Five Days from Now

I'll be peeking in knitting bags,




catching up with people I haven't seen in a year,



gawking at beautiful knits,





laughing with friends,



and paying homage to Queen Bee Clara!



I can't wait! But. . . YIKES! What knitting will I bring with me? I haven't figured out what pattern and yarn to use for the workshop. The shawl I'd like to wear needs blocking. Am I bringing enough yarn for the stash lounge? Or do I have too much yarn to pack?

Cold Outside? Who Cares?

It was cold, cold, cold in Williamstown, MA this past weekend for the Knitters Review Retreat. It even snowed!



But, who cares about the cold when you have a handknit sweater to wear?









Or a nice comfy shawl to wrap around yourself.









And then there's the person who wrapped herself and her knitting around a cosmo (BTW, it was two of the best cosmos I've ever had!)



I had such a wonderful time! Knitting, chatting, seeing old friends, meeting new ones, putting faces to KR names, gawking at all the gorgeous knits, taking notes for future projects, fondling yarn.

Many thanks to Queen Clara.

Retreat Sights

I just don't have the words to explain the Retreat. Like-minded individuals speaking the same knitterly language. New friends made. Connecting faces to online names. The sharing of tips and techniques. The laughter, the jokes, the chatter. The moments of quiet reflection on what path our knitting may take. The questions, the answers, the ooohs and ahhs and hugs. Watching all the different ways one can knit. Meeting knitters who have been knitting for sixty years or for only a few months. The fibers, the colors, the finished and unfinished projects.

The photos can't even begin to describe the passion.

Knitters















and spinners everywhere.



Bags



and baskets of fiber goodies.



A piano top full of swap yarn



and vendors too.















A knitting muse perhaps?



And a few Night Owls.



Some of the gorgeous knitted items:







































I wish I had taken a picture of every knitted item I saw--well, maybe next year!

A Postscript on Feather and Fan

For those of you who suffered thru the sad tale of the feather and fan shawl during July:


























Here's a couple of photos that will show the feather and fan in a new light:





Yes, that's knitting guru Pam Allen fondling and praising my feather and fan shawl!

She likes it! She really likes it!

More about the Knitters Review Retreat in the next couple of days. It was wonderful and overwhelming! Talented, friendly knitters, gorgeous hand-knit items, beautiful setting, gracious inn--and do I dare mention cashmere?! I promise, all will be seen soon.

Gone Knittin'

In about seven hours, I'll be heading north to Lenox, MA for the Knitters Review Retreat. A weekend of knitting, spinning, chatting and laughing with other fiber loving individuals. Chocolate will also be involved.

I'm still deciding the WIPs to tote along. And I've lost my wrist ace bandage. The various knitting bags are in competition as to which one will hold the (undecided) WIPs. I should have polished my favorite silver bracelet. One of my hand-knit socks has a hole in it. I'm having a hard time choosing which book to bring along. And did I mention that it's now 1:30 AM?

Other than that, I'm ready to go!