What’s Included?

Lodging at the UMass Hotel and Conference Center

All of your meals from Thursday night’s Welcome Dinner through Sunday breakfast with Keynote Speaker, Franklin Habit

Late-night get-togethers with snacks, desserts, and cocktails! With plenty of time to meet up with friends or make new knitting buddies, and lots of to see, feel, and buy!

Two days of classes on Friday and Saturday with some of WEBS Fall Knitting Retreat the most talented knitting instructors September 24 - September 27, 2020 Transportation to WEBS for an exclusive WEBS Knitting Retreat is a weekend of After-Hours Shopping Spree on Saturday evening. fiber, friends, food & foliage! We’ll be welcoming knitters to the beautiful Pioneer Plenty of fun surprises , giveaways, and Valley of western Massachusetts for a inspiration throughout the retreat weekend of classes, late-night knitting, after-hours shopping sprees and more. If you’ve been waiting to make a pilgrimage to America’s biggest yarn store, now’s the time to make your move! Instructors Hotel UMass

We have some of the most Enjoy cozy comfort and deluxe talented instructors sharing accommodations at Hotel their expertise this weekend! UMass, our home base for the weekend. Fabulous, fresh Shopping, Sponsors, and Swag Edie Eckman meals and snacks, nooks for Xandy Peters knitting and a ‘late-night On Saturday night, you’ll enjoy a trip to WEBS. Gayle Roehm lounge’ with desserts, drinks, Shuttles will take attendees to a shopping spree at WEBS, America’s Yarn Store. The icing on the Carson Demers and a chance to knit and talk cake is that whatever you buy, you will get Sarah Solomon knitting with those who FREE SHIPPING! And in case you can’t make a Franklin Habit understand your fiber passion. decision on Saturday evening, the store will be open to shoppers on Sunday, and again, FREE SHIPPING!

Our sponsors will make your weekend as unique and luxurious as possible starting with giveaways and sumptuous swag bags. They will also be on hand Saturday night at WEBS with trunk shows, reps and designers ready to show you their most popular and garments.

Pro Tip: Feel free to give yourself some down time during your stay so you can recharge your batteries and fully enjoy yourself during the retreat! Teacher Bios

Edie Eckman Gayle Roehm

Edie serves as a technical editor for yarn Gayle Roehm is a former management companies and independent Xandy Peters consultant who now devotes herself to publishers and writes columns for Creative knitting and other fiber arts. She teaches Xandy Peters is a knitting designer and Knitting magazine. She has taught at Stitches nationally for knitting events, guilds and yarn teacher, best known as the innovator of the events, Vogue Knitting Live, The National shops. Her designs have been featured in stacked stitch technique and for her Fox Paws Needlearts Association, The Knit & Crochet Knitter’s, Interweave Knits, A Gathering of pattern. Starting out as a footwear and Show, Midwest Fiber & Folk Art Fair, New York Lace, and other publications. She also sells her product designer, Xandy turned to knitting as State Sheep & Wool Festival (Rhinebeck), Fall work at a fiber arts gallery. Gayle has traveled a way to explore textiles and surfaces without Fiber Festival (Montpelier), and other national throughout the world, lived in Japan, speaks using factory production. She has since made venues. Her articles and designs have Japanese and has knitted with Japanese a career out of knitting, publishing new appeared in many yarn company publications designs for many years. She is the translator of patterns monthly and teaching workshops and magazines. Edie is the author of Every the Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible and 250 across the country. Xandy has been published Which Way Crochet Borders, Christmas Japanese Knitting Stitchesby Hitomi Shida, in magazines such as Vogue Knitting, Twist Crochet for the Hearth, Home & Tree, Connect Japanese Knitting by Mchiyo, Keiko Okamoto’s Collective, Knitscene, Knitty, and Pom Pom the Shapes Crochet Motifs, Socks to Knit for Japanese Knitting Stitches, Wonder Crochet, Quarterly, but continues to self publish most Those You Love, Around the Corner Crochet and three more upcoming books. She of her work. Xandy also blogs about design, Borders, The Crochet Answer Book and Beyond published the first information in English crafting, and baking on her blog the Square Crochet Motifs. about Japanese patterns in 1997, she soimakestuff.com prepared the Japanese section for the book Knitting Languages, and she translated patterns for Diakeito Yarns/

