Only a few days left....

'til Maryland Sheep & Wool! It's starting to hit me how soon it is, and I'm getting more and more excited. (If you haven't signed up yet, as of 7 pm Wednesday night, we have about 5 seats left. Call the shop ASAP if you are interested, at 215-977-9276.)




From your pals at Rosie's, who've been to more than a few fiber festivals, here's our list of tips for newbies:

1. Be on time. Rumor has it that a gung-ho bus captain (ahem, me) left at the appointed time even though a passenger wasn't back. We have only a limited amount of time and the buses sometimes have engagements that begin after we return, so we have to be sticklers about departure times. We also have had people tell us it can take a while to find a parking lot that is open at 7 or 7:30 a.m., so if you are driving, plan on leaving yourself some extra time to find a spot.

2. If you have any food issues, be sure to bring some of your own. You'll find lots of lamb, and more fried stuff than you'd believe possible



but not so much in the way of, say, fruit or veg. Plus, the lines are often long and who wants to spend an hour waiting for a fried lamb-kebob when there's yarn and rovings to fondle? Water bottles are also good to pack.

3. Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. Also a sunhat wouldn't hurt.

4. Dress in layers. It can get stifling hot in some of the "barns" when they fill up with people, and it might be a little cool in the morning.

5. Possible things you might wish to bring: an extra tote bag, chapstick, your checkbook (ha!), a pad and paper, a list of yardages/gauges for potential projects, tissues, handi-wipes, any medication you need, some advil or tylenol just in case, some knitting or reading material for the bus, camera and extra batteries and/or film.

6. Meet up with some of your favorite knitbloggers at 1 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday) in the grassy field next to the big building in the back where the Koigu ladies usually are.

7. For the particularly anal-retentive prepared, visit the official vendor list, print out a map and circle your must-see destinations.

8. And the cardinal rule of the Rosie's Maryland bus: No. Livestock.
We mean it. No matter how fluffy the bunny or wooly the lamb, no matter how much that alpaca bats its eyelashes at you,



we will not transport livestock across state lines.

Have a wonderful time! Can't wait to see you there.