Monday, April 29, 2024

 

39th ANNUAL MINNESOTA KNITTERS’ DAYS 

September 28th – October 1,  2023

 

Dear Knitters,

 

Welcome to Minnesota Knitters’ Days! 

 

We are gathering at the Franciscan Retreat Center for the weekend, located in Prior Lake, MN.  All meals are in the Dining Room, which is located off the Lobby area.  Our meeting room is in the Marion Lounge.  Our rooms are in two of three separate hallways off the Chapel area. The Franciscan Retreat has three wings, St Claire right wing, St Francis left wing and the Marian Wing center.  Each wing has shared suites, which are 2 bedrooms with a shared bathroom and sink/shower in between each room.   Plan to arrive Thursday around 4:30pm.  Find your Room Assignment listed in the Roster below.  

 

Annual Knitter’s Gift Exchange is on Thursday Evening.  Please bring an un-identified/anonymous wrapped item to the exchange that is related to knitting. This “knitting related” item may or may not be a hand knitted gift, camper’s choice.  Every year we have a wonderful variety of items, and everyone seems to have a hard time trading the gift they prefer.  It’s a fun evening getting to know everyone in our group. 

 

Friday Evening:  Show and Share. Bring what you have recently knitted. We would like to see what everyone has created for new ideas and inspiration.  This is just for fun and is not a contest.  This is an evening to inspire others and be inspired!  

 

Saturday Evening: Slide Show to share from Beth Brown Reinsel


Sunday Morning: 8:30-11:30am, Estonian Roosimine Technique 

 

Snacks and Coffee.  As always, feel free to bring any snacks to share with the knitters.  There is a large table at the back of our classroom for snacks.  Again this year, we are brewing our own coffee.   If you have a favorite coffee that you would like to brew, please feel free to bring your coffee to share.  We need a couple coffee pots for brewing.  Let me know if you can bring one for the weekend.  

 

No smoking in the building or around entry ways.  Alcoholic beverages are not allowed on the grounds.  If you have any questions, please email me.

 

All meals are provided: Breakfast 8:30, Lunch 12:30, Dinner 5:30.  Thursday Dinner to Sunday Breakfast.

 

Attention! If you will be late Thursday for 5:30 dinner, let me know and I will prepare a plate of food, and it will be available for you when you arrive.  

 

Evening programs will be at 7pm.  We are always very flexible; these times are approximate. 

 

The Swedish North Halland Pullover – First Class Friday and Saturday 


Class Description:

The lovely red and black Swedish sweater from the Halland region can be dated back to the late 1800s.  In this class, a small sweater will be knitted circularly compiling a variety of Swedish construction techniques:  three different cast-ons, a choice of patterned or corrugated ribbing, two-color geometric pattern knitting, "seam" stitches, the traditional neck construction and front slit, purling on the wrong side with 2 colors, the Norwegian purl, two shoulder joins, two types of sleeve construction, plus a discussion on designing. A slide show of some of these historic garments will also be shown.

 

Length: Friday and Saturday

 

Level:  Intermediate- must be experienced using double pointed needles.

 

Supply List:

•     3 oz. each worsted weight yarn (preferably wool) in red and black

•     One set 7-8" (20 cm) long (or shorter) dp needles each, US sizes 5 and 7 (3.75 mm and 4.5 mm)

•     One 16" (40 cm) circular needle US size 7 (4.5 mm)

•     St markers, st holders, scissors, sticky notes or magnetic board to keep your place on the chart, tapestry needle 

•     Crochet hook, size D

 

Homework:  None.

 


 

Class #2: Estonian Roosimine Technique (New Class from Beth)

Sunday 8:45-11:45am.

 

Course Description: The beautiful Roosimine inlay technique of Estonia, from the 1800s, is traditionally found on gloves and socks, but can be used to embellish any garment. In class a sampler will be knitted with a Roositud motif so the student can gain familiarity and experience with the process of reading the charts and working the technique. We will knit wrister warmers, learn to create, the twisted cord, and the Roosimine technique. There are two sizes for the wrister, using DK for the larger size (8-8.5") or fingering weight (6.75 - 7.5").

Level: Ability to knit in the round on DPNs (or Magic Loop or two circulars).  

 

Skills Covered: Reading Roositud charts, managing and manipulating the yarns, a twisted cord technique for added embellishment.

