It's finally finished! The knitting was done yesterday and the pattern today. Read more about it over at Knoted.

We had a wonderful time this year. The weather couldn't have been nicer -- breezy, sunny, but not at all hot.

After 5 years Christy and I have it down pat. We hit The Fold first and while she was in line I wandered a bit (I'm one of three people in the world who don't seem to love STR), then we hit Tess and Brooks Farm and then we just go through each barn. After we hit all the barns it was time for lunch, and then went back to whichever places we wanted to return to after waiting a bit for the impulse of purchasing to wear off.

After that, it was time for some on the grass knitting (next year we will be bringing portable chairs though) and that's where we usually see the bulk of our friends. We sadly missed the Ravelry meetup (I thought it went until 2). It was great to meet some new Knotions readers and it was so much fun to give out Knotions buttons (people even recognized me by my bag!). If I missed you (or if you didn't go to MDSW) and you want a Knotions button just leave me a comment and I'll mail one to you.

Alright, let's see if I can name everyone we saw (or, let's see how many people I can forget): Jessica, Ann, Jody, Jess, Casey, Mary-Heather, Kelly, Liz K, Aileen, Sally, Lolly, Isel, Stacey and Jenna. I think people know to look for us there because we always seem to end up sitting with a big group of women -- that's my favorite part of the day.

OK, buying yarn ain't so bad either.

I pretty much stuck to my list this year:

Upper Left is Tess Supersock in green, turquoise and yellow.
Upper Right is Brooks Farm Mas Acero in black with grey flecks for a sweater. It's a drapey yarn so I have to think about what pattern will suit it.
Lower Left is Kureyon Sock. I know I could buy this close to home too, but I never do and I really want to make some kind of modular sock with it. Plus it's pink and there's no denying myself some pink yarn.
Lower Right is Carodan Farms Worsted for the Le Smoking jacket from Lisa Lloyd's A Fine Fleece. This was exactly the type of yarn I had in mind for this cardi. The jacket in the book is made from a very different yarn -- a soft, cashmere blend -- but I really saw this cardi in something heartier.

Even though I had 2 sweaters' worth of yarn on my list I didn't expect to come home with it. I'm really hoping to use up at least one of the sweater yarns in time for Rhinebeck. I've already started sketching for Rhinebeck sweaters, and the Mas Acero might work for one of them. Of course, if it's anything like last year I should be thinking cotton short sleeve (I think Rhinebeck was as warm as MDSW this year).

With all the deadlines for Knotions (I go from deadline to deadline nowadays) it was great to spend a casual day with one of my closest friends. Spending time with Christy always puts me in a good place, and the wonderful weather and all that yarn reinvigorated my knitting spirit.

As I was prepping for this post last night I realized this will be my and Christy's fifth year at Maryland Sheep & Wool. I can clearly remember each year -- meeting different people (what is it with meeting so many of you in line for the ladies' room?), finding new-to-me vendors (including a time when Socks That Rock was just another hand dyed sock yarn!), and sitting on the grass knitting and enjoying the beautiful day.

If you're new to sheep and wool festivals, I wrote a post with some suggestions a couple years back and it's still good advice.

I've been planning what I want to see and buy this year. The list isn't too long:

• Yarn from a small supplier to make a sweater from Lisa Lloyd's A Fine Fleece (view my review). I'm especially obsessed with Le Smoking right now.
• Multicolor hand dyed sock yarn. I want something with a big variety of colors to knit up a special pair of socks this summer.
• Sweater yarn from Tess', Brooks Farm or Ellen's Half Pint Farm. I'm jealous of all of you and your gorgeous post-fest sweaters!
• Something new - a new dyer or a new yarn. Something different that I can't get locally.

I'll also be there getting the word out about Knotions, and I've got some shiny new buttons to give out.

Four days, people!