Sunrise Fibers. Teacher Bios

Carson Demers Franklin Habit Sarah Solomon Author of the book Knitting Comfortably: The Designer, teacher, author and illustrator Sarah Solomon is a knitwear designer, writer, Ergonomics of Knitting, Carson Demers is a Franklin Habit is the author of It Itches: A and teacher based in New York City. In addition physical therapist who operates an Stash of Knitting Cartoons. His book, I Dream to her self-published patterns, her designs and award-winning ergonomics program for a San of Yarn: A Knit and Crochet Coloring Book, was articles have appeared in Interweave Knits, Francisco medical center. Every other moment published in 2016. He first became known as Knitscene, knit.wear, Pom Pom Quarterly, and the writer of The Panopticon, one of the most he's knitting, spinning, designing, teaching, or Vogue Knitting, and in collections by yarn popular knitting blogs on the Internet. otherwise up to some fiber fun - always with a companies large and small. She enjoys teaching Franklin’s varied experience in the fiber world watchful eye toward ergonomics. His passion traditional techniques of all kinds, including includes contributions of writing and design to and experience in fiber arts combine with his Vogue Knitting, Yarn Market News, cables, colorwork and twisted stitch knitting, as expertise in physical therapy and ergonomics Interweave Knits, Interweave Crochet, well as modern garment construction with a to create a unique skill set that he eagerly PieceWork, and regular columns for particular emphasis on details and fine finishing. shares with the fiber community to keep us all Knitty.com, PLY Magazine, Lion Brand Yarn, She teaches regularly at Purl Soho and Annie & creating healthfully- and comfortably - ever and his popular “Fridays with Franklin” feature Co in New York City, as well as at retreats and after. Carson teaches at knitting, spinning, and for Skacel Collection. Franklin lives in Chicago, knitting events around the country. In her design other fiber events throughout the US. He loves IL, cohabiting shamelessly with 15,000 books, work she enjoys creating pieces grounded in to teach at local yarn shops and guilds. He has a Schacht spinning wheel, 3 looms, and a tradition but suited to modern life, using written articles for TNNA and other colony of yarn that multiplies whenever his exceptional yarns to make garments and publications, and is a regular contributor to Ply back is turned. accessories that are knittable, wearable, and magazine. designed to last. Edie Eckman Classes Xandy Peters Crochet for Knitters: Add skills to your knitting toolbox! Center Out Knitting: In this class we will look at 3 different Knitters can appreciate the use of basic crochet cast on methods for center out projects. We will try out techniques for edgings and finishing details. This is a Gayle Roehm different arrangements and types of increases to build basic how-to class for those who have little or no Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible Exploration: From easy different shawl, blanket, and scarf shapes. By the end of crochet experience. Learn basic crochet stitches, get a to brain-bending! We'll start with a stitch pattern the class, students will feel confident using these cast on taste of a granny square, and quickly review pattern from JKSB that gives you a lot of “bang for the buck”: methods to create center out accessories and add stitch reading. it’s lovely and relatively easy to knit. Then we'll move and color patterns to various shapes.

Intarsia Without Fear: Many knitters avoid patterns on to other stitch patterns with more challenge: Knit Your Own Adventure: In this class we will create requiring blocks of color work, fearing that the many patterning on both right and wrong sides, knot colorwork, texture, or lace using parametric (rule based) different looks that can be achieved with this technique stitches, twisted stitches, complex combinations and guides instead of restrictive instructions. We will discuss are too difficult. Not so! and its baby cousin, some unusual maneuvers. You’ll get lots of practice how to create unique and unrepeatable stitch motifs and duplicate stitch, will be conquered in this with Shida’s style and with the charts and symbols. By colorwork based on anything from the roll of dice to the hands-on class. We will learn when to choose the the end of the day, you should feel comfortable number of steps you take in a day. We will also go over intarsia method vs. fair-isle, how to avoid holes, how to working any of the patterns from the book, and using techniques and accessories that combine well with handle multiple colors in a row, and what to do with all them in your own designing. different parameters to produce stunning results Each those ends student will work on a swatch or mini shawl in class.