 

Sizes: 6 3⁄4-7 1⁄2 (8-8 1⁄2) inches wrist circumference

Gauge: Fingering: 14 sts = 2 inches / 5 cm (DK: 12 sts= 2 inches/5 cm) 

Materials

There are two sizes of the cuff, by choosing DK or fingering weight yarn,  and needles that are smaller or larger.


Yarn
DK weight, such as: Rauma Strikkegarn: 100% Norwegian wool, 114 yds / 105 m; 13⁄4 oz / 50 g Fingering Yarn, such as: 

Rauma Finullgarn: 100% Norwegian wool; 191 yds / 175 m; 13⁄4 oz / 50 g
Jamieson & Smith Jumper Weight: 100% Shetland wool; 188 yds / 172 m; 13⁄4 oz / 50 g 

Main Color (MC): approximately 100 yds / 91 m
Contrast colors (CC): Several yards of one to three colors, or your choice. 

Needles 

For fingering weight: US 1 and US 2 / 2.25 and 2.5 or 2.75mm, For DK weight: US 4 and US 5/ 3.5 mm 3.75 needles. 

Notions 

Highlighter tape.

Optional: colored pencils which correlate with your chosen yarns and an eraser.

Homework: None


LOCATION:  

Franciscan Retreat Center

19385 St. Francis Lane

Prior Lake, MN 55372

 

 


ROSTER and ROOM ASSIGNMENTS 2023

 

St Claire Hall

Right Wing

 

1-Audrey Caine     3-Nancy McElmurry                    

2-Jan Raaf       4-Deb Hegstrom

 

5-Pam Soderholm  

 

                        

 

6-Alison Walsh           8-Anna Anderson

 

9-Janet Ungs    11-Stacey Ross                     

12-Bill Matey

 

13-Kris King.    15-Ann Buttermann

 

16-Beth Brown-Reinsel – Guest Instructor

 

19- Dawn Lundquist

 

Marian Hall – Center Wing

Center Wing

 

41-Sheryl Hill   43-Jamie Schlenk

 

42-Ursula Mayr    

 

45-Anne Bosch    

 

46-Karen Lehman       48-Linda                     McShannock

 

49-Jennifer Clark.     51-Gayle Gansch

 

50-Maggie Groteluschen   52-Peg Baker

 

53- Ellen Baker-Merrigan  55-Mary Baker

 

57-Linda Pashby         59- Martha Baker

 

54-Julie Muehlberg       56-Karen Meade

 

 

Sunday, December 1, 2019

MINNESOTA KNITTERS’ DAYS
OCTOBER 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 2019

Dear Knitters,

Welcome to Minnesota Knitters’ Days!

We are gathering at the Miracle Lodge at the Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch in Stewartville, MN!  All meals are in the Dining Hall, which is a short walk from Miracle Lodge.  Our meeting room is in the Riverside Room which is located on the Main Level, first floor, as you enter the building.  Our rooms are located on the Main Level and the Upper Level.  There is a nice balcony area on the upper level, which overlooks the Riverside Room.  Plan to arrive Thursday around 4:30pm. Find your room which is listed after your name on the roster.  Each room has a full bathroom, microwave and small fridge. 

Meals are served in the Dining Hall, which is a short walk from the Lodge.  This year we have Lunch served at 12 noon and Dinner served at 6:00pm, all cafeteria style.  There is a kitchenette area off of our class room in Riverside Room, which is equipped with a refrigerator, microwave, sink, coffee cups, and a coffee maker.  Bring your desired breakfast items to have in your room. Coffee is supplied in the kitchenette at the back of our classroom. If you have a favorite coffee that you would like to brew, please feel free to bring your coffee, and anything else you would like to have in the morning.  As always, feel free to bring any snacks to share with the knitters.  There is a large table at the back of our class room to share snacks.
No smoking in buildings or around entry ways.  Alcoholic beverages are not allowed on the grounds.

Attn: Dinner is at 6:00 Thursday evening, if you will be late Thursday for dinner, let me know and I will make a plate of food, and it will be available for you when you arrive. 

Annual Knitter’s Gift Exchange is on Thursday Evening.  Please bring an un-identified/anonymous wrapped item to the exchange that is related to knitting. This “knitting related” item may or may not be a hand knitted gift, camper’s choice.  Every year we have a wonderful variety of items and everyone seems to have a hard time choosing the gift they prefer.  It’s a fun evening getting to know everyone in our group.

Friday Evening:  Show and Share.  We would like to see what everyone has created for new ideas and inspiration.  This is just for fun, and is not a contest.  This is an evening to inspire others and be inspired!

