Kristin Nicholas Classes at Leyden Glen Farm

The Day Before Rhinebeck - 2011 - A Beginner Fair Isle and Steeking Day at Leyden Glen Farm

2011-09-13T11:57:00.000-07:00

I'm trying something new this year. Last spring, I scheduled to have a tour group here at the farm just before the annual "Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival." The name of the tour was "The Road to Rhinebeck" and it was a literary and knitting tour. Sounded great! I was glad to be included. Unfortunately, with the state of the current economy, the trip didn't fill. I was left with a free day on my hands.

Rather than moan about the loss of a day's work, I have decided that I will take this as an opportunity to have a special ONE DAY RETREAT here at the farm on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14th. Here's what I have in store for 10 lucky knitters......

Fair Isle and Steeking One Day Retreat

at Leyden Glen Farm

Friday, October 14, 2011

10 a.m.

Arrival at the Farmhouse

Tour of the colorful cape style home and a sheep farm tour

11 a.m.

Casting on for Fair Isle

Using double pointed needles

Learning how to follow a color-work chart

1 p.m.

Farm Lunch

2 p.m.

More Fair Isle instructions and knitting

Sewing and cutting a STEEK!

5 p.m.

Class Departs

You are then free to run off to NY State or spend the night near here. Here is a list of accommodations which are closely situated to our farm. Spend the night here, get an early start and you'll be Rhinebeck before you know it.

How good a knitter do I need to be?

You can be a beginner-ish knitter although you must know how to knit and purl. Fair Isle knitting isn't difficult - it takes patience and time to become good at it.

What is the cost?

$195 includes a goodie bag, instructional hand-out, a Farm Lunch, coffee, tea, seltzer and luscious snacks to keep you knitting. Hands-on help all day long. You will leave knowing how to work with two colors in a row, knit in the round, and having completed a steek on my sewing machine.

What else should you bring?

Two balls of worsted weight yarn in a dark and a light color. You will need to bring a set of size 7 double pointed needles with you and your regular knitting accessories (stitch markers, scissors, etc.)

Where is Kristin's Leyden Glen Farm as compared to Rhinebeck?

Our farm is located about 125 miles from Rhinebeck, the home of the New York Sheep and Wool Festival. (I have driven it and can do it in about 2 1/2 hours.) We are the last town in Massachusetts, just south of the Vermont line, 15 minutes off of Route 91 at Greenfield. We are two hours west of Boston, 40 minutes north of Springfield, MA, and one hour north of Hartford, CT.

Now mind you - you do not need to be going to Rhinebeck to take this class! If you are an interested knitter who wants to learn how to knit Fair Isle with two colors so you can make the projects in my books, this class is for you. The class is being held on a Friday so it may involve you either taking a vacation day or calling in to your job with some awful illness (I won't tell, I promise).

Come with a friend or by yourself. I guarantee a nice day in the country, near grazing sheep, in my colorful studio! Knitting, knitting, and steeking.

To register, go to this page! If you have any questions, feel free to email me.

And lastly, if you and your knitting friends would like to organize your very own retreat here at the farm, e-mail me and I can set this up. I have several weekends available this fall and winter and can teach you very easily during the week if you can make it. I need a minimum of 5 students and maximum of 10. If you would like to discuss classes I teach, e-mail me at knATkristinnicholasDOTcom.

Celebration of Color, Flowers, Knitting and Stitching Class

2011-01-15T09:16:00.000-08:00

These are some photos from the 2010 Celebration of Color, Flowers and Knitting Class. Almost all of the projects were made by my students.

Come and "Get Stitched" at Kristin Nicholas' Leyden Glen Farm

2011-01-15T09:15:00.000-08:00

Kristin Nicholas announces a new series of intensive and inspirational Knitting and Stitching Weekend Classes being held at Leyden Glen Farm, her family’s sheep farm and farmhouse in western Massachusetts. Classes will be held throughout the year in the antique cape farmhouse, in her studio, and gardens. Come and experience a weekend on a working sheep farm with one of North America’s most well-known handknitting designers.

See the main Knitting Retreat Website HERE!

