2011 Knitter's Review Retreat
November 18-20
Inn on the Lake
Canandaigua, NY
Update: The retreat is fully booked. We regret that the event is not open to the general public. If you'd like to be notified when 2012 details are available, you can subscribe to a special mailing list here. We'd love to have you!
Below are the details about the 2011 Knitter's Review Retreat to give you a taste of the event:
Welcome to the 10th-annual Knitter's Review Retreat! This year we take up residence in the charming lakeside town of Canandaigua, New York, just a skein's throw from the water's edge at the Inn on the Lake.
The KR Retreat is a special gathering that mixes inspiration, learning, play, and low-stress downtime with other knitters. Just the right blend of people, vendors, and activities makes it a weekend that leaves you feeling relaxed, inspired, and welcomed as part of a new knitting family. This year we are extremely happy to be joined by special guests Cookie A, Cat Bordhi, Ann Budd, and Anne Hanson.
How It Works
The Weekend Retreat runs from November 18-20 and includes an excellent workshop, evening programs and unfettered access to the stash lounge, the decadent Saturday afternoon marketplace, delicious meals, a steady flow of tea and coffee, and a comfortable bed on which to rest your head every night.
For those who wish to arrive early and enjoy a full extra day of activities, including an additional workshop, we also offer the Thursday Extension, which begins the afternoon of November 17th.
Please note that no part of the event is open to the public.
What We'll Do
The weekend agenda strikes a balance between programmed time for learning and sharing, and unprogrammed time for relaxing and playing. Highlights include:
A choice of four Saturday morning workshops:
Meet Kitchener stitch head-on and overcome your fear, whether it's used on stockinette stitch, reverse stockinette stitch, garter stitch, 1/1 ribbing, or even the tubular bind-off. Who better to teach you than Ann Budd, the ingenious author, designer, teacher, and the very same person who managed to teach me how to conquer Kitchener years ago. Through working samples and learning tips, Ann will show you how to laugh in the face of this too-often-dreaded grafting stitch. Skill: All.
When this new heel emerged on Cat Bordhi's needles not too long ago, she thought she was dreaming. A renowned sock designer, teacher, and incubator of unexpected knitting discoveries, Cat had done one small thing she'd never thought to try before, and suddenly this smooth, round, clean heel existed. The heel’s shape resembles a tomato’s clean curves and is pleasant to work, can be toe up or top down, in stockinette, heel stitch, in a twisted stitch variation, or even with a small intarsia motif.
Once you understand the process, you'll be able to apply it to any sock of any size, and understand how to proceed without written directions. In this workshop, you will learn to knit a Tomato Heel, how to fit different kinds of feet, how to work the variations, and be inspired by lots of design ideas. You'll even learn how to use the Tomato Heel method for shaping sweaters, hoods, and other garments. Skill: Intermediate to advanced.
Ribbing adds such delightful snugness and elasticity to all sorts of things, from sock cuffs to the wrists of mittens, the necks and wrists of sweaters, and even the brims of hats. But not all stitches and patterns flow equally into ribbing—and each time a pattern is re-sized, the transition from pattern to ribbing will look different.
In this class, Cookie A teaches you how to find the perfect ribbing to go with any pattern (even one that calls for something else), taking into account everything from gauge to lace and cables and all sorts of other pattern types. This class will give you clever tools you can use when making hats, sweaters, socks, you name it.
Everything Anne Hanson does is stunning. Not only because of her brilliant talent for design and execution, but because she always takes the time to block her pieces for a truly professional look. This class offers an in-depth foray into the world of blocking, showing both the wet and steam techniques using various blocking tools and pattern schematics.
While she'll focus primarily on working with wool, she'll also discuss other fibers as well. You'll learn about choosing a blocking method, choosing tools, why blocking is important, blocking and fiber, and the effects of blocking on a finished piece.
Thursday Extension
For those who wish to make a long weekend out of it, our Thursday Extension fits the bill. This smaller gathering begins with a reception on Thursday afternoon, followed by an evening program and in-depth workshops running Friday morning and into the early afternoon.
Choose from one of four classes:
How Much Does It Cost?
Weekend Retreat
$595 single
$480 double (per person)
$450 per person *triple
$420 per person *quadruple
*These options are available for friends only, as these rooms have two double beds.
Lodging is in attractive non-lakeview motel rooms that feature complementary high-speed wireless Internet, a coffee maker, hair dryer, iron and ironing board (for last-minute blocking, perhaps?), and an in-room safe if you want to secure those Signature DPNs.
Note: The inn also offers a limited number of lakeview rooms for an additional $40 per night, including tax. Please email me after your registration is confirmed if you would like to pursue this option.
I'm happy to match you with a roommate, or you can specify a roommate on your registration form. Please make sure your intended roommate sends in his/her form at the same time as yours—I am unable to hold rooms for missing roommates.
This rate covers all classes and activities, two nights' lodging, all your meals from Friday dinner through Sunday lunch, snacks and beverages throughout the weekend, plus all taxes and gratuities.
Thursday Extension
An additional $300 single
An additional $230 double
An additional $200 *triple
An additional $190 *quad
If sharing a room, both roommates will need to be registered for the extension. The fee covers everything—meals and snacks, lodging, and all programming.
*These rooms are for friends only, as they have two double beds.
This rate covers all additional classes and activities plus one night's lodging, Thursday dinner, Friday breakfast and lunch, snacks, and all taxes and gratuities.
Bringing Family
Non-knitting partners, spouses, friends, or children are welcome as long as they promise not to distract you from your fun. Violators will be deprived of their dessert and forced to learn how to knit.
We regret we are not able to accommodate children under 12 without a non-participating adult caregiver, as childcare is not available. Well-behaved nursing babies are always welcome, but once the child is a toddler, it will need a non-participating caregiver.
The cost for adult non-knitting companions sharing a room with a participant is $370 for the weekend, or $530 with the Thursday extension. This includes lodging, meals, snacks, and all taxes and gratuities.
Getting There
The nearest airport is the Greater Rochester International Airport, served by all major airlines including Jet Blue. From Rochester, our inn is a very easy 40-minute drive to the hotel. Need a ride? Check the forums once your spot has been confirmed. Albany is three-and-a-half hours away, New York City just a little over five-and-a-half hours—or 27 minutes by plane.
What to Do Nearby
For those who enjoy a bit of the grape, Canandaigua is in the heart of the Finger Lakes Wine Region. In fact, right next to the inn is the New York Wine and Culinary Center, with a Tasting Room that offers samplings of New York's top wines. And for those who like to get out and stretch their legs each day, a paved walking trail runs along a good length of the lake.
Got Goodies?
Are you a vendor who'd like to contribute something tempting to our goodie bags? Please email retreat@knittersreview.com and we'll be in touch.
Thank you so much for reading. I hope to see you next year!
 Read about previous retreats: |
| 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 |