Hi everyone! Sorry to be so silent lately, but it is that time of year when I feel like I disappear – tax season! We are in training mode this month. Last week we had our big regional training. In theory, after 11 years of this, some of it should get easier. But it doesn’t seem to, and I quake at the thought of all there will be to learn and teach next year. But that is next year, not to be worried about until the fall. Glad I am not a programmer for the tax software companies!
Normally during tax training, I get to do lots of knitting. Before I was tapped to do some teaching, I could count on getting a hat (or more) done each day. Now that I am responsible for the afternoon sessions, I don’t get as much done on my knitting, lol. this year I got this much done:

This is my NOVEMBER sock, and the toe had already been completed before Monday. In fact, I think I had done a couple of repeats of the pattern on the foot. Sigh. At least I got something done. 🙂
This year was also different because I had more new volunteers in the group, so I had less time to work on my own tax training (working problems, taking the test) than usual, which meant more time at home in the evenings working on things like that.
But I still found time for some spinning, and I did it – I finished the big spin I started back in July!
I now have MORE than enough to do a sweater in this lovely stuff (2590 yards, to be exact):
You have seen it before, of course, but perhaps you don’t remember. Here are some close ups for you. 😉
I enjoyed finishing that so much that I immediately dug about in my stash to see what was next. I needed to spin something light and easy and DIFFERENT COLORS. It is hard to keep spinning and spinning and having it always look the same. You start to feel like you will never finish.

This is next. It is superwash merino, dyed by Fiber Optic Yarn. I got it last September at the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival, when I remember making a conscious effort to get some different colors. I am so glad I did, as I need a break from my favorite deep blues, purples, greens, and pink. This has enough blue in it that I can live with the colors I don’t care for as much (that would be you, orange.)
I divided the braid into three chunks, totally unscientifically, no weighing involved. I just folded it into thirds and pulled it apart. I then left one third as is, and divided another third in half the long way. Also unscientifically, just started pulling and let it go how it wanted to. Which was pretty evenly, actually. The third section, I divided in half, and then each piece in half again. So it is a fractal spin, but I didn’t worry too much about dividing things perfectly. I am going to spin the divided pieces end to end, and see how the colors come together when plyed in a traditional three ply.
I started with the four section third, and I am surprised at how it is spinning up. Much more green than I expected. And more light, as all the white spaces are pulled into the colors. But I love how the colors come together as I draft, making a marled singles. It should be very interesting when it is all done.

Yesterday was stormy and nasty, so Whorls and Purls annual non-holiday party got shifted to today. That meant that A and I were home together on a Saturday which rarely happens. We puttered about, put more Christmas away. There is always something lingering after you think you got it all. In our case, it was the tree. 🙂 It just had it’s lights on, because we never did finish decorating it, and we were both sad to see it go, but it was time. So we got rid of that, and cleaned up the ensuing mess. A tossed it over the bank near the bird feeders, so the birds will have some cover while feeding. In the spring, I will cart it farther into the woods.
I did some cleaning and puttering in the craft room, putting away Christmas card mess, etc. I did get to do some knitting eventually, and my hitofude sweater appreciated the time.

I do like this yarn and pattern, and so far it is pretty easy. I am making this from yarn I also got in Wisconsin (see, I am being good using up what I got last summer!) and alternating skeins as the dye lots are off the tiniest bit. It is working well, and I think I will get a lot of wear out of this lightweight sweater.
I haven’t gotten to knit on the Durrow, but I plan to this weekend. After all, there is a whole extra day, right? In theory, I should be able to get a lot done tomorrow!
The other big exciting thing that happened this week is that A and I decided that it is feasible financially for me to go to Knit Maine 2018 in September. I had been half planning a trip back to Wisconsin sometime in September, but some of the people I would see there are coming to Maine instead! I was very excited about that, though I will miss the ones who don’t come. So instead of driving for days, I will be the hostess at the end of the summer. I hope we have beautiful weather, so that they can see and enjoy some of what Maine has to offer after Labor Day. In theory, it should still be summery.
In theory.
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