•Sheep Grazing at the Front of the Cape House which was built in 1751•

A very small group of dedicated, creative knitting enthusiasts is invited to share Kristin’s inspirational farmhouse space while learning her knitting and stitching techniques. Participants will be inspired by Kristin’s hand-painted walls, her library full of knitting, stitching and art books, her ethnic and historic textile collection, and the antiques and ceramics that decorate the family’s home.

•The Dining Room with Kristin's Hand-Painted Walls•

•The Library with Kristin's Hand-Painted Walls•

The participants will get to enjoy the screened-in porch, the hammock strung between two apple trees, the Adirondack chairs, and garden spaces while breathing in the surrounding hillsides, abandoned apple orchard, grazing sheep, farm kitties, Border Collies, and chickens. Roosters will crow, sheep will baaaah, dogs will bark and cats will purr. A memory will be made that you can keep for the rest of your life. Kristin is creative, funny, down-to-earth and you’ll love her energy and joie de vivre attitude towards knitting and life.

•The Screened-In Porch during the Summer•

•Sheep Grazing the Pasture Below the Hills•

•Chickens Roosting•

About Kristin Nicholas
Kristin’s home and needlework has been featured in many magazines including Country Home, Country Living, Better Homes and Garden’s Embellish, Vogue Knitting, Family Circle Knitting, Knit Simple, Knitter’s, House and Garden and more. Kristin is a Knitting Expert on PBS’s Knit and Crochet Today and has appeared as well on Martha Stewart Living (February 2004). Kristin is the author and/or illustrator of 8 books including Kristin Knits, Knitting the New Classics, Colorful Stitchery and the her newest book Color by Kristin (Sixth and Spring, November 2009). Kristin lives with her husband Mark Duprey and daughter Julia at Leyden Glen Farm in western Massachusetts. Her family will also participate some in the weekend's festivities.

Class Size
Class size is limited to six participants. Everyone will get plenty of time to ask lots of questions while soaking up the artsy, farmhouse atmosphere. Sign up as soon as you can, as space is very limited.

What is the Cost of the Weekend?
$500 for the two days of total immersion in knitting, stitching, or fabric decoration which includes lunch and dinner on Saturday, lunch on Sunday and snacks and beverages on both days. This cost does not include accommodations.

To learn more about Kristin Nicholas, visit her website.
Kristin is the author of the popular blog Getting Stitched on the Farm.

2011 Class Schedule

2011-01-15T09:00:00.000-08:00

October 1/2

Autumn On a New England Sheep Farm - Knitting and Stitching Immersion Weekend. TWO SPACES AVAILABLE FOR THIS CLASS AS OF 9/13/11.

Visit Leyden Glen Farm when the autumn leaves are turning gold, red, orange, and bronze (nature permitting). See growing lambs grazing in the pastures. This class is for anyone from advanced beginner to experienced knitter. The Weekend includes two days of knitting, stitching and color instruction, a farm tour, a hayride, two lunches, and one dinner.

Class will include Steeking, Fanciful Edgings and Embroidery on Knits. Students will bring have a "sunflower homework pillow-top" which they will bring with them.

Students will also produce samplers similar to these:

What is Included:
All two day Weekend Retreats include two lunches, one dinner, a hayride, instruction, and a goodie bag. Class size is limited to six students. Lodging is not included. Click here for suggestions for local lodging.

Fair Isle and Steeking One Day Retreat

at Leyden Glen Farm

Friday, October 14, 2011

See more information here!

NEW FOR 2011! SPECIAL CLASS OPTIONS AVAILABLE!
If you would like to bring your own group of six to eight friends to Leyden Glen Farm, Kristin will be happy to set up a custom class for your own group of friends! Please e-mail her with your desired date and she will get back to you with the availability of the farm and studio. This is a great opportunity for a group of friends or a small faction of a knitting guild to have a very special creative knitting, stitching and color experience. Kristin can also teach other textile crafts, including Fabric Printing, Fabric Painting on Lampshades, and Decorative Painting on Walls. Bring some friends and Kristin will build you a custom class!