Five Fun Fabrics : Furry, fun, flappy and funky—learn Intro to Stacked Stitches: This introductory class will five unusual stitches to add pizazz to your knitting! See enable knitters of all levels to try out the technique in a how fur stitch, cluster stitch, shirring stitch and flap swatch and become confident working patterns that stitch can be incorporated into your projects. Not for incorporate stacked stitches. We will focus on mastering beginning knitters. the and stitches and learn several strategies for avoiding problems and fixing mistakes. UnLearn to Knit: You learned the rules: Put your needle in this way, wrap your yarn that way. Now unlearn those Learning Stacked Stitches with the Fascination Wrap: In rules to gain control of your knitting. No matter how this class students will start a stacked stitch project and long you've been knitting or what your knitting style, learn this exciting technique in a way tailored to fit the understanding the structure of the and mindset of a lace or stranded colorwork knitter. We will how the stitches are related to one another is the key to cast on a scarf or swatch and discover how each row of becoming an expert knitter. We'll have fun exploring stitches fits together to form a flat fabric. We will learn what it really means to take a length of string and turn it how to move markers, keep track of stitch count, and to fix into a fabric. If time allows, we'll even "knit back mistakes in a stack pattern. We will also learn to weave in backwards"! You'll leave class with the confidence and ends at the end of each color stripe to save time during ability to fix mistakes, take shortcuts, and be the master finishing. of your stitches. Carson Demers Classes Sarah Solomon Sticks and Strings (6-hours Class): Do you know that Full-Fashioned Shoulder Shaping: In this class we’ll discuss Franklin Habit choosing the right needle for your project is the most the architecture of full-fashioned shoulder shaping, The Knitted Plaid: An All-Day Color and Pattern Workshop: important decision a you’ll makes about your project? practice working fully-fashioned decreases and learn how If the prospect of mixing colors gives you the fidgets, but Knitting needles have evolved to make work easier – if to convert a regular set-in sleeve pattern to use this you've dreamt of putting together your own complex color you pair them correctly with the yarn and stitch pattern shaping. schemes for projects, this full-day class is for you. We’ll you’re knitting. Paired incorrectly, and you’ll work much begin with an invigorating dive into practical color theory Circular Bavarian Twisted Stitch Knitting: This class uses a harder than you need to. Poor yarn and needle pairing for knitters (neither as dry nor as daunting as you fear), and cowl project to demonstrate how to read a chart for this can lead to muscle and eye soreness, and even injury. also bring the idea of color inspiration firmly down to earth. type of knitting as well as how to work the stitches in the This class teaches you what to look for in a needle to Then we’ll put those ideas to work, using a little-known but round. We will begin by using a cable needle to cross the minimize the strain on their body. You’ll knit a variety of very beautiful method for creating a knitted plaid/tartan stitches but we will also practice working in the traditional stitch patterns with a variety of needles and yarns. fabric. There will also be a discussion of the history of manner, without the use of a cable needle. Bavarian

tartan fabrics–where they came from, how they are woven, stitches are some of the most refined of all the traditional KnitRx: Knitting is not a “no pain, no gain” activity. Yet and how to imitate woven tartan setts with the knitted stitch patterns and well worth adding to your repertoire. many of us take better care of our favorite stash fiber technique. By popular demand, this workshop has been than we do the fibers that allow us to knit—our bodies. Uncontinental Knitting - Efficient and Pleasurable Knitting newly expanded to a six-hour format to allow more time for Tired muscles, sore joints, and aching backs and necks with the Right Hand: This class will demonstrate how to explanation, experimentation, and reviews of student needlessly plague too many knitters. This class will teach knit comfortably and efficiently with the right hand, projects. You can learn to design your own color schemes– you fun ways of “fiber care” for the most important focusing knit and purl, but also taking into account how the all it takes is a little knowledge, a little practice, and a little project you make—YOU! Don’t let the preventable keep right hand method is used for cabling, colorwork and other playfulness. Pre-requisites: Fluency in the basic techniques you from doing what you love. Knit on, safely and pattern styles. We will practice tensioning the yarn in the of knitting. comfortably! hand so that the yarn is never dropped between stitches, discuss the use of helper fingers and work on keeping a Socks Unraveled: Making socks should be as comfortable Sunday Keynote Speech constant supply of stitches at the needle tip. as wearing them. But many sock knitters have aches and by Franklin Habit Handknitter’s Double-Knit Buttonband: Learn the basic pains creating their fantastic footwear. This class explores recipe for a double-faced stockinette band with matching risks and remediation for knitting socks from yarn to “Oh, Dolores!” and find out how to apply it to almost any needles, cuff to toe, increases, decreases, and lots of cardigan pattern. We will also cover how to determine stitches in between. It might help answer the age old buttonhole placement, the best ways to attach buttons and question– “am I a toe up, or cuff down sock knitter?” the use of backing buttons and thread shanks to improve

