Solitude Wool: Sat, Falls Church; Sun, Karakul day at RedGate Farm
Good Morning!
This is the weekend for our first “Field day” to learn about breeds at the farms that raise them. It is on Sunday, June 3rd at RedGate Farm in Leesburg, Virginia from noon to 4pm. Details of what’s happening and driving directions at the end of the email.
Saturday we will be at the Falls Church farmers market. I think it will be fine, but in case of rain, if we decide to stay home and keep our powder dry I will post on the web site by 6:30am on Saturday. All you Falls Churchians that just signed up for the email list (welcome!) now know where we are, but if you haven’t been to see us there, we are in a really lovely, slightly off the beaten track place: on the sidewalk on Park Avenue just behind the sausage folks (they give samples and you can probably follow your nose as soon as you get close). It is under a big tree, lovely and cool and such a lovely place that we thought it would be perfect to sit and knit for World Wide Knit in Public Day. This year it isn’t just one day, it’s eight: from June 9th to the 17th…so that covers the following two Saturdays. I will see if I can get permission for us to set up some chairs next to the tent. More next week if it’s okay (and prizes, especially if you happening to be knitting in public with Solitude yarn. Come this Saturday and pick some out!).
At market this week: the four yarns on sale, Clun Forest, Leicester Longwool/Border Leicester, Border Leicester bulky and Shropshire baby yarn. They are 20% off. Plus our two other Border Leicester yarns: the aran weight, in very preppy colors and the sport weight that is nature dyed. I will also bring the Targhee 3-ply yarn this week that has 4 new handpainted colors:
The first photo shows two skeins from the same dyelot…I went a little crazy and it is very funky and no two skeins are the same. I think it would be a really fun summer shawl for traveling on planes, cool evenings at Wolf Trap, over air conditioned places… The second photo is also fairly funky, but the dark version with blacks and bright jewel tones. The third photo shows two different dyelots, not funky at all, a nice soft green and pewter/lavender with orange and green accents. This yarn is very lightweight and almost feels like cotton. Look for our Fire and Ice bottle cozy kits. I can’t recommend these enough. I use mine everyday now: it keeps the ice in my water bottle from melting for ages, even in a closed car in the parking lot in the heat this last week. And prepared roving for spinning or felting.
Field day: RedGate Farm
We hope you can join us at Sue and Bill Bundy’s farm just outside of Leesburg, Virginia this Sunday from noon to 4pm.
The weather sounds pretty great, but we will have it rain or shine.
Schedule:
• Sue will be introducing you to her Karakul sheep, an ancient and rare breed that has fat tails and a double coat. Sue will be talking at 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00pm
• Bill will be talking about the bees (RedGate Apiary) at 12:30 and 2:30
• The mini-workshop, knit-to-felt coasters with Karakul yarn is at 12:30 (full) and 2:30 (two spots available, email f-fsolitude@mindspring.com to grab them, or try that day)
You can see RedGate and get a feeling for how great it is to live on a small farm (the garden, lots of poultry!), bring your knitting (and maybe a chair) and just enjoy. It is a working farm so remember to bring a hat, wear closed toe shoes that you wouldn’t mind if you stepped in anything…and no dogs. This is not an event geared to kids younger than nine, so plan to monitor them closely if they come along.
Entrance is $15.00 and you get a coupon for $10 towards Solitude Wool purchase that day. Yes, of course we will have yarn for sale.
How to get here:
RedGate Farm
17883 Running Colt Pl.
Leesburg, VA 20175
From the beltway:
Follow Rt. 267, a toll road, towards Leesburg.
Exit 1A and stay in the right lane. Take the first exit on to Rt. 15 N.
Turn left on Davis Ave.
Turn left on Dry Mill Rd.
Go 2 miles and turn left on Coltfield Way.
Go straight through the stop sign on to our driveway. There will be parking signs.
From Purcellville and points west:
Coming towards Leesburg on Rt. 7, exit at at Rt. 9
Turn right as you come off of the exit ramp.
Turn left on Dry Mill Rd.
Turn right on Coltfield Way.
Go straight through the stop sign on to our driveway. There will be parking signs.
From Brunswick, MD:
Go South on Rt. 287
Turn left on Rt. 9
Follow Rt. 9 until it dead ends at Dry Mill Rd.
Turn left on Dry Mill Rd.
Turn right on Coltfield Way
Go straight through the stop sign on to our driveway. There will be parking signs.
Hint.. the address is Running Colt Pl., but you will not turn on to that street. Go straight across it.
Tags: breed-specific yarn, farm, farmers market, wwkip