Rhinebeck, officially known as the NY Sheep & Wool Festival, is coming up next weekend- October 19-20, 2019. I shared my best tips in Episode 171 of the Down Cellar Studio Podcast. Tune in to hear my thoughts.

If you’re on my email newsletter list, I sent an email on Saturday with a 7 page PDF with my prep and packing tips, an explanation of how to read the Festival Map and a packing list. Not on my list? Sign up today and you’ll receive an email with the PDF tomorrow.

Of course as knitter and crocheter, the most important part of the prep process for me is picking out which recent FOs I want to wear and planning my outfits and the rest of the packing around that! I’ll be heading to NY on Friday to attend some of the Rhinebeck weekend related events- so that means I need 3 outfits. After much hemming and hawing, I’ve made my selections so I figured I’d share them with you here! See links for each below.

Friday’s Outfit

The Rationale.  All events I’ll be attending are inside and may be crowded. I don’t want to overheat so this light weight combo is perfect for Friday. I have some slide sneakers that I can wear with it to make sure my feet will be comfy while I shop and socialize.

Details: Crocheted cardigan- Sandbar Cardi by Toni Lipsey, paired with a short sleeved tunic length tee from the Gap and my favorite Zella Live in Leggings from Nordstrom.

Saturday’s Outfit

The Rationale. As of right now, the weather is expected to be 61 and partly cloudy, but of course the morning will be cooler. I want to bring my Watayuki Pullover to show the kind folks at Sweitzer’s Fiber Mill because I bought the yarn there last year.  Comfy jeans with pockets is always handy.

Details. Gap jeans, a long sleeved striped tunic (bought secondhand from Savers), my newly finished Watayuki Pullover sweater, a Patagonia fleece vest to wear over just in case (bought second hand from Thred Up), my Riley Rose Shawl (design by me- available for purchase on Ravelry), and the Fuego Hat (just in case).

Sunday’s Outfit

The Rationale. All the layers! Love showing off my new sweaters but of course want to share my designs too!

Details. Gap jeans, long sleeve tunic length tee from Nordstrom, a blush pink puffy vest from Old Navy, my new worsted weight Boxy with Holly Press Fibers yarn, my latest shawl design- the Grace & Frankie shawl with Suburban Stitcher yarn.

My Bag

I’ve also pulled out most of the items I need to pack in my purse/tote for the day. The details are covered in my Rhinebeck Ready Guide, but here’s a sneak peek of both my bag and the contents.

First up- the bag itself. I talked about this project in detail on Episode 170 of the podcast. The bag itself is a free conference tote bag, and sewed an old swatch over the company logo and voila– a fun new, customized bag— with the perfect place to put my podcast and Ravelry Button (to be pinned on soon).  It’s lightweight, I don’t mind if it gets dirty, and its plenty big to hold my purchases.

The Contents

Refillable water bottle, notebook, mess kit with napkins, fork, knife, spoon, straw, pen & sharpie, portable phone charger with cord, iPhone, lip balm, knitting notions kit, hand sanitizer, wallet (will be cleaned out in advance to just the essentials, pill case, carabiner and bottle opener, first aid kit, business cards, Ravelry button, podcast buttons, kit with Pigskin Party coupons, extra cards, and pins.

I’ll be share more details about my prep and of course all of my Rhinebeck adventures on my Instagram account- follow me @BostonJen1. Come over and share your best tips using #RhinebeckReady and tag me so we can chat!

Everyone goes to fiber festivals because of the allure of the yarn (and fiber related goodies), but whether you intend for it to happen or not, the focus usually shifts to connections you’ve made and will make over the course of the event with all of the amazing people you meet there.[My Roomies: Susie, Sarah, Kristi, Danie, Sarah, Emily & Molly]

I can say without a doubt that my Stitches Midwest Experience was so much fun and will always be so memorable because of the people I met along the way.

That started from the very first moment that I met up with my roomies. We had been chatting and video chatting beforehand but I still thought it may take a few to get comfortable with each other. Nope. From the second we hugged hello it was as if we had known each other our whole lives! It’s amazing how having things in common will bond people like that.

Friday & Saturday at noon there was a podcaster meet up on the second floor near this beautiful fireplace. It was one of the best meet ups I’ve been to. Unlike the big open grassy area at Rhinebeck, this space had cozy little sections where folks could stop and really talk. It felt much more natural.

[Cori aka irocknits & me]

[Emily Straw of Knitting Butterflies Podcast, Lucia of Pearl of the Pacific Podcast, Sue & Lynne of Two Tangled Skeins Podcast & Megan of The Stockinette Zombies Podcast]

Of course for me, these meet ups are twice the fun. I look forward to meeting all of you and I get to meet the podcasters I watch and listen to as well.

It was a pleasure meeting Megan of Stockinette Zombies! I can tell you she’s just as sweet, fun and funny in person as she is on the podcast!

See? She’s making Prairie Girl Susie crack up!

I also was really fortunate to meet many of my listeners. A few, like Charmaine and Carla asked to try on my Tan House Brook Shawl and of course I obliged. I think there are still many people out there who think a triangular shawl can’t look good on them and I enjoy proving that that’s simply untrue. It was also interesting to see just how great this color green looked on lots of different people!

Emily, Me, JavaJennie of Kitchen Counter Crafter, Kristi & Jeanette of Sun Valley Fibers]

I also met lots of lovely people out on the vendor market floor! I am always more interested to buy things from vendors who are personable, likable and helpful. There were so many people like that at Stitches!

Emily with Jaala Spiro of Knit Circus Yarns

[Cary of Jelby, Becca and Sarah from Another Crafty Girl in their shared booth]

After the market on Saturday, a few of us were really fortunate to run into Benjamin Levisay, CEO of XRX and of course the host of the Fiber Hooligan Podcast. He was so down to earth, interested to hear what we had to say about our Stitches experience, and wanting to talk shop about podcasting, which you don’t have to twist my arm to do!

On Saturday night, we had a podcaster filled dinner! I’m so grateful to Paula of the Knitting Pipeline Podcast for reaching out in advance to ask about making plans to get together. It was great having the chance to get to know Paula. She is 100% delightful.

I hope if you went to Stitches Midwest you took advantage of the opportunity to meet some amazing people! It was great even just chatting with other shoppers and passersby. Knitters are awesome!