See New Event:
Silent Auction:  New this year and suggested by attendee Nancy McElmurry:  After Friday evenings “Show and Share”, Nancy will talk about our Silent Auction.  Some of us have an “overabundance” of our craft.  This will give us an opportunity to enable others to purchase items to wear and enjoy knit pieces that they have admired from other campers.  Bring your completed items that you would be interested in auctioning, along with your minimum price desired.  Or, check out the beautiful knitwear available and place your bid! 

Saturday Evening:  The auctioned items will be reviewed and the highest bidder will claim their purchase.     

Evening programs will be at 7pm.  We are always very flexible, these times are approximate.

Anne Bosch of Blackberry Ridge will be with us again this year with her yarns for sale.  Let her know what you may want to see, visit her website at www.blackberry-ridge.com to check out what she has to offer.  Then e-mail her with suggestions and/or questions that you may have,  



HOMEWORK: 
-Wear a close-fitting shirt, or (better yet—a camisole or tank top), and please wear your “good” bra (the one that puts everything in the right place!).  Bring a positive attitude and a sense of humor. 
-Please bring TWO identical gauge swatches – AT LEAST 6 inches by 6 inches – in whatever simple stitch pattern you’re interested in using for a jacket ( if you can’t decide, just make stockinette stitch swatches)  Don’t wash or block your swatches.



Supply kits include: Jersey Knit material, Lining, Full sized Charting paper for pattern.

Required materials to bring:   
Paper, pencil, eraser
Calculator
Flexible measuring tape
Paper scissors
Fabric scissors
Sewing needle
Black sewing thread
Straight pins
Sharpie marker

Optional materials:
Jean Frost’s Custom Knit Jackets book (the blue one)
Long ruler/yardstick (for drawing long, straight lines)
Rotary cutter and mat (only if you desire have)

Portable Sewing Machine
Extension cord and/or power strip with multiple outlets. 





LOCATION: 
Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch
7291 CR 6 SW
Stewartville, MN 55976

Detailed Directions: See attachment to this email

ROSTER 2019, and room assignments



1. Melody Baker, 202

2. Anne Bosch, 103

3. Audrey Caine, 202

4. Florette Chenevert, 103

5. Susan Dempsey, 105

6. Marie Duquette, 105

7. Candace Eisner Strick, 204

8.  Judith Eisner, 204

9. Barb Farrell, 110

10. Betsy Foster, 104

11. Sonya Glaser, 107

12. Karen Gustavsson, 109

13. Deb Hegstrom, 108

14. Sheryl Hill, 102

15. Becky Huerta, 208

16. Mary Jellison, 104

17. Kris King, 202

18. Nancy McElmurry, 201

19. Karen Meade, 110

20. Pam Olson, 106

21. Jan Raaf, 107

22. Carol Reuter, 201

23. Stacey Ross, 102

24. Judy Thompson, 109

25. Marilyn Thompson, 208

26. Janet Ungs, 102

27. Lynn Walek, 210

28. Alison Walsh, 108

29. Agnes Zelgert, 106

Instructor:
30. Sarah Peasley, 205

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

35th Annual Minnesota Knitters Days October 10th-13th,2019


35th ANNUAL MINNESOTA KNITTERS’ DAYS
STEWARTVILLE, MN
October 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 2019

Come and join us at the Ironwood Springs Miracle Lodge Retreat Center for the weekend. Ironwood Springs is located in Stewartville, MN, near Rochester in southeastern Minnesota, about an hour and half south of the Twin Cities area.  Plan on arriving Thursday afternoon, class will be all day Friday and Saturday, and Sunday morning.  Enjoy learning a new knitting skill, relaxing and sharing quality time with fellow knitters!

GUEST INSTRUCTOR:  We welcome Sarah Peasley to Minnesota Knitters Days.  Sarah is a designer, teacher and technical editor for many knitting publications and books.  She teaches at yarn shops and guilds, Vogue Knitting and Stitches conferences across the US, and online through Craftsy.

CLASS: “Jean Frost Custom Jacket Weekend”  Sarah will guide us through the “7 essential steps” to knitting a custom-fit jacket, using the techniques outlined in Jean Frost’s Custom Knit Jacket book.  Choose a jacket from the book, or bring your favorite jacket/cardigan that you’d like to knit.  After taking each step with Sarah, you will start knitting your jacket with confidence of a perfect fit.  You’ll be making a sample jersey jacket, specific to your body measurements.  Ease, armhole and neck shaping, sleeve construction, finishing and lining are also discussed.  There will be some homework to prepare for this class, which will be sent before our weekend.  You’ll be ready to knit your jacket with confidence of a perfect fit!

