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Posts Tagged ‘Skein Lane Retreat’

Just recently Debbie, a Thursday night knit workshop knitter and a regular Skein Lane retreater, shared her most recent excitement. She just purchased a home on the coast that she really…really wanted. The first thing to share here is that the clincher that closed the deal. Debbie is the kind of person who is quite financially sound and has chosen not to have credit cards. This  actually created a challenge for her lenders to the close the deal…they were looking for info about her payment patterns. She called me in a panic and requested a letter saying that she had been a customer of Skein Lane for a number of years, paid her bills on time, and had no outstanding balances. (All of which is true!) Can you believe that the letter from her knitting enabler was the decisive factor in granting her the property loan? Go Debbie!

More about Debbie….she is an avid crafter. She knits, beads, spins, dyes…that is just a bit that I know. Her excitement about fiber arts is so inspiring….I still am enjoying her glee when she was  sharing  her fiber arts experiences at our recent retreat. I am in awe of how much Debbie accomplishes…not only does she craft at the handcraft (not homemade) level, she “runs” a school and finds time to spend with her husband.

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Debbie sharing her dying results with her teachers - Marlee and Mimi

Debbie has given me permission to post her latest sentiments. ” All in all a great collection of photos and precious moments at the retreat. The pleasure of knitting and crocheting has brought so many special moments into my life as well as the very amazing beach house soon to be filled with fiber art projects and accomplishments. Thank you so much.”

Debbie so warms my heart! And now thank you to Debbie.

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Sally, Carolyn, and Nancy

So long until next year! Sally, Carolyn and Nancy

 

We are so fortunate – Sally and Nancy are returning for next year’s retreat….same place – Marconi Conference Center and the date is Oct 1, 2 & 3.

We are considering adding an extra day…let us know your thoughts.

You can sign up now at the Skein Lane website or call 510.525.9276

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It was the night before retreat and a call came from Ariane…”I know this is a last minute question…but would there be any space available for the retreat?” As it turns out we had one unfilled bed. And what a joy to have Ariane join us. I was fortunate enough to share a room with her and Carrie.

Here’s Ariane’s show and tell …. her own private fashion show. The pattern came from a class that she took…she will tell us more…the yarn was Knit One, Crochet Too, US dk 100% wool.

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Ariane

Skein Lane Retreat 2009 103

Ariane - the detail

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Bonnie was one of the attendees at our recent Skein Lane Retreat. There are many reasons why it was such a joy for her to be there…one of which is that she brings  inspiration wherever she goes.

We met, four or five years ago in my retail knitting shop,  about a year after she was in a serious automobile accident.  She was (and still is) a young vibrant working mother who was driving to work early one morning on an East Bay country road …I believe she had at least two jobs and a young son that she was and is raising. Her car went off the road and hit a guardrail…and that guardrail  severed her leg and then pressed against her body and saved her from bleeding to death.

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Nancy and Bonnie

She now works with seniors, teaches dance, performs, and knits while she raises her son! Here is she is with Nancy Bush  at our recent retreat showing the yellow socks project that was featured on Ravelry.

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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 La Alhambra

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

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

Gwen with lovely shawl

Karen in her 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

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.

Darliss - a beautiful stole that was once displayed in my shop!

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

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

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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.

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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

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 new knitter

Diana - the beginnings of a knitter

Diana is going to knit

Diana is going to knit

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The great outdoors!

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

The detail

Terry modeling the shawl she knit for future daugther-in-law

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

The Shawl from Terry

The Shawl from Terry

Carole modeling Terry's beautiful shawl

Carole modeling Terry's beautiful shawl

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

Nancy and Sally

Nancy Bush and Sally Melville

Photo compliments of Bonnie Baskin…thank you Bonnie!

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