Leyden Glen Farm is available for one day Knitting Guild Visits Classes and Special Workshops for Yarn Shops. WOW your customers or guild members by bringing them to Leyden Glen Farm for a very special day of learning about color, knitting and stitching. Please contact Kristin via e-mail or phone for further information.

E-Mail Kristin at kn AT kristinnicholas DOT com for further information.

Click here for registration and payment. Click here for Cancellation Policy.

For further information, see the main "Get Stitched on the Farm with Kristin Nicholas Website" here.

Registration and Payment for Classes 2011

2011-01-14T09:00:00.000-08:00

Payment in full is best made by Paypal.

AUTUMN AT LEYDEN GLEN FARM

KNITTING AND STITCHING RETREAT

OCTOBER 1/2, 2011
TWO SPACES AVAILABLE AS OF 8/16/11

Click below to register and pay for the entire class fee ($500) for the OCTOBER 10/11, 2011 Knitting + Stitching Retreat at Leyden Glen Farm.

FAIR ISLE AND STEEKING ONE DAY RETREAT

OCTOBER 14, 2011
TEN SPACES AVAILABLE AS OF 9/14/11

Click below to register and pay for the entire class fee ($195) for the OCTOBER 14, 2011 Fair Isle and Steeking Class at Leyden Glen Farm.

If you want to take one of the classes and do not choose to pay for the class via Paypal, you can send a check. Please e-mail Kristin immediately to request a Registration form by e-mail. Send the form with a check to the address which will be found on the form. If you have any questions, you may contact Kristin by e-mail and she will either answer your questions or call you.

Kristin's e-mail is: knATkristinnicholasDOTcom

Farmhouse Rules and Need To Know

2010-02-01T17:00:00.000-08:00

Leyden Glen Farm is a working sheep farm and artist’s home. Please do not expect perfection and suburban looking tidiness. We try our best but things happen. We don’t have a gardener or housekeeper - the two of us do it all ourselves. Along with raising farm animals, comes all kinds of extra bonuses such as manure, mud, and bugs. Our cats and dogs are in the house and out. If any of these things may make you uncomfortable, please re-consider enrolling.

The house and studio is set up on three floors. The farmhouse was built in 1751 and is a working farmhouse. It is not handicapped accessible. This is real life here and it is charming but it surely isn’t as picture perfect as it looks in magazine photos and in most people’s minds.

First off, Leyden Glen Farm is a working farm and farmhouse. Please do not wear fancy clothing, including white pants. When you leave, they certainly won’t be white anymore! Sundresses, shorts, and blue jeans work best. In the summer, bring a sweater or a shawl because evenings can be chilly.

This is a real farm and there are lots of animals. There are working, jumpy Border Collies. There are sheep and chickens. We have nine farm cats that go in and out of the house. There is often a litter of kittens. If you are allergic to cats or dogs, this probably isn’t the class for you.

Fences are there for a reason and many are electrified. Please heed them. If you want to take a walk through a field, please check with Mark or Kristin.

Private spaces of the farmhouse are not open to class attendees.

Our water comes from a farm well. Wasting of water is not allowed, otherwise we may not be able to flush the toilet.

There are a lot of hills and valleys around our house so flat shoes, preferably sneakers or “Merrell-type” footwear is advisable. Look down while walking.

Please leave your cell phone in your car.

What you’ll need to bring:
Bug spray
Sunscreen

If you have special dietary restrictions, we will need to know. This is a private home and we cook with nuts, eat meat, and drink cow’s milk. If you don’t, that’s fine too, just know we do.

Homework:
You’ll need to bring an 8 x 8” swatch knit in stockinette stitch knit of worsted weight yarn. Bring matching needles and several colors of contrasting worsted weight yarn (part balls okay).

If you would like to bring your own collection of Kristin’s books for her to sign, please do so. She would love to sign them. Many of her books will be available for sale and takeaway.

What’s not included:
Transportation to and from the class and your lodging. If you are flying, you’ll need to rent a car at the airport. You should print out the Directions to the Farmhouse and bring them with you. You can find them here.

