More from the Retreat Fashion Show

Here’s a showing of the garments modeled in the Shawls, Stoles, and Scarves category.

Several of us have knit the La Alhambra stole design that Debbie is modeling. we have knit it in different colorways making them all unique

Debbie modeling her La Alhambra stole- a design from MaggiKnits and she knit with MaggiKnits Cotton, Linen, and Misty Slub. This stole is joined together with buttons making it sit on your shoulders much like a poncho. The beauty of this garment is that you can wear it several ways...just as Debbie is in the photo...you reverse it...or you can have it drape off your shoulder.

Linda and her capelet. The pattern she used was Sivia Harding's Aphrodite. The yarn used was 2 skeins of Lorna's sock yarn (430 yds.) for the main color. The trim was done in 1 3/4 skeins of Frog Tree alpaca sport (130 yds. per skein). Sivia's pattern does not have a neck closure but Linda added a crochet loop closure.

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Gwen with lovely shawl

Karen in her lovely shawl. the design is a free pattern on Ravelry called Percy. She used South Winds Trading Jezebel, which is a lightweight fingering.

Ruth's shawl.The pattern was the Luna Moth Shawl and the yarn was Misti Alpaca, worsted weight. Ellen and Ruth used the same pattern and brand of yarn, but different weights.

Darlis - a beautiful stole that was once displayed in my shop! The pattern is Stitch Half Circle by Martha Waterman, in her book Traditional Knitted Lace Shawls.

Ellen's shawl - The Luna Moth pattern is free from elann.com and Ellen knit her shawl with Misti Alpaca Handpaints in DK wt.

The Rest of the Fashion Show

This year’s retreat fell on Eleanor’s husband’s birthday…and he joined for the weekend. He was such a good sport…he read while we were in workshops……he modeled not only a sweater for Eleanor…but one for Alice….and he also showed socks. Yeah Nick!

More fiber details will be posted on photos later today.

Mary Tudor from Alice Starmore’s book Tudor Rose & and the yarn used was Jamison’s Shetland Spindrift. I, Carolyn, have to say that Carrie did a beautiful job of carrying the yarn – floats were perfect!

The detail of Carrie’s sweater

Betsy used Brown’s Sheep Cotton Fleece to knit this Melissa Leapman design.

Betsy modeling her cotton fleece sweater…doesn’t she look just too cute!

Rachel and her “therapy” sweater

Gwen knit this sweater for her son a few tim….sizing, buttonholes, zipper….and it turned out beautifully.

Everyone should have a gray sweater and Erica does! The info: Hourglass Sweater by Joelle Hoverson from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts The yarn used was Patons Classic Wool (itty-itty-scratchy-scratchy

Enjoying the fashion show

Kela’s bag…isn’t it great!

The detail of Kela’s bag

Nick modeling a design knit by his wife Eleanor

Nick was a good sport and modeled the sweater that Alice knit for her son. She was diligent in working through the cable pattern.

Back to Friday night at Retreat

I see two or three more posts coming re: our recent Skein Lane Retreat – more about Friday evening…..check Kimberly’s blog for a detailed account of the classes – Estonian Lace Knitting and Flatter to Fit….the Saturday night customer fashion show….the Sunday morning mentoring session…and more of our goodbyes.

Jan and her yarn love affair ..it was angora!

Marlee and Mimi have such wonderful yarns to offer. And most of us walk with a yarn or more purchased. Jan had an immediate love affair. And seeing Jan, don’t you just want to jump into this photo with her.

And then there was Diana….she came as a guest of her sister Karen….who wanted to share the weekend with her. Diana was not a knitter when she arrived on Friday evening. Before the evening was over she had purchased yarn for 5 projects, wound yarn and started knitting later that evening.

Diana - the beginnings of a knitter

Diana is going to knit

Saturday at the Retreat

View..early morning on the way to breakfast

I love Saturday mornings at retreat…we’re settled and a new day is beginning. For me, an early riser, I often get to see the sun rise. On this particular Saturday, there was a little fog in the early hours (6:45 am) and I loved it…a sense of calm before the day’s activities began. I love breakfast and in the “country” setting it is even more special…strong coffee, good food, and early morning conversations with friends and knitters.

After breakfast we headed off to our class rooms for our 3-hr classes…1/2 of us to Knit to Flatter and Fit by Sally Melville and Estonian Lace by Nancy Bush.  (I encourage you to look at the class review by Kimberly at Craftini.) Two of us headed off to Buck Hall to set up for the evening events…the customer fashion show as well as a showing of yarns from Skein Lane...this year the offerings were MaggiKnits yarns. More about those yarns in a future post…I have several projects that I want to share with you.

After our classes…we had a little time to wind down before heading off to dinner. Then we were off to the Customer Fashion Show at Buck Hall. Participants are invited to show their knitting in categories and those were: Shawls, Stoles, and Scarves; Sweaters; Accessories; Sweaters and Jackets; and Blankets and Afghans. I believe the greatest showing was in the category of Shawls, Stoles, and Scarves.

There were many beautiful shawls…and the first to be featured is that of Terry….one of the photos was at retreat….and the close ups were taken at Saturday  morning Skein Lane Knitting Workshop. It is truly a beautiful garment. The yarn, a mohair blend from Art Fibers, worked up beautifully in this Faroese Shawl pattern featured on page 38  in Shawls and Scarves from XRX.

