It's the Saturday before Mother's Day, and that means it's the first day of the summer market season for the Burlington Vermont Farmer's Market. But in spite of it the fact that this is the best (and currently only) place I've chosen to sell what I make, I opted not to be there today. Instead, I'm here at home engaged in something I call 'condiment' work - otherwise known as 'catch-up'.
It's a tough call ( literally - calling in to say I won't be at market causes me great consternation). Most of my customers know that my being there depends on the weather. And while missing an opportunity to generate income can certainly have a negative impact on my business, the risk of damage to my product is an even greater concern.
It's sort of ironic that one of the reasons certain fibers and fabrics are so desirable is exactly why I choose not to put what I make 'out there' when the weather is wet. That's because the fibers I most enjoy working with - cashmere, cotton, silk and wool - are really good at absorbing moisture.
This characteristic can be appreciated by anyone who's worn a cotton or silk shirt and felt cool and dry on a hot humid day or someone who's been able to stay warm wearing a wool sweater even after getting soaked in the sleet or snow.
But it's not such a great thing when I need to find a way to get yards and yards of yarn and fabric thoroughly and completely dry after being exposed to high humidity. Whether they've actually been rained on or not, the fibers become heavy and damp, fabrics lose their shape and there is a very real potential for damage from mold and mildew after a day 'out' in wet weather.
So, to all the folks I didn't get a chance to greet today - I hope to see you soon. The extra time I've been here at home instead of at market means I'll have another 'something' finished and on display next week.
And just a reminder - if you're buying (or selling) wool by the pound, you might want to consider whether or not the 'dry' weight is used for pricing.
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