LOCATION AND LODGING:  The Miracle Lodge retreat and conference center was named after seven years of construction, donations from fourteen states, and contributions from 1000 people and businesses. Twenty-seven beautiful rooms all fully furnished are now being used and the word is spreading.   
Our group will meet in the Riverside Room on the main level of Miracle Lodge, which has excellent lighting for knitting.  There is a beautiful fireplace in the Riverside Room and a Fire Pit right outside our classroom door for an evening fire to knit by.    
Your room will be located on first or second floor of the Lodge.  The Dining Hall will serve lunch and dinner each day during our stay, which is a short walk from the Lodge.  Your morning breakfast will be on your own, either in your room or the small kitchen right off our class room.  There are coffeemakers, refrigerators and microwaves provided for your use.  Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch is located near Stewartville, MN in southeastern Minnesota. 

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

FEE:  The cost is $450, which includes your room, 2 meals per day and instruction.  Private rooms are available for an additional $125 fee.  Please send full payment (or $150 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/Confirmation 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”.
Please send me a copy of your Registration/confirmation with your payment:       
   Sheryl Hill, 285 Motel Ave, Red Wing, MN 55066

REGISTRATION FORM
NAME____________________________________PHONE_____________
ADDRESS________________________________EMAIL_______________
CITY/STATE________________________________________ZIP________
Diet Requests:
Sharing Room with:    ___________________
                                               Shared Room CAMP FEE  ($450)        $__________
  Jersey Jacket, Lining Material and Charting Supplies ($20)        $__________
                                              SINGLE ROOM OPTION ($125)           $__________
MASSAGE: YES_____ NO_____    
OPTIONAL ITEMS:
SWEATSHIRT:  $35               T-SHIRT: $20          KNITTING BAG:  $35   
SIZE (S-XXL) _______             SIZE __________                                                                                         
COLOR ______________         COLOR _______________
DENIM SHIRT:  $35
SIZE (S-XXL) ________                CAMP ITEM(S) TOTAL       $_______
                                       
                                                               TOTAL ENCLOSED                $___________

34th Minnesota Knitters Days 2018 - Camp, Class and Attendees


MINNESOTA KNITTERS’ DAYS
OCTOBER 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 2018

Dear Knitters,

Welcome to Minnesota Knitters’ Days!

We are gathering at the Miracle Lodge at the Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch in Stewartville, MN this year!  All meals are in the Dining Hall, which is a short walk from Miracle Lodge.  Our meeting room is in the Riverside Room which is located on the Main Level, first floor, as you enter the building.  Our rooms are located on the Main Level and the Upper Level.  There is a nice balcony area on the upper level, which overlooks the Riverside Room.  Plan to arrive Thursday around 4:30pm. Find your room which is listed after your name on the roster.  Each room has a full bathroom, microwave and small fridge. 

Here is a map of the Ranch: http://www.ironwoodsprings.com/campmap.aspx

Meals are served in the Dining Hall, which is a short walk from the Lodge.  This year we have Lunch served at 12 noon and Dinner served at 6:00pm, all cafeteria style.  There is a kitchenette area off of our class room in Riverside Room, which is equipped with a refrigerator, microwave, sink, coffee cups, and a coffee maker.  As always, feel free to bring any snacks to share with the knitters!  Coffee is supplied.  However, if you have a favorite coffee that you would like to brew, please feel free to bring your coffee, and anything else you would like to have in the morning before class at 9am.
No smoking in buildings or around entry ways.  Alcoholic beverages are not allowed on the grounds.

Attn: Dinner is at 6:00 Thursday evening, if you will be late Thursday for dinner, let me know and I will make a plate of food, and it will be available for you when you arrive. 

Annual Knitter’s Gift Exchange is on Thursday Evening.  Please bring an un-identified/anonymous wrapped item to the exchange that is related to knitting. This “knitting related” item need not be a hand knitted gift, camper’s choice.  Every year we have a wonderful variety of items and everyone seems to have a hard time choosing the item they prefer.  It’s a fun evening getting to know everyone in our group.

Friday Evening:  Open Knitting by the fireplace in Riverside, or the outdoor fire-pit.

