A couple of my friend and I headed up on Saturday to The Mannings, a hand-weaving, knit, crochet, spinning supply and teaching center. When I told people around here I’d never been before, most people were pretty shocked, seeing as it’s apparently kinda like Webs is in MA, NY, and the surrounding area. A place that a certain level of knitter/crocheter/spinner/weaver simply has to go. And apparently I was overdue.
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| The only picture I took that turned out nice. You think I would have taken more, but I was distracted by all the things going on. |
Well, on Saturday the Mannings was having a bit of an event, with free demos and presentations. So L and T and I headed off, making a promise along the way that if we saw any roadside stands, we would stop, no questions asked.
(A good thing, too, as we bought collectively, at different times, fresh eggs, ice cream, cherries, more cherries, black raspberries – 2 bags worth, chocolate covered cherries and fresh sweet strawberries. None of the fresh berries made it home, though a limited number of cherries did… mostly because we stuffed ourselves.)
The Mannings was more than I imagined. I’m not sure what I imagined, but it is located on a beautiful property near a river/creek, and on the edge of some lovely fields. It has shade trees, a porch with rocking chairs (though Michael would only rate it a 5 out of 10, I think) and rooms upon rooms of spinning and weaving and knitting and crochet supplies. The range and selection they have of weaving cones is more than I could bear. I think I simply must go back and buy a whole bunch and make crochet doilies and garments and love it to death. Seriously. This place was great. They had a whole room of spinning wheels and another room and a half of looms. Huge looms.
And green colored cotton, which is hard to find.
I got to watch a sheep being sheared. L in previous years has been a judge for the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival judging fleeces, so just walking by her and listening to what she looks for in a fleece was simply invaluable.
I saw some gorgeous fleeces, ones that made me rethink my vow not to get another fleece until I’m done with this one. For now I’m sticking to that vow, mostly because I can’t afford to get another fleece. But that day will come.
I picked a woman’s brains about German Angora Rabbits (which I began to seriously reconsider, now that we’re looking at getting a pet). I got to see adorable baby rabbits.
But the best thing of all? Seeing SO MANY PEOPLE just sitting and spinning and talking. It was amazing. The last time I saw so many spinning-wheels was when I was in NY about three years ago, and I didn’t realize how much I missed it. (I kept my eye out for a Columbine Spinning Wheel, but no luck. The Columbine wheel is one of my favorites, simply because it’s so durable, and so different from everything else you normally see).
Ever been to the Mannings? When was the last time you went to a conference/gathering/con of like minded people? What was it for? Tell me about it.
