31st ANNUAL MINNESOTA KNITTERS’ DAYS

FRONTENAC, MN

OCTOBER 23rd, 24^th, 25^th, 2015

Come and join us at the Villa Maria Retreat Center for the weekend on Lake Pepin, located about one and a half hours south of the Twin Cities!  Enjoy knitting, relaxing and sharing quality time with fellow knitters!

INSTRUCTOR: Arnhild Hillesland. Arnhild provided the following biographical information:  “I am a native of Norway, and have been knitting as long as I can remember - and a little bit longer.

After high school I taught folk dancing. For a while, that was all I did, besides performing folk dancing in many countries in Europe including, what was at that time the Soviet Union, and in the USA.

After earning a Ph.D. in Norwegian language - at the University in Tromsø, the northernmost university in the world, I was teaching and ended up as a vice principle at a middle school by Lillehammer, Norway before I married Glenn and moved to Ames, IA.

Norwegian teaching positions for a Norwegian where not available in Ames, so I made my hobby, knitting, my full time job. I have owned a yarn shop, and I was the sole importer and distributor of Rauma yarns for 9 years. All the time since my store days late 80s I have been teaching knitting basically all over the USA. A year ago I retired from the wholesale business, so now, in my new phase in life, I can spend more time on activities like weaving, teaching, designing and translating.”

CLASS:  Norwegian Footlets   

Prerequisites: comfortable with stranded, two color knitting and working with double point needles.  This class is for the intermediate knitter.

This weekend we will work stranded knitting back and forth as well as in the round. Other techniques covered are increases and decreases in stranded knitting, including two different ways of doing double decrease, and also adding stitches to a piece in progress as well as knitting up stitches. 

QUESTIONS: Call Sheryl Hill at 651-388-2905 or via e-mail: sherknits@yahoo.com

FEE:  The cost is $325, which includes your room, all meals and instruction.  Private rooms are available for an additional $30 fee.  Please send full payment (or $100 deposit) with your completed registration to hold your space.  (Balance due in September)

REGISTRATION:  The first 30 applicants will be accepted on a first come first serve basis.  Send registration and check to: Sheryl Hill, 285 Motel Avenue, Red Wing, MN 55066.   If camp is full when you register, I will let you know and put you on the “waiting list”. CANCELLATIONS:  If you cancel $50 is non-refundable, the remainder will be refunded if/when a replacement is found from the “waiting list”.

Our group will stay in Marian Hall at the Villa Maria.  Historically the Villa Maria was a private boarding school for girls. Our accommodations are shared rooms with bath/shower facilities on the third floor. There is a separate floor for any male knitters interested in attending.   Most rooms have a private sink and closet included.  There are shared rooms available for two, three or four knitters.  Please specify names in your group on the registration. Our meeting area is a large room with a beautiful view overlooking Lake Pepin.  All meals are included and served cafeteria style in the lower level.  Special dietary meals are available upon request.  The Villa Maria Center is a non-smoking facility.

CAMP SHIRTS - BAGS  Camper’s Choice; T-shirts and Sweatshirts in White, Ash, Stone, Gray Heather, Royal, Red, Forrest Green, Burgundy, Navy or Black; Denim long sleeved shirt; all in sizes small to XXL;  Knitting Bag, a new design each year.   All items will include “Minnesota Knitters’ Days” and Year embroidered on them.  If you would like any of these items, include it on your registration form.

CHECK IN will be from 4:30-6:00 Friday evening before dinner at 6pm. 

QUESTIONS: Call Sheryl Hill at 651-388-2905 or via e-mail: sherknits@yahoo.com

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Friday Night is Knitters Auction night!  Bring a small “knitted related” item wrapped, no tag, for our fun exchange.  You may or may not choose to knit something…..”knitter’s choice”, it’s up to you.

HOMEWORK instructions will be sent to you in plenty of time to complete and bring with you to camp, along with a schedule and map.

Here are Betsy Foster's Annual Name Tag Decoration for each camper:

Little Norwegian Sweaters!