Sorry, at this time, we are not offering half or day classes. Weekend workshops only. Check back in case things change.

Lamb Sales
You’d like to take away a whole or half frozen lamb when you leave? We can make arrangements! Make sure to bring a cooler for the lamb to transport it. See our Leyden Glen Lamb website for pricing.

Smoking policy
Smoking is NOT permitted in the farmhouse, on the porch or in the classes. However, you may smoke outdoors away from the house as long as you bring your smoking remains inside and put them in the trash.

Is Internet Access available?
No, we have dial-up. You wouldn’t even want to try. Cell phone service seems to work somewhat but we prefer that you leave your cellphone in your car.

What is the Cost of the Weekend?
Cost: $500 for the 2 days which includes lunch and dinner on Saturday, lunch on Sunday and snacks and beverages on both days.

Cancellation Policies

2010-02-01T16:30:00.000-08:00

If you must cancel your participation in a class, your class fee will be refunded except for a $100 cancellation fee. You must cancel your attendance 60 days previous to the date of the class.

In the unfortunate event that Kristin Nicholas should have to cancel a class for any reason, all fees, including deposits, will be fully refunded. The costs of any travel arrangements you may have made will not be reimbursed.

Note that if a class does not have a sufficient number of students, it may be cancelled .

How to Get to Leyden Glen Farm

2010-02-01T15:30:00.000-08:00

•The Studio•

Flying
Hartford’s Bradley Airport is 1 hour and 20 minutes from the farm. Several major airlines fly in and out of Hartford.

By Car
Leyden Glen Farm is two hours west of Boston, 1 1/2 hours north of Hartford, and 3½ hours north of New York City. Find driving instructions here.

By Train
The closest Amtrak station is Brattleboro, VT or Springfield, MA. Arrangements can be made for pick-up at either of these locations. It has been announced that Greenfield (the closest town) will have Amtrak service in 2012! Won't that make things easy?

By Bus
The closest bus stop is Greenfield, MA. Arrangements can be made for pick-up at the bus station and transportation to your B&B or hotel.

Google Maps and Mapquest don't get you to Leyden Glen Farm so make sure you print out the directions before leaving home. The phone number to the farmhouse will be included on your registration form. Please bring it with you on your trip in case you get lost and need help finding the farm.

•The Dining Room with its Painted Walls•

Where To Stay

2010-02-01T15:00:00.000-08:00

Here are some B+B’s and hotels that are conveniently located to Leyden Glen Farm.

Note that B + B's fill up fast during summer and fall. The Pioneer Valley is a popular place to take a vacation and there are several private schools located in the Valley. We suggest you make a reservation as soon as you decide to attend so you won't be disappointed.

Bed and Breakfast

Closest B + B to Leyden Glen Farm:

House on the Hill
Donna and Alain’s lovely inn has 4 rooms (some can be shared if two knitters come together). The House on the Hill is only 3 miles from the farm and 1/2 mile from our sunflower field.
Please mention the Kristin Nicholas Knitting Retreat when registering.

330 Leyden Rd., Greenfield, MA 01301
413-774-2070

15 to 20 minutes from Leyden Glen Farm:
Brandt House A beautiful old mansion with lovely porches, gardens and grounds, this small inn has many rooms that can be shared and even a penthouse which can fit 3. There is a total of 9 rooms. There are many public spaces in which to knit and visit. This Inn ia close to downtown Greenfield and about 15 minutes from Leyden Glen Farm. Please mention the Kristin Nicholas Knitting Retreat when registering.
22 Highland Drive, Greenfield MA 01301 800-235-3329

20 minutes from Leyden Glen Road:
West Winds Inn A small inn (6 rooms) set into the side of a hill with an amazing view of the Pioneer Valley.
151 Smead Hill Road Greenfield, Ma 01301 Phone: (413) 774-4025

A Little further afield but lovely....

