A Very Plucky Retreat & Open House~

Friday, April 14 - Sunday, April 15, 2012
Holland, Michigan

PLEASE NOTE: Sign-ups for the retreat will be here in the Plucky Shop on Wednesday evening, December 21st at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.

Your retreat fee of $280 includes:

• Friday evening cocktail reception and welcoming party
• Goody bag!!!
• Saturday breakfast
• Saturday morning class- 3 hours
• Saturday afternoon class - 3 hours
• Saturday evening group dinner (alcoholic drinks not included)
• Sunday morning breakfast
• Sunday morning casual tips and tricks class co-taught by Sivia and Lorilee- 2 hours

The retreat winds up after the Sunday morning class.

Not included are travel costs, accommodations, Friday meals, Saturday lunch, Saturday evening drinks.

About our host hotel~

City Flats Hotel is an ward winning, LEED certified boutique hotel in downtown Holland.  Retreaters must make their own room reservation. Registered attendees will receive full instructions with their confirmation.  A block of rooms is being reserved for us. Parking is free.

For planning purposes, please note the hotel rates. Rates may vary by a few dollars.

A room with one king bed for two nights is $330 including tax.  These rooms can be booked for one or two persons.

A room with two queen beds can also be booked for $330 for two nights including tax. These rooms can be shared with two attendees. Two additional persons can be added for $20 per person. So, a double queen can be shared with four persons who don't mind sharing beds.  These are our only choices of room configurations, and the option of two queens is very limited. King rooms are more plentiful. There are no rollaways.

The hotel will accept reservations from confirmed attendees only.

Are you traveling with a non-retreating partner? We will do our best to ask the hotel to accommodate you in a single king room. Please remember that we will be able to do this for just a few of you dur to the limited space. Thanks!

Plucky Open House~

Sarah will be open for business for retreaters and anyone else who would like to get their hands on some luscious skeins. Hours for the Plucky Knitter open house are Friday Noon to 6:00 PM and Saturday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on location at the hotel. For those who wish to shop the open house only, and not take classes, you are most welcome, but please understand that the hotel rooms will not be available to you. It is a small hotel. There are numerous hotels within nearby driving distance, and you will be able to use the Ravelry forums to connect for social gathering.

Class Schedule~

With the purchase of your seat, you will be asked to choose your preference for both the morning and afternoon class. Due to limited seating, class preference will be filled on a first come / first serve basis. You will be emailed a confirmation of your class schedule.

For all classes, materials list and homework will be provided to all registered students.  Homework will be easy to manage.

Morning Classes: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM~

Side-to-Side Lace Shawlette
by Sivia Harding

In this class, we create a wide, shallow crescent of garter or stockinette stitch and ornament it with a lovely lace edging of your choice. We learn the simple structure of side to side crescents, and all about lace edgings, which traditionally have been used as an alternative to binding off shawl edges. Charting will be discussed but it will expedite matters to have chosen an edging that is already charted. We will also discuss using beads to add dimension to your lace design. This class is a no-fail, easy introduction to lace design!

Socks - All Buttoned Up
by Lorilee Beltman

These toe-up socks have an unconventionally located gusset that creates a pyramid at the back of the heel. The pyramid terminates at the achilles, after which the sock is worked back and forth so the sides can be “seamed” with buttons at the finish. This construction leaves an uninterrupted canvas at the front of the sock upon which you get to apply your design.

A template will be provided so you can complete your one-of-a-kind pair. For the timid, some options will be spelled out for you. We end with Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy bind off, an elastic finish for a toe up sock.

Skills required: knitting and purling, some experience knitting in the round with fingering weight yarn on dpn’s or circulars, knitter’s choice

Recommended for project: The Plucky Knitter Sock (Primo Fingering or Plucky Feet), 1 skein

Homework for this class will require an evening of your time.

Afternoon Classes: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM~

Harmonia's Rings: Exploring the Möbius and More!
by Sivia Harding

Möbius knitting has had a special place in my heart ever since I learned the basic technique from Cat Bordhi several years ago. Now (with her blessing), I teach Cat's cast on along with my particular enhancements of this simple yet endlessly fasicnating form.

The Harmonia’s Rings family of patterns use Cat Bordhi’s Möbius cast on to achieve the mysterious spiral neck shape; they also feature a stitch pattern that creates concentric rings reminiscent of ancient architecture. This cowl sits cape-like over the shoulders, and suits a wide range of body types. This class introduces many techniques: the Möbius cast on, shaping and texture within the Möbius structure, and the charming beaded picot bind off, among others. We discuss customizing the shape to fit any body type. A tunic and a sweater based on the cowl are options.

Skills required: knitting in the round, knitting and purling, basic increasing in knit and purl.

Recommended for project: The Plucky Knitter Primo Worsted, 350-600 yards according to size and length desired, or up to 1100 yards if making a tunic or sweater.

Some homework.

Chillaxin' Plaid Hat and Mittens
by Lorilee Beltman

We’ll learn all the elements needed to complete this project- circular cast on, paired lifted increases, vertical stranding and I-cord bobbles.

Learn a circular cast on and work outward using paired lifted increases, a serene start for this hat and mitten set. While working part of the mitten, we’ll practice these increases. Then the fun starts as we introduce colors that will be carried vertically from round to round.  Add a bit of fair isle and we have a convincing twill plaid. Another element, quickly learned, is the I-cord bobble, a nice option for those who dislike the turning normally involved in bobble building. Complete pattern provided to students.

The Plucky Knitter Primo Worsted will be provided in many colors to work a section of the mitten in class.

Skills required: some experience knitting in the round, knitting and purling.

Recommended for project: The Plucky Knitter Primo Worsted, 2 skeins main color and one skein each of three contrast colors. (Leftovers from contrast colors can be added to your stash or shared.)

No homework.