the longevity and performance of your button band.

Class Schedule Retreat Schedule

Thursday, September 24th Friday, 9:00am-12:00pm Sticks and Strings (all day) Carson Demers Check in at UMass hotel and Retreat Registration before 5pm. Full-Fashioned Shoulder Shaping Sarah Solomon 6:00pm: Welcome Dinner hosted by Valley Yarns and Steve and Kathy Elkins Crochet For Knitters Edie Eckman 8:00pm: Late-night knitting and socializing with cash bar in the late night lounge The Knitted Plaid (all day) Franklin Habit Center-Out Knitting Xandy Peters Friday, September 25th Japanese Knitting (all day) Gayle Roehm 6:30am-7:30am: Yoga 8:00am: Breakfast 9:00am–Noon: Morning classes 12:15–1:15pm: Lunch Friday, 1:30pm-4:30pm Sticks and Strings (cont’d) Carson Demers 1:30–4:30pm: Afternoon classes Bavarian Twisted Stitches Sarah Solomon 6:00pm: Dinner with cash bar Intarsia Without Fear Edie Eckman 8:00pm: Late-night knitting and socializing with The Knitted Plaid (contd) Franklin Habit cash bar in the late night lounge Knit Your Own Adventure Xandy Peters

Japanese Knitting (contd) Gayle Roehm Saturday, September 26th 6:30am-7:30am: Yoga 8:00am: Breakfast

9:00am – Noon: Morning Classes Saturday, 9:00am-12:00pm Retreat Prices KnitRx Carson Demers 12:15– 1:15pm: Lunch Single Room Package: $1,499 Uncontinental Knitting Sarah Solomon 1:30pm – 4:30pm: Afternoon classes and Yoga Five Fun Fabrics Edie Eckman 4:30–5:30pm: Pre-Shopping Snack Double (shared) Room Package: $1,309 The Knitted Plaid (all day) Franklin Habit 4:45pm: Bus leaves for Northampton *Pricing includes food, lodging, and classes* Intro to Stacked Stitches Xandy Peters Japanese Knitting (all day) Gayle Roehm 4:55pm: Bus leaves for Northampton 5:10pm: Bus leaves for Northampton WEBS Shopping Spree, featuring trunk shows, special deals and FREE SHIPPING for purchases. 8:30pm: Last bus returns to UMass Hotel. Lounge area set up with food, cash bar and Yarn Tasting.

Saturday, 1:30pm-4:30pm Socks Unraveled Carson Demers Sunday, September 27th Double-Knit Buttonband Sarah Solomon 9:00am: Breakfast with Keynote Speaker Franklin Habit UnLearn to Knit Edie Eckman 11:00am: Check out of hotel. WEBS will be open from 11:00am until 1:00pm for last minute The Knitted Plaid (contd) Franklin Habit shoppers. The Fascination Wrap Xandy Peters

Japanese Knitting (contd) Gayle Roehm Make sure you leave extra time before you travel home on Sunday to explore the beautiful downtown Northampton area. Have a late lunch, browse our many clothing boutiques and local artisan galleries, and leave with wonderful memories, new friends made, and a resolve to join us for our WEBS Spring Knitting Retreat in May 2021.