Shelburne House B&B
Owned and operated by Elaine Hinze, this lovely antique B&B is close to the Mohawk Trail and about 25 minutes from Leyden Glen Farm. Although the home is old, the amenities are completely up to date and very comfortable.
Please mention the Kristin Nicholas Knitting Retreat when registering.
413-625-9955

For those who prefer a “regular” hotel

Greenfield:
Quality Inn
Just off the Rt. 91 Rotary in Greenfield, the Quality Inn is about 15 minutes from Leyden Glen Farm.
125 Mohawk Trail
Greenfield, MA 01301
(413) 774-2211

Brattleboro:
For those who prefer a town location, Brattleboro, Vermont is an artsy town about 25 minutes from Kristin’s farm. Here we suggest:

Latchis Hotel
50 Main Street- Brattleboro, VT 05301 (802) 254-6300 | (800) 798-6301

What Can My Spouse/Traveling Partner Do While I Knit?

2010-02-01T14:30:00.000-08:00

If your spouse (or non-knitting traveling companion) will be coming with you, there are many things for he or she to do while you are knitting. Check out the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Website for all kinds of outdoor activities including hiking, fishing in stocked streams, white water rafting, and more.

The Pioneer Valley is rich in history. It is home to Historic Deerfield and many schools and universities including Northfield Mt. Hermon, Deerfield Academy, Smith College, Mt. Holyoke College, University of Massachusetts, and Hampshire College.

Shelburne Falls is very close by where you can visit The Trolley Museum, The Glacial Potholes, and The Bridge of Flowers.

Northampton is a great "small" city to explore and it is only 35 minutes from our farm and 20 minutes from Greenfield. Knitters know it as home to Webs, America's largest yarn store and Northampton Wools but there is so much more there including the Smith College Art Museum and lots of great restaurants and stores.

Spouses will be able to attend the Saturday night dinner and the closing Sunday lunch for an additional fee. Reservation is necessary in order to accommodate them so please let Kristin know when you return your registration form.

Here's What Students Thought About Their Weekend!

2010-02-01T13:30:00.000-08:00

Kristin’s "Getting Stitched on the Farm Weekend" was not just about the color of yarn you picked to stitch on your swatch, it was about all of the color that encompasses Kristin and her family's life on Leyden Glen Farm that was shared with myself and the other attendees. It does not get any more colorful then that. When can I go back?
C.D., Roslindale, MA

I loved the small class size. It let us all get to know one another and to talk to Kristin, both individually and as a group. It was such a great opportunity to learn from someone who has a passion for art in so many different media, who lives and works with the creative process every day.

Color without fear...that's what kept running through my mind while I was absorbing Kristin's home, her knitting, and her art. I left on Sunday with lots of vibrant color ideas to warm a whole winter's worth of knitting.

It's just a swatch! That was our class mantra. By the time class ended, we'd cut it in half, trimmed off an end to fringe, lopped off the bottom part and added new edgings, and embellished the remainder with all sorts of embroidery stitches. In Kristin's hands swatches aren't just about gauge; they're about design.

While watching out for all the technical constraints, Kristin primarily thinks of knitting as an opportunity to be creative. It's very liberating to think that way; patterns become guidelines or the seed of a project you can really make your own.

S.R., Albany, NY

Kristin taught us to open our eyes and use what you see around you in your knitting, showing us many examples and getting the creative juices flowing. Kristin is a master at embellishing. She’ll knit a bit of fair isle or intarsia then go back to it and embroider/embellish/duplicate stitch it to the point of absolute beauty. She really taught me that much like film making, the post production is as important as the pre and actual production. She got me thinking more about knitting in stages rather than all at once. A very valuable lesson. I was sad to pack up my knitting bag, bid farewell to all the animals and our wonderful hosts. It really was a family affair and I so enjoyed the company of Kristin, her family and the wonderful knitting ladies I bonded with over the weekend.
T.G., Jersey City, NJ

To see more some of the comments and see students' photos about the Inaugural "Get Stitched on the Farm" Weekend, check out these blog posts below:

Pug and Yarn

Where is Susan Knitting?

To see Kristin's photos of the first weekend, click here.

Sunflower Knitting and Stitching Weekend 2009

2010-02-01T13:00:00.000-08:00

The Sunflower Knitting Stitching Immersion is over. It was a great success in my eyes. I was able to merge the students' ideas from the first class in August to improve the experience. And now I have another whole bunch of students' comments to make next years' weekends even better. Here are some scenes of what we did.

