I can’t believe Knit U. has come and gone already. It felt like we had been planning for and anticipating this weekend retreat forever, but once it started it just flew by! So it is with mixed feelings that we write this post – happy because it was an amazing weekend full of knitting, learning and laughter, but also sad because we have to wait a whole year for the next one.
Twenty of us arrived at Springbrooke Retreat Centre on Friday afternoon. There were some familiar faces and friends from past Knit Social retreats as well as lots of new attendees, including two mother and daughter teams and a pair of friends who had traveled all the way from Florida for Knit U!
After a wonderful afternoon snack (a special thank you goes out to Marion, our host and chef, because without her amazing food our retreats just wouldn’t be the same), we played a group knit trivia game which awarded our retreaters a beautiful custom dyed skein of yarn from Two Tigers. Then it was down to business as we we settled in for our first class with Kate Atherley.
If you haven’t taken a class with Kate yet (aka Wise Hilda and Knitty’s technical editor), I highly recommend that you do. She is an excellent teacher: patient, warm and also quite hilarious. Plus it seems she knows everything. I feel like a much more polished and confident knitter after taking Kate’s workshops on Sizing & Fit, Finishing Skills, Fixing Mistakes and Yarn Knowledge this weekend. Seriously -I think I could even tackle steeking without stress now. Thank you Kate!
Amanda at 88 Stitches
Other highlights of the retreat include: an epic Show and Tell session on Friday night which showcased some stunning knitting triumphs and hysterically funny disasters; our “White Elephant” gift swap featuring items graciously donated by Sweet Georgia Yarns, Jane Richmond Designs, Raventwist, Kattikloo, Cooperative Press, Ancient Arts, and Rain City Knits; the quote of the weekend “If you find two sheep stuck together in the rain, you know what they’ve been doing” and of course our annual pilgrimage to 88 Stitches. We love this store. The owner, Sue, is so friendly and generous – everything was specially discounted for our exclusive shopping night plus she served us yummy snacks and wine, and she gave us all lovely goodie bags as we left. 88 Stitches is also the home of Melissa of Sweet Fiber and Judy Marples of Purl Bumps, who set up a beautiful trunk show for us.
Melissa of Sweet Fiber
I think some of the most coveted items this weekend were Heather’s sassy tee shirts…
Look at all of these amazing knitters! Thank you ladies, it wouldn’t have been the same without each and every one of you. Thanks for coming to Knit U. You all graduate with flying colours.
Thanks for the wonderful retreat and these great photos!
Great post! Fabulous weekend! It was wonderful to see old friends and meet so many new friends. I absolutely learned so much from Kate Atherley, and yes she is pretty funny as well as smart and talented.
Amanda and Fiona, thank you so much for knowing what we need as knitters who want to have a break and for providing us the opportunity to learn and talk and gossip and kibitz with others who speak our language!!
Laurie