So my LYS had a nifty yarn tasting today, which featured yarns from Bijou Basin Ranch. I have seen them at Rhinebeck, but their booth is either too full of people for me to get into, or they don’t have any yarn left for me to fondle (or to sell me), which is why the yarn tasting was such a treat!
First I knitted with the Yak/Bamboo blend. It was soft and drapey. The Rep had knitted a Pretty Thing cowl from it (see it in the photo there, just behind the yarn ball?) and it took all my will power not to tuck that Pretty Thing into my pocket and sneak out the door with it.
Next up was the Cormo blend. It was soft, light, and very very smooshy. A hank of it may have found its way into my shopping basket.
Oops. But least I ignored my baser desires and actually paid for it! *laugh*
Lastly, I sampled the 100% yak lace weight. Loved. It. It reminds me a lot of qiviut fiber in that it definitely has that softness, but it’s not quite as pricey and, as such, is much more accessible.
The Rep also brought along a sample of the yak down which had been processed for spinning, but since the shop doesn’t actually carry spinning fiber I wasn’t able to bring any of that home with me. (boo-hoo!) Luckily, it’s available on their website! (yay!)
All in all, I had a really nice time. The shop owner is a lovely woman who you can tell just loves yarn and The Rep was a very enthusiastic lover of all things Bijou Basin. It was fun to sit with them and the other yarn tasters and bond over our love of string! Yay yarn!
Further, a certain knit blogger you know may be teaching a sock class there in March. I’ll keep you posted.
Knitting Interrupted 
I went to a BB tasting at the Village Sheep in December. it was really fun and lovely stuff. came home with a skein of the cormo blend in beautiful pink. will have to pick up a second one in white at Rhinebeck – there’s fair isle mittens done in it in the latest Twist Collective that I must make.
…Yarn tasting? Hm….
I’m so glad you had fun! Also, glad you went even though I ditched ya :)
Sounds like a great event. It’s always interesting to see, touch and try out new fibers.!
Yarn tastings are so much fun! Sounds like you got to try some super yummy fibers, too.