Fine fibers, fashion and fun showcased during festival

Friday, May 30, 2003

Local yarn enthusiasts mingled with colored wool aficionados from around the Midwest and as far away as Utah at the Missouri Natural Colored Wool Growers Heart of America Sheep Show and Fiber Festival, held at the Vernon County fairgrounds , May 29-30. The fiber festival features a wide selection of different venders offering their wares. Shoppers can take their pick from many distinct yarns, ranging from alpaca to Shetland sheep. There are also woven grass baskets, hand-woven rugs, felt, scarves, spinning wheels, shawls, mittens, sheepskin and many other craft or gift items. Each vendor praised their particular wares. According to Linda Mitchko, of Whirlwind Ranch in Lebanon, Mo., alpaca wool possesses a natural twist to the fiber, which makes it easy to spin into yarn this fiberm an when it's used in things like socks, it won't loose its elasticity. It also holds color very well and can be dyed with Kool-Aid. Leslie Caroll Bartlet, exhibitor at the colored wool show, was really pleased by not only the turnout from exhibitors but also spectators. "It's going really well," said Bartlet. Carolyn Parry, of the Missouri Natural Colored Wool Growers Association, agrees. "Nevada's been very good to us," she said. She is very pleased the way the sheep show and fiber festival has grown, remarking that this year there is over one hundred Angora goats alone. There is a large selection of children's craft classes and there will also be seminars on yarn spinning, dye, paper making and felting. For the next two days members of the Extension office will be teaching classes on many aspects of growing colored wool livestock. There will also be a showmanship contest and on Saturday afternoon there will be a working stock dog demonstration At 6 o'clock tonight is the Hoo-Rah lamb dinner. Following the dinner will be a fashion show and The Bluegrass Missourians will provide musical entertainment.

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