Critical Mass, a mainstay of the event, investigates an attendee at last year’s Fiber Arts Festival. Courtesy: Knit Oxford
A llama named Critical Mass is coming to Oxford. A famous llama, really; Critical Mass will take part in the oldest and longest-lasting fiber arts event in the state, the fifth annual Fiber Arts Festival.
Drawing in an average crowd of a thousand people each year, the Fiber Arts Festival will be taking place at the Oxford Powerhouse today through Sunday. Organized by Knit1Oxford and Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, the festival is comprised of 24 workshops and 16 vendors as well as many children’s activities. Critical Mass, along with goats, rabbits and a few sheep will be out for introduction in the petting zoo at 11 a.m. at the Powerhouse.
“Our featured speaker this year is from Denver, and we have vendors from all over,” said Lynn Wells of Knit1Oxford. “We will also have something called ‘Spin It In A Minute,’ where the vendors get to speak about their craft.”
The vendors come from many surrounding states, including Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Penny Nelson of Sky Loom Weavers in Cat Springs, Texas, has attended the festival since the first event in 2010.
“The first year, everyone was a bit tentative because we didn’t know how many people would show up,” Nelson said. “There were only seven vendors that year, but we were thrilled to have so many people. And every year, it’s gotten bigger.”
Sky Loom Weavers spin, weave and dye by hand. They will bring their finished products to display as well as represent a company out of Colorado called Schacht Spindle.
Denise Bell of Lost City Knits and three year veteran of the festival said there is a common stereotype among “non-knitters” that isn’t quite true.
“Walk down an aisle of greeting cards, and you’ll spot a cartoonish lady knitting,” Bell said. “Here’s the thing – sure, there are old ladies who knit, but it’s not like they just learned, usually. It’s what has stuck with them and what they always loved to do.”
Bell said knitting has become a pastime for many age groups.
“Google ‘Yarn Bombing’ for some punk knitters,” Bell said. “Basically, knitting or gardening or playing guitar or writing … it all just stems from our desire to create. The Knit1Oxford Fiber Festival is one group of people getting together to celebrate this particular art. Young people, especially, are hammered with marketers wanting to sell them things. Festivals such as this one celebrate making.”
Bottletree Bakery, Bourè and Square Books are some of the draws of coming back to Oxford, Bell said, but familiar faces both at Knit1Oxford and at the festival are a great perk.
“Because we’ve been coming for several years, I’ve been able to see students who I taught lace classes to walk in wearing a lace piece they’ve made, maybe even one of my patterns,” Bell said. “Everyone feels better wearing something they’ve made and know they look good in. That’s the best thing here and anywhere Lost City Knits takes me.”
Wayne Andrews of the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council said the festival all started with an exhibit at the University Museum on quilts and quilters.
“We wanted to coordinate a program for local quilters,” Andrews said. “The original plan was to have workshops, but then we added exhibits and animals. We went from zero to 60. It was a huge success.”
That success wouldn’t be possible, Andrews said, without Knit1Oxford.
“Knit1Oxford really stepped up. Lynn and Patsy are great; they are great partners.”
