Costs
Retreat fee $250
Fees have gone up this year to reflect rising prices and to allow us to offer equitable remuneration for the hard work of the women planning and delivering the retreat. We have always made financial accessibility a cornerstone of our retreat and will continue to do so in the future.
Fees cover 2 three hour workshops on Saturday and the following activities:
Friday evening icebreaker and the beginning of our scavenger hunt, followed by knitting circles in the lounges.
Saturday evening Show and Tell followed by knitting circles in the lounges.
Sunday morning knowledge circles where participants will build community and collective knowledge, followed by our annual debrief.
Each evening after the group festivities, knitters gather in the lounges to knit, gab, nibble and share! We are very welcoming to all attendees, new and returning.
Workshops
Saturday’s workshops are included in the cost of the retreat. The optional Friday workshop is an additional $50 plus a materials fee. Participants choose one morning and one afternoon workshop.
Friday Afternoon (optional)
$50 plus a $35 material fee
1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Ice Ice Baby: Ice Dyeing with Molly
Students will have the chance to play with colours, ice and yarn. Create your own magical tie-dye sock yarn and watch your creations come to life. We will use dye powders, ice, magic and heat. Students will have 100g skein of sock yarn to play with may purchase more to dye for an additional cost. Masks will be provided as we want everyone to be safe.
Saturday Morning
9:00 am – noon
Brioche – You’ve got this!
Join Myriam for an introduction to two-colour brioche. Learn the stitches (barks and burps, and shawls too!) unique to brioche knitting and come away with a small project with which to show off your new skills! If you have been wanting to knit some of the popular shawl and accessory patterns that include brioche but have felt intimidated by this stitch’s reputation, you are invited to come and explore in a supportive environment.
Work that Stash with Karla
Did you buy yarn without a pattern in mind? Did you hesitate to buy the gorgeous yarn because you weren’t sure what to knit with it and now you have FOMO? Do you have a pattern in mind and wonder which yarn you could successfully substitute for the recommended yarn? In this class, you will gain the tools needed to maximize your stash and optimize those whimsical purchases. We will explore the pros and cons of different yarns and fibres, what knitted application they are most suited to and how to find the perfect project using online tools like Ravelry, Pinterest and Knit Companion. Learn all the tips and tricks to making Ravelry work for you, the importance of a swatch and some introspection into what you like to wear and knit. There will be no stash shaming in this half day class, only appreciation and love for a yarn collection perfectly curated to the individual knitter. Bring long languishing stash yarns that you want to find the perfect project for and a laptop or tablet and we’ll get you started!
Double Down: Double Knitting with Kathy
This class will start with an alternating cast on and go on to demonstrate a basic 2 colour double knit technique. There are tricks for working a neat selvedge and a bind off to match the start. Double knitting creates a lovely 2 layer fabric where it’s always the right side! Great for clothing and decor. Always a showstopper!
Saturday Afternoon
1:30 – 4:30 pm
Funk It and Fix It with Karla
With the rising cost to our planet by the fashion industry, there is a movement towards ethically sourced slow fashion, Me Made and mended clothing. In this class, you will learn all the techniques to revive your wardrobe from hole-y to holy! Learn techniques in darning such as a woven darn, a Swiss darn and a Scotch darn and applications for each. Hide stains or discolouration with embroidery techniques, or just transform a drab wardrobe piece into your favourite item with embellishments that show your personality. Increase longevity in socks and sweater elbows, add flare to go from blah to boom in sweaters and personalize your wardrobe giving a fresh outlook on items you already own.
Dyeing with Beats with Molly
Music makes the world a happier, boppier place and what’s not better than jammin’ while being creative? We will dye sock yarn and get our groove on with tunes, colours and yarn. If you fancy dyeing more than one skein, more can be purchased at an additional cost. Participants will contribute to the playlist that will guide the dyeing!
Materials fee $35
Double Down: Double Knitting with Kathy
This class will start with an alternating cast on and go on to demonstrate a basic 2 colour double knit technique. There are tricks for working a neat selvedge and a bind off to match the start. Double knitting creates a lovely 2 layer fabric where it’s always the right side! Great for clothing and decor. Always a showstopper!
Accommodations
Join us at the beautiful Sorrento Centre, along the shores of the Shuswap. The grounds of the Sorrento Centre include gardens to lounge in, a variety of accommodation options from camping to single rooms in the lodge, and an opportunity to dip your toes in the brisk spring waters of Shuswap Lake.
Meal service is offered as part of the weekend, but participants can also opt to make their own meals.
All accommodation and food details can be found on the Sorrento Centre website and are paid for at the time of registration for the retreat.
Okanagan Knitting Retreat 