After this week of radio silence, I do feel the need to state, unequivocally, Black Lives Matter. If you are able, I hope you will donate to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund or the Black Lives Matter Global Network, or another local or national organization that is fighting the injustices black people, here and all over the world, have to deal with everyday. That’s not the only way to help or do the work, of course, but it’s a start.
I just wrapped up another virtual fiber event. This one was the Virtual Fiber Retreat, the replacement for the annual Fiber Retreat usually held in New Hampshire. Of the other virtual fiber events I have participated in this year, I think this one took the most advantage of the virtual platform.
The classes were prerecorded, and we participants get to keep those videos forever. No frantic note taking during a live lecture that I have to pay half attention to during work hours. I could take these classes at my leisure, and knit while I soaked in the information. If I need specifics later, I can just access the videos.
This retreat also had its own private Facebook group, so we could all interact with each other. This is what I felt was sorely lacking at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival and Vogue Knitting Live. It wasn’t very active, but I think that had more to do with current events (it just didn’t feel right to be posting about knitting at that time, honestly) than the platform itself.
Finally, it did have a lovely marketplace, not near as large as Maryland or VKL, but to that end it was way more manageable to peruse. Of course, I found a couple of things I couldnt live without, including a custom-dyed kit, so I’ll come back to those later.
Overall, it was a super relaxing, educational time. Of course, a real-life retreat would have been better. Being home, I still felt obligated to complete my adult obligations, like cleaning, cooking, and grocery shopping. But since that wasn’t an option, this was a fine substitute, and I am happy I participated.
FahrOut Fiber Adventures 