AUGUST 4, 2012 CELEBRATION OF COLOR + FLOWERS FOR KNITTERS AND CROCHETERS

CELEBRATION OF COLOR AND KNITTED + CROCHET FLOWERS
Saturday One Day Retreat
August 4, 2012

This one day retreat will awaken your creative knitting and crochet juices. Knitters and crocheters are welcome. First thing, we will hop right into learning about color and how to combine colors effectively and fearlessly. You will learn how to see color, how to combine colors, and how to work with colors. We will take our inspiration from nature and from art. You will learn how to use these techniques when designing your own projects later in the day.

You will need to complete some homework you will receive upon registration to get the most out of your day at the farm. This class is not for beginners but is for knitters and crocheters who have basic skills and the desire to learn.


Using the knitting or crochet homework that you bring with you, you will learn how to build your own flower creations. Depending on your skill level and speed, you may learn how to create your very own flower design. You will be able to bring your projects home to felt them or we may felt some of the projects if time allows. This will be a creative and fun day spent in a lovely setting and you will leave excited to try more of the techniques out when you get back to your very own home.

Here are some projects which use flowers and you will be able to use the flowers you make in similar projects.

Pillow with attached felted sunflowers

Napkin rings made from flowers

A grapevine wreath adorned with felted flowers

Class includes farm lunch, hand-outs, some supplies, and a goodie bag.
Arrival 10 a.m.
Departure 4:30 p.m.
Cost: $225 
Spaces still available.

Class is sold out. Please email me to be put on the waiting list!
Click below to pay $225. Refunds can only be made up to the 60 days before the class date for one day retreats. There will be a $20 bookkeeping fee for any refunds.
Payment may also be made by credit card via telephone. Please email me with your phone number and I will call you at time suggested to take your credit card number. Email: kristinnicholas AT gmail DOT com


If you want to make the day into a weekend, check out the local places to stay here. 
The Pioneer Valley is full of wonderful wool-inspired businesses. Extend your stay with visits to a few of the places listed here. 


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


For further information, see the main "Get Stitched on the Farm with Kristin Nicholas Website" here.
 
The following photos show projects that past students have made at a Two Day Flower Retreat. 

SEPTEMBER 15, 2012 FAIR ISLE KNITTING AND STEEKING

Saturday One Day Retreat
September 15, 2012

This is a great class for knitters who want to learn how to knit in two colors. You will learn how to:
1. Knit on double pointed needles in the round
2. Knit with two colors in the same round.
3. How to make a steek.
4. How to cut a steek.
5. How to sew in a separating zipper.

There is a small bit of homework necessary for this class. You will be sent instructions to make two small garter stitch pieces which we will use to make this cute little bag.

You will need to bring size 6 or 7 double pointed needles.  My gorgeous Color By Kristin yarn will be provided.


Morning Session: 

We will begin with sewing in our zipper and making our cute little bag. When we are done with this little project, we will move onto our how-to session on knitting in the Fair Isle technique. You will learn how to follow a chart and how a chart is developed. The swatch below was made with Fair Isle Knitting worked in the round with a steek that was cut. You will make a piece similar to this swatch (although not this big nor complicated).

Fair Isle Steeked Swatch

As the afternoon progresses, we will continue our Fair Isle Knitting. Each student will then learn to sew and cut their own little tube, thus making it into a piece of flat knitting. This technique is the "dreaded" steeking technique that so many knitters fear. I promise - I will hold your hand!

Class includes arrival snacks, farm lunch, hand-outs, two balls of Color By Kristin Yarn for your Fair Isle Swatch. and a goodie bag.

Arrival 9:30 a.m.

Departure 4:30 p.m.

Cost: $225

If you want to make the day into a weekend, check out the local places to stay here. 

The Pioneer Valley is full of wonderful wool-inspired businesses. Extend your stay with visits to a few of the places listed here. 

Click here for registration and payment information.

Click here for Cancellation Policy.

As of September 9, there are currently 8 spaces available. Class is limited to 10 students.

For further information, see the main "Get Stitched on the Farm with Kristin Nicholas Website" here. If you have any questions, call 413.774.6514 or email kristinnicholasATgmailDOTcom.

SEPTEMBER 29/30, 2012 WEEKEND RETREAT

Autumn On a New England Sheep Farm

Knitting and Stitching Immersion Weekend

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.

You will leave incredibly inspired and you will never think of your knitting the same. To read past student's comments about their experiences on Kristin's Weekend Retreats, click here. 


You will be supplied with a couple homework assignments to bring finished which will be used in the course of the weekend.

DAY ONE: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Morning: 
Farm Tour and Introduction
Tour of the Farmhouse
All about Working with Color 
You will learn how Kristin sees color and how you too can become confident when working with color in your knitting and stitching life.

Afternoon: Embroidery on Knits
You will learn to embroidery on your knitted creations. You will bring a knitted homework swatch with you and you will decorate it similar to the swatches in this photo:

Late Afternoon: You will have time to relax in the garden or on the porch before we take off on an old-fashioned hayride. Enjoy a cup of tea or a glass of wine while you visit with other students. 

Dinner: Dinner features our farm-raised grilled Leyden Glen Lamb and other seasonal bounty of the Pioneer Valley. You will be treated to stories of the agriculture and area by Kristin, Mark and Julia. The dinner is always such a special time of the retreat where there is lots of laughter and fun. Spouses or traveling companions are welcome to the dinner.

DAY TWO: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Morning: Steeking

Students will bring have a "Fair Isle sunflower homework pillow-top" which they will bring with them. During the Steeking Segment, you will sew and cut your own steek and learn to how to pick up around the edges. You will begin your mitered edge.

 
Afternoon: Fanciful Edgings and Wrap-Up
You will learn all about colorful edging treatments like these:

What is Included:
Sept 29/30 Weekend Retreat includes 
Two lunches on Saturday and Sunday
Saturday evening hayride with The Farmer 
One Saturday evening dinner
    (Traveling partners are welcome for an extra charge)

Full instruction and hand-outs
Goodie bag. 

Class size is limited to six students. 
AS OF JULY 26, 2012 THERE TWO SPACES AVAILABLE.

Total Cost is $500
Lodging is not included. Click here for suggestions for local lodging.

Click here to go to the Registration and Payment Page. 

To read past student's comments about their experiences on Kristin's Weekend Retreats, click here.