We started out the day with a tour of the farm and farmhouse and a slide presentation called "The Joy of Color." After the slide show, I handed everyone some clippers and we all went outside to find a natural object of beauty to translate into a colorway. It was a beautiful day - quite warm and the leaves were just beginning to turn. My garden and the fields around our house have begun turning the lovely autumn shades that I love so much. The students walked around - really looking at the plants that are around our house and trying to find a few they found colorfully stimulating. This was a great success. As the sheep and donkey grazed and the guinea hens raced around after bugs, the knitters clipped away. We came back in on the porch and got to work making several colorways of yarn for future projects inspired by the natural object they found outside. I don't think they would have had quite as much success or fun if they weren't in our farm setting.

Here are just a few of the colorways they came up with......
In the afternoon, after a wonderful lunch prepared by my friends Linda and Alice, we steeked, fringed, and stitched the day away. Here are the little samplers they made.

There was no rest. The Farmer brought his tractor with a haywagon attached to it and we left on a hayride. I supplied everyone with a wooly blanket and we were off. Here's the gang enjoying the view to the south and west from the top of the hill near our house.
On the way back, we stopped to check on the sheep who were grazing a nearby field. The dogs did a little herding demonstration.

We dined on leg of lamb from our Leyden Glen Farm in our painted dining room and spent the evening sharing knitting stories.

Early on Sunday morning, we met at the sunflower field and picked sunflowers for the students to take home. It really is fun to walk through the field of blooming flowers - especially this field which is full of so many different varieties.

Sunday, everyone worked the day away on their Sunflower Pillow Project. They all had learned a lot on Saturday and I know that they left with the skills to finish their project when they return home.

Thank you Nancy, Karen, Bonnie and Faith for making the trip to the farm. We all had a great time sharing our place with all of you.

Announcing a New Kristin Nicholas Class at Leyden Glen Farm

2010-01-30T14:52:00.000-08:00

Kristin Nicholas is excited to announce a new class being added to her "Getting Stitched on the Farm" class series. Entitled "A CELEBRATION OF COLOR AND FLOWERS - KNITTING AND STITCHING IN THE GARDEN." This new class will be held the weekend of August 14/15, 2010.

Day One - August 14, 2010
9 a.m. Morning Arrival
Quick Tour of the Working Sheep Farm with Kristin's husband Mark aka "The Farmer"
Color Lesson - A Hands-On Learning to Work with Color Kristin's way
Flowers as an inspiration - Pick your own bouquet from Kristin's Cutting Garden

Noon-ish - Farm Inspired Lunch

Afternoon Session:
Flower Examination and Translation into knitting

Dissection of floral shapes and learning from flowers

We will then spend the rest of the afternoon knitting, crocheting and felting flowers.

6:00 Hayride with The Farmer - Fabulous Views, beautiful scenery, riding on bales of hay on the back of a wagon. A memory forever.

7:00 Dinner of Farm Raised Lamb and lots more.

Day Two - August 15, 2010
Early Morning (optional) - Tour of the Sunflower Field and picking if in bloom

Morning at the Farmhouse
Embroidered Flowers

You will learn several embroidery stitches that can be added to your flowers or stitched onto linen with tapestry wool.

Demo of transferring a design to fabric for stitching
Late Morning
Begin working on your chosen project whether it be a sculptured knit pillow or an embroidered pillow.

Noon-ish: Another Farm Inspired Lunch

Afternoon
Continuation of working on chosen project with hands-on help from Kristin
Demo - How to print floral themed fabric by Kristin

Departure - 5 p.m.

You will make this pillow or something similar to it depending on your skills and colors. There is required homework which you will be supplied with when you register. You must bring many of the knitted components with you in order to make good progress on the pillow. If you choose not to do the homework, you are still welcome. Just know you will not leave with a finished pillow.

To pay for the entire class:

The cost if $500 and you can find out more about it here.

Classes on the Farm Coming Soon!

2009-05-28T06:48:00.000-07:00