 Show and Share scheduled for Saturday evening.  We would like to see what everyone has created for new ideas and inspiration.  This is just for fun, and is not a contest. 

Evening programs will be at 7pm.  We are always very flexible, these times are approximate.

Anne Bosch of Blackberry Ridge will be with us again this year with her yarns for sale.  Let her know what you may want to see, visit her website at www.blackberry-ridge.com to check out what she has to offer.  Then e-mail her with suggestions and/or questions that you may have,  

LOCATION: 
Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch
7291 CR 6 SW
Stewartville, MN 55976

Map of the Ranch:   http://www.ironwoodsprings.com/campmap.aspx

Detailed Directions: See attachment to this email

ROSTER 2018, and room assignments



1. Margarite Baumann

2. Anne Bosch, 103

3. Sherry Broin, 205

4. Audrey Caine, 109

5. Zo Cohen, 210

6. Kathy Cvar, 202

7. Susan Dempsey, 105

8. Marie Duquette, 105

9.  Cathy Ells, 208      

10. Judith Eisner, 204

11. Barb Farrell, 110

12. Betsy Foster, 102

13. Jean Gorman, 106

14. Sheryl Hill, 102

15. Becky Huerta, 104

16. Teresa Jensen, 108

17. Kris King, 109

18. Kathi Lautt, 202

19. Ursula Mayr, 108

20. Nancy McElmurry, 201

21. Karen Meade, 110

22. Sharon Philipson, 205

23. Carol Reuter, 201

24. Beth Schmeling, 107

 25. Rachel Sternisha, 107

26. Marilyn Thompson, 106

27. Del Tuschl, 208

28. Tammy Vallant, 210

29. Karen Wanke, 103

Instructor:

30. Candace Eisner, 204


 Here's a picture of our Minnesota Knitters Days 2018:



Additional Fun at Minnesota Knitters Days 2018....Zip-lining!













34th Annual Minnesota Knitters' Days 2018


34th ANNUAL MINNESOTA KNITTERS’ DAYS
STEWARTVILLE, MN
October 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 2018

Come and join us at the Ironwood Springs Miracle Lodge Retreat Center for the weekend. Ironwood Springs is located in Stewartville, MN, near Rochester in southeastern Minnesota, about an hour and half south of the Twin Cities area.  Enjoy learning a new knitting skill, relaxing and sharing quality time with fellow knitters!
GUEST INSTRUCTOR:  We welcome back, Candace Eisner Strick,   Author, knitwear designer and teacher, Candace teaches workshops internationally at major knitting conventions and guilds. She is the author of eight books, her most recent being “Knit My Skirt” (XRX Publishing, 2016). A former cellist and Suzuki teacher, she now devotes all her time to the various aspects of knitwear. Appropriately, “strick” means to knit. 
Her designs and writing have appeared in knitting magazines and book compilations nationwide. She continues to design for yarn companies, and her designs can be found at the Ravelry store and at Love Knitting website.  
CLASS: “Minnesota Mobius Madness” Candace has designed a new class on Mobius for Minnesota Knitters Days.  The aesthetic curve of a Mobius is visually pleasing to the eye, but it need not be relegated to just a scarf. You can start a sweater with a beautiful Mobius collar and work the sweater top-down from that. A skirt can be started with either a Mobius as the waistband or the Mobius as the hem. Try making your favorite shawl starting with a Mobius. You will be able to dance all night and it won't fall off your shoulders. Don't be afraid of the Mobius cast on. Candace's method is so easy even her parrot can do it! For the grand finale, learn what was heretofore impossible: a double knit mobius in two colors, complete with a cast on. 
Projects offered for students to start: scarf, scarf with a hood, double knit mobius, several different shawl styles, a capelet, a hat, a shrug or cropped sweater, a skirt, or your own unique design. 
LOCATION AND LODGING:  The Miracle Lodge retreat and conference center was named after seven years of construction, donations from fourteen states, and contributions from 1000 people and businesses. Twenty-seven beautiful rooms all fully furnished are now being used and the word is spreading.   
Our group will meet in the Riverside Room on the main level of Miracle Lodge, which has excellent lighting for knitting.  There is a beautiful fireplace in the Riverside Room and a Fire Pit right outside our classroom door for an evening fire to knit by.    
Your room will be located on first or second floor of the Lodge.  The Dining Hall will serve lunch and dinner each day during our stay, which is a short walk from the Lodge.  Your morning breakfast will be on your own, either in your room or the small kitchen right off our class room.  There are coffeemakers, refrigerators and microwaves provided for your use.  Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch is located near Stewartville, MN in southeastern Minnesota. 
QUESTIONS: Call Sheryl Hill at 651-388-2905 or via e-mail: sherknits@yahoo.com
FEE:  The cost is $450, which includes your room, 2 meals per day and instruction.  Private rooms are available for an additional $125 fee.  Please send full payment (or $150 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/Confirmation 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”.

