It’s March! We can surely feel it… Spring really is coming. Here at Double Knot we’re getting more and more excited for our upcoming Sweater Success Seminar, with our special guest Amy Singer of Knitty (Have you seen the new Spring issue? It just came out last week!) to be held in just under a month at our favorite sheep farm and Local Yarn Store, White Barn Farm.
We’ve had a few questions about the event, and also wanted to tell you more about how you can make a whole weekend of it, sort of a DIY-style mini retreat! Our area, the Mid-Hudson Valley, is an easy day- or weekend-trip from NYC, Albany, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, or other surrounding areas. It’s a lovely spot, and Spring buds and baby lambs will be bursting forth by April! So, grab a friend or two and make some plans for a fibery country weekend. There’s plenty to do for those non-knitting friends or partners too: used record and book shopping in New Paltz, climbing the ‘Gunks, sampling local chocolate or whiskey… We’re pretty sure you won’t regret a visit to our neck of the woods!
Here are some questions you might have about the Sweater Success Seminar itself:
What do I need to bring with me?
- Yarn: for swatching purposes, and any yarn you’ve been dreaming of knitting with
- Needles in a size to make a solid stockinette fabric with your chosen yarn (and a size above or below, if possible…more needles are always handy)
- A big pile of simple ring stitch markers [at least 25... more is better]
- A pad of graph paper and a pencil/eraser – At least one stitch pattern book that has stitch patterns you’re interested in trying.
- A tape measure
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Notebook or sketchbook
- Your favorite sweater – hand knit or store bought, and if you already have a sweater pattern in mind, bring that along too.
What are the three parts of the class?
- Learning to measure yourself and creating a pattern template built just for you
- Designing & altering stitch patterns to create one of a kind textures as well as working decreases & increases into those textures
- Study of yarn choice and stitch pattern together in perfect combination, we will work with swatches created earlier in class
What will I leave with?
A template for making your own personal sloper, your measurements, swatches of stitch patterns you design yourself as well as the knowledge of how to increase & decrease attractively in pattern, and mini skeins of a variety of types of yarn for swatching.
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And here are some suggestions for where to stay, eat, or play while you’re here:
How can I get there from out of town?
http://whitebarnsheepandwool.com/directions
Where should I stay if I’m coming from out of town?
What else should I do while I’m in the Hudson Valley?
Here are some of Cal & Jill’s favorite things. The Hudson Valley is lovely; we hope you enjoy it as much as we do:
- Lagusta’s Luscious – Amazing, amazing vegan chocolates with local or fair trade ingredients, also don’t miss Sweet Maresa’a incredible cupcakes.
- Tuthilltown Spirits – Delicious small batch distillery open for tastings until 6pm Friday, Saturday & Sunday with tours Saturday & Sunday
- Minnewaska State Park – Go for a hike, bike ride, mountain climb or picnic at this historic state park in the Shawangunk Mountains, just minutes from White Barn Farm
- Jenkins-Leuken Orchard – Apples, honey, maple syrup, pies and cider donuts; come back summer or fall to pick your own berries or apples
- Bistro Mountain Store – Yummy, unusual and hearty breakfast and lunch sandwiches at the foot of the mountains; all the climbers go here before they embark!
- Village Tea Room – Seasonal and locally sourced breakfast, lunch, dinner and bakery. Go for afternoon tea!
- Elephant – Wine & Tapas in Kingston with an ever-changing menu of mainly locally sourced products
- Market Market – Locally sourced, innovative food for lunch, dinner or a snack, plus entertainment Thursdays through Sundays.
New Paltz, Rosendale, Kingston, Red Hook, & Rhinebeck all have walkable downtowns with independently owned shops & restaurants; have