Knitting
on the Coast
A Knitting Retreat in Point
Reyes,
In association with BookShop West Portal
Join us for a relaxing
knitting getaway on the
The Schedule
Friday, June 13
Get comfortable with color as you learn how to do
Saturday, June 14
9-noon: Knitting
for texture.
Be inducted into the mysteries of making elegant lace, ropey cables, and
bold entrelac designs.
Lace Cables Entrelac
Noon-1:30 pm: Lunch break (on site or in town).
Make a pulsewarmer (or two!) as you learn three
ways to work in the round: on double point needles, two circular needles, and
with one long circular, using the magic loop technique. If you’re feeling bold,
use your new color skills!
Enjoy
some bird watching or take a walk to the beach. Make dinner, or pop into
A good ol’ fashioned stitch ‘n
bitch. We may even watch a movie to practice knitting without looking.
Sunday, June 15
We visit Black Mountain Weavers, Point Reyes Station’s local yarn store.
Black Mountain Point Reyes Station
The Setting
The historic Point Reyes Hostel offers a rustic
setting in a pristine coastal wilderness. The San Francisco Chronicle calls it “A warm country cabin style, in
the heart of the Point Reyes National Seashore.”
Boasting beautiful vistas and an easy walking
distance to the coast, the Point Reyes Hostel is an ideal locale. We will have
exclusive use of the site during the day, with its cozy living rooms and
gorgeous views. If it’s warm, our class may gather outside at one of the many
picnic tables; if it’s cool, we’ll cozy up in one of the lounges overlooking
the park.
The only lodging within the national
park, it’s an easy two-mile walk to the shore
During your free time, sit and knit, enjoy nature,
practice your new skills, visit the Point Reyes Lighthouse or atmospheric towns
nearby, check out the hiking trails, or just wander to the beach for a nap!
The historic hostel’s main building The bunkhouse lounge, one of two options
Love to cook? Make use of the professional kitchen
or the fancy barbeque to prepare your meals. Prefer to have someone else cook?
Grocery stores and fine restaurants are in Point Reyes Station and Olema, just a short drive away.
The beautiful deck off the main
house The totally outfitted professional kitchen
The bunkhouse has two dorms; one will be all women,
the other, mixed. Each dorm has ten bunk beds, two toilets, and two showers.
Bring your own bedding or sleeping bag and towel. A cooperative spirit is an
important component of the hostel experience. During the weekend, everyone will
assist with daily cleaning chores, requiring about one half hour each day.
Exterior of the bunkhouse One of the bunkhouse’s two dorms
The Teacher
Thea
Gray teaches knitting at BookShop West Portal. Her
students claim she “came out of the womb knitting,” but Thea began in third
grade. She has barely stopped since and has even flown 6000 miles in a weekend
to polish her couture techniques. Known for her considerable patience, Thea
loves teaching the joys of knitting.
Not only is Thea a patient
and thorough teacher, she's enthusiastic and skilled in many different knitting
techniques. She's helped me go beyond merely following patterns.
—Rachella,
Freelance Writer and Editor
Thea gently showed me the
tricks and how to fix the misses. I gained enough confidence during a short
session with Thea to relax and enjoy the feel of the yarn and the rhythm of the
stitches.
—Beverly, Editorial Consultant and Writer
To Sign Up
The retreat fee is $190,
which includes all instruction and two nights’ stay in the bunkhouse, plus
coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon. No meals are provided. Participants may bring an adult friend or
significant other to hang out with during breaks and in the evenings for an
additional $20 per night, while space is available.
Registration
for the retreat is limited to 12 participants and will close on Thursday, June
5, 2008. Places will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis and will
be confirmed once full payment of the $190 fee is received.
A waiting
list will be maintained once all spots are filled. Should a registrant be
unable to attend and the cancellation is received on or before
Participants
should plan to be on site by
To sign up, call 415-564-8080
or visit BookShop West Portal at