I feel as though I haven’t stopped moving since the Marathon!  A few days later I was on a plane for Vermont, where Cheryl Potter and Donna Druchunas hosted a series of “Dyeing to Knit” retreats.  It was great fun, and I learned a lot.  The participants were very knowledgeable, and I felt a bit a fish out of water in the dyeing class, but I hung in there and learned a lot by listening to everyone and watching them.  I dyed two skeins myself.  The blue/green one is superwash merino sock yarn, and was the first one I dyed.  I realized when I was done that I had chosen colors that looked a lot like the Dreaming of Shetland colorway!  So, for the second attempt, 100% alpaca yarn, I deliberately went in a different direction.  As with everything, dyeing is pretty easy on a basic level.  Dye, meet fiber.  But if you want something in particular, it gets complex really fast.  And, there are a lot of different dye processes.  You have to pick and choose carefully to get beautiful results.  There were some very talented people doing great stuff.  I was just happy to emerge with something usable!

Donna was teaching Lithuanian knitting, but she let me come in and share Annetarsia in the round with her classes.  I shared some samples from Annetarsia Knits, and they got to see a first printed version.  I am sure that they were being polite, but their enthusiastic reaction was very welcome.

While we were busy talking, listening and learning, we also knit!  I took three projects with me, and made good progress on all of them.  Donna had to lend me a needle for the body of the Monomania sweater, because I finished both sleeves.  I also got to see all of the projects other participants were working on, which was lots of fun.

Vermont was beautiful, warm and friendly, but before I knew it, it was time to start the long trek home.  Then I had to face the enormous pile of stuff on my desk from the days I was away, and I have been playing catch-up all week.  When I am home, working on the computer, the cats have been staying close.  They are happy that Mama is home.

Donna gave me some beautiful and thoughtful presents to remind me of the trip.  Jedi really likes the alpaca, and tried to steal it out of the bag!