But before I get to the recap, did you see the newest issue of Cast On magazine? I have a pattern in this issue, plus an article! Introducing my Up and Down Cable Socks:
These are worked in The Fibre Studio at Yarns to Dye For ‘Studio Sox’. Color Silver Lining.
Worked cuff-down, and written for two sizes. Charts included.
My article in this issue is on Darning Hand-Knits, and has loads of photos accompanying it, you should check that out too! (You have to be a member of the TKGA to access these. Membership is $25 for the year, and you get access to current as well as past issues and content. Plus a monthly newsletter, too! It’s a great value at $25, honestly.)
On to my recap of the Unwind Getaway Retreat that was April 25-29 in Blowing Rock, NC!
I was a participant/teacher this year. I was not supposed to teach (this would be my third year in a row and Nancy and Sue don’t like to have teachers three years in a row – they – smartly – like to mix it up!). BUT, they had such high registration numbers that the one class was way too big – and since I was coming as a participant anyway, they asked me to teach one session. I love teaching, so I happily said yes! And being a participant, I actually got to take a couple of classes, too!
I took Twined Knitting with Jeffrey Wall, and Portuguese Knitting with Mimi Kezer. I had taken twined knitting with Beth Brown-Reinsel several years ago, but then I didn’t do anything past the class sample, so I thought a refresher course would be a good idea. It was a good class! And I finished my tiny little mitten sample by the end of the weekend – so cute!
I’ve been intrigued by Portuguese knitting for a while, but never tried it, so that was a great class too. My tension using this technique is drastically tighter than normal! It would be good to try it out on things that need tighter tension, like ribbing and seed stitch.
I taught Double Knitting, and all my students seemed to get the hang of it really well!
I bought yarn from ‘The Yarn Guys’:
(Malabrigo in Matisse Blue, Black, and Ravelry Red; and Wooly Wonka sock yarn in Brocade. Those will be a Wonder Woman shawl, and I’ll share that in a day or two. Plus two skeins of Biscotte Yarns: Bis-Sock.)
(I also was gifted a skein of Miss Babs yarn to play with – and I have cable designs swirling in my head and can’t wait to try some ideas out with it!)
I had an info table the one night, with all my Master Knitter notebooks and samples:
I also ate at several places – and all the food was glorious! At Bistro Roca I had the NC Mountain Trout, and omg was it delicious!
Each night, our hostesses had happy hour before dinner – one suite hosting beer and wine, and one suite hosting tea. So much fun.
A group of us went into town the one day and visited the Mast General Store, and then ate at a bbq place, The Peddling Pig. (awesome bbq! so good!)
Here are all of my purchases (or door prizes/gifts) from the weekend (except for the yarn above):
(See my tiny twined knitting mitten?! So cute. Also, who else had Charles Chips delivery growing up?? OMG, they taste just like I remember! Yum!)
And despite meaning to, I didn’t get out into the town to take pictures of the town and all the flowers that were blooming and such. Oh well. But I had loads of fun seeing friends I’ve made over the last couple of years, and making new friends. If you ever get a chance to go to the Unwind Getaway retreat, don’t hesitate to sign up (and sign up fast, because they filled on DAY ONE for this year!) It is really such a well done retreat. And even if you arrive alone, you will leave with about 50 new friends. 🙂
Overall, I had a blast and I’m hoping I can attend again next year!