A close up of the detail appears first. I know after I tried it on I want to knit yet more shawl…it was stunning and what a great drape! Have to say that these photos don’t do justice to the beauty of the garment…but trust me, it’s beautiful. I heards lots of oohs and aahs both at retreat and knitting workshop.

The detail

Terry modeling the shawl for her future daughter-in-law

The Shawl from Terry

Carole modeling Terry's beautiful shawl

It’s Halloween!

Oh….that Friday knitting group….what a hoot they are (in so many ways I might add).

First Barbara arrives donned in jester hat and mask….then I remember it’s Halloween! Barbara is followed by Jan who arrives with a boa and her cat glasses…..she brought the boa for the Purl girl Kimberly.

And along came the handy”man”.

Trick or treat to all!

Mimi and Marlee

Mimi and Marlee

Saly and Nancy enjoying the Mimi and Marlee “show”

Kimberly and Marlee

Marlee and one of her one-of-a-kind designs

Susanne modeling a Marlee design

Marlee and Eleanor

Karen and her scarf

Margaret with her squiggle scarf

Debbie with Marlee and Mimi

The shopping frenzy!

More on the retreat

We began checking in around 3pm….headed to our rooms, some of us found lounge chairs overlooking Tomales Bay, we sat, and we knit…and we then came together for our first meal.

Think I really indulged on Friday evening. Had fish and barbecued ribs….both of which were delicious!

Sheri and Cameron

Susan, Eleanor, Nancy and Nick

Sally and Kimberly

Our first dinner

After dinner we headed off to Buck Hall, the main conference meeting room, where we had several events….a “dog and pony” better described as wool and sheep show by Marlee of Black Mountain Weavers and Mimi of Windrush Farms. We surprised both Marlee and Mimi with a fashion show of what we had knit with previous purchases from them. Those photos will follow in the very next post.

Our Retreat Instructors

Nancy and Sally are the best! They are terrific instructors……and a joy that they are good friends. Here they are!

Nancy Bush and Sally Melville

Photo compliments of Bonnie Baskin…thank you Bonnie!

More about the Skein Lane Knitting Retreat

There are so many people who make this event successful….the participants…the people who help behind the scenes (and sometimes in front of the scene) – to name just a few….Kimberly, Emily, Susanne, Diane, Debbie, Margaret….oh, the list goes on….and to all those who help the break-down be so smooth and efficient. And many thanks to Marconi Conference Center.

Tomales Bay

There are at least two of us reporting on this past weekend…check out Kimberly’s Craftini as well as  Facebook where comments are appearing.  And Bonnie and I will be updating Raverly soon.

Oh my goodness…my girl puppy thinks she can knit…I just found her with a couple of skeins of MaggiKnits linen. She doesn’t realize that this yarn is better if you only use one skein, at a time, instead of two!

The retreat began for me on Thursday evening as I headed for the Oakland airport to pick up Sally (Melville). She flew in from Ontario via Denver..her plane was 1 1/2 hours late. For her it was 1:30 am when she arrived. We met, moved quickly from the airport and headed for Kimberly’s home where she graciously offers a private room with bathroom in her home for Skein Lane Studio visiting teachers. Thank you again Kimberly!

On Friday morning the contingency of Kimberly, Sally, Sheri, and Jan – headed off to Marconi Conference Center with a planned stop in Pt Reyes Station. At the same time I picked up Nancy (Bush)  at the same airport that I traveled to the night before – Oakland – her flight was on time (I was late) and we headed off to meet Kimberly’s caravan for lunch at The Pine Cone Cafe in Pt Reyes. Next stop – Marconi Conference Center.

We, as knitting retreaters, were extremely fortunate to have the unusual and wonderful blend of these two national knitting instructors for our annual knitting retreat. Nancy offered Estonian Lace and Sally offered Flatter to Fit. I believe we all walked away with new knitting skills and knowledge.

I have been a fan and friend of both of them for years. I have such fond memories of my first retreat with Nancy at Whidbey Island some 10 years ago….and I became aware of Sally when I attended a TNNA show in San Diego some 10 years ago as well. I took one class and then groveled to get into the rest of them…I got three out of four. I admire and respect both of their knitting styles, have learned so much from them, and include many of their tips and teaching in my own teaching.

The retreat started officially on Friday evening with Marlee of Black Mountain Weavers and Mimi of Windrush Farms giving us their “dog and pony” show as I like to call it…but more seriously it is a presentation of fibers, design, sheep, and farm life. I am in awe of both of these women and what they accomplish in the world of fibers as well as being people that you want to know. We then reaquainted  ourselves…old friendships and new friendships.

At this retreat Nancy taught Estonian Lace and Sally taught Flatter to Fit. We concluded on Sunday morning with a mentoring session that both mentored. Nancy has recently published Knitted Lace of Estonia and Sally’s most recent book is Mother-Daughter Flatter to Fit.

More to come….but in the meantime here are a couple more photos.

Some of the group

Sally, Tabitha and Betsy

Knitting Retreat 2009

We’ve just returned from our Skein Lane knitting retreat weekend at Marconi Conference Center just north of Pt Reyes Station. Earlier this morning as we knitting retreaters gathered for our concluding session with our instructors – Sally Melville and Nancy Bush, I had energy that I thought would continue through the evening….imagine me thinking I could do a full report of the retreat this evening! But I can say it was such a wonderful weekend of learning with Nancy and Sally as well as the coming together of  old and new friendships. Here we are saying our fond and silly good byes. There will be many photos to share throughout this coming week. And stay tuned for upcoming news about what’s in store for next year’s retreat….we are already in the planning stages.

Farewell