Please send me a copy of your email Registration/confirmation with your payment.

If you have any problems with the online registration, feel free to use this registration form to mail:  Sheryl Hill, 285 Motel Ave, Red Wing, MN 55066
REGISTRATION FORM
NAME____________________________________PHONE_____________
ADDRESS________________________________EMAIL_______________
CITY/STATE________________________________________ZIP_______
OPTIONAL ITEMS:
SWEATSHIRT:  $35               T-SHIRT: $20          KNITTING BAG:  $35   
SIZE (S-XXL) _______             SIZE __________                                                                                         
COLOR ______________         COLOR _______________
DENIM SHIRT:  $35
SIZE (S-XXL) ________                       CAMP ITEM(S) TOTAL       $__________
                                              
MASSAGE: YES_____ NO_____     CAMP FEE ($450)                 $__________        
                                                            SINGLE ROOM ($125)           $__________
 Sharing Room with:    _______________________
                                   
Diet Requests:                                 
                                                           TOTAL ENCLOSED                $__________





Sunday, April 2, 2017

33rd Annual Minnesota Knitters' Days 2017



33rd ANNUAL MINNESOTA KNITTERS’ DAYS
STEWARTVILLE, MN
October 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 2017

Come and join us at the Ironwood Springs Miracle Lodge Retreat Center for the weekend.  New this year, we have added an additional day to our weekend retreat. Ironwood Springs is located in Stewartville, MN, near Rochester in southeastern Minnesota, about an hour and half south of the Twin Cities area.  Enjoy knitting, relaxing and sharing quality time with fellow knitters!
GUEST INSTRUCTOR:  Gayle Roehm,  
                                            
Gayle teaches knitting classes around the country, with a focus on using Japanese patterns. She loves to introduce knitters to the pleasures of Japanese designs, and her knowledge of the subject is unmatched. In a previous life, she was a management consultant who sold and managed multimillion-dollar economic development projects around the world, especially in Asia. She lived in Japan and speaks Japanese.  She turned her love of knitting into a second career, teaching and writing with a focus on introducing western knitters to Japanese designs and unusual stitch patterns. Her article about Japanese knitting appeared in Knitter’s Magazine in 1997, and was among the first information to appear in English on the topic. Now that Japanese books and magazines are readily available online, Gayle has been teaching knitters across the country how to understand and enjoy these intriguing designs. She has taught for Stitches events, Interweave Knitting Lab, Madrona Fiber Arts Retreat, Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, Vogue Knitting Live, Knitter’s Connection and numerous other national, regional and guild events. 

CLASS: “JAPANESE KNITTING BOOT CAMP” An intensive two-day workshop that gives the knitter a head start on any Japanese design, and makes sure all questions are answered so the garment can be made successfully.
This retreat will enable you to get started on a Japanese design that you have pre-selected. These two and a half days with Gayle, will give you a chance to make some real progress. We’ll review pattern notation, sizing, symbols and any other problems that you’ve found. We’ll also do a quick review of key information and symbols, and work through the steps to re-size for your personal measurements. Then you’ll have time to start knitting. You’ll go home with a good start on a project and be able to complete your design.  Ideas for your weekend knitting will be sent to you in your camp letter, which will include links to Ravelry Japanese pattern options for you to select from, or you may bring a Japanese pattern that you already selected.

LOCATION:  The Miracle Lodge retreat and conference center was named after seven years of construction, donations from fourteen states, and contributions from 1000 people and businesses. Twenty-seven beautiful rooms all fully furnished are now being used and the word is spreading.   Our group will meet in the Riverside Room on the main level of Miracle Lodge.  Your room will be located on first or second floor of the Lodge.  The Dining Hall will serve brunch and dinner each day during our stay, which is a short walk from the Lodge. Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch is located near Stewartville, MN in southeastern Minnesota.  

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

FEE:  The cost is $450, which includes your room, all meals and instruction.  Private rooms are available for an additional $125 fee.  Please send full payment (or $150 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”.




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


Here are the finished Japanese Knitting Projects from this class: