has been exhibited and sold at several North American galleries. She also likes to bake bread, make jam, and make music. See more of her knitwear designs online at Ravelry.com and check out her blog, www.joanneseiff.blogspot.com.. Joanne lives in Winnipeg with her twin sons, a bird dog, and her husband, a biology professor.