I wrote about the first couple of days at Black Sheep Gathering in Albany, Oregon a few days ago. Here are more photos.

Fleeces on tables at wool sale at Black Sheep Gathering

The significance of this photo is that there is no sign for Class #12, Jacob. By the time I went to see the Fleece Sale, my three fleeces were sold.

Cupcakes made of yarn topped with felted balls to resemble cherries.

Wandering through the vendor hall. Don’t you love these cupcakes?

Sheep tapestry woven with yarn from many breeds of sheep.

This entry was awarded the Black Sheep Cup. Look at the cartoon below to see how many different breeds are represented in this piece.

This is amazing. A vendor was offering a box of roving including roving samples from all these breeds.

Another stunning entry, needle felted by Karen of Liongate Farm in Oregon. (Her farm is where my BFL ram, Peyton, came from.)

The Spinners’ Lead Competition was Saturday night. In the event entrants display and handspun or felted item while leading a sheep that represents the breed from which the fiber came. You don’t need to be a sheep owner—in the past I have provided Jacob sheep for people who want to enter a project from Jacob wool. Everyone gathered outside the ring prior to the event. I’m sharing this photo because it’s the only one that shows the back of my shawl.

These entrants did not make their shawls (collars?) but the designer was there I think. There were other models leading the Valais Blacknose sheep.

I admired this knitted sweater.

Spinners Lead competition at Black Sheep Gathering

The moderator was the same woman who does this every year. She reads the information provided and sometimes asks questions and adds comments. There is a panel of judges who look at the entry before you walk around the ring.

This is my granddaughter’s sheep, Beauty. She is not just a representative Jacob, but the sheep whose fleece I spun. That’s why the shawl is mostly black with just a bit of white. Beauty is a mostly black sheep.

I spun a 3-ply yarn and finished weaving the shawl on the Tuesday before the show. It will be part of my Black and White show at the Artery in October.

Spinners’ Lead is always a fun event. You just need to plan ahead and get that spinning done well in advance.

On Sunday we were released early. The event didn’t close until 4 but they offered to let us go early since we have so far to drive. We took advantage of that and got home at 10:15 instead of 1 a.m. This photo was taken in Oregon where it was still green.

The 1 p.m. departure put us driving through northern California during the hottest part of the day. Of course, our truck is air conditioned but it was hot for the sheep in the trailer. Being from the Sacramento Valley, they are used to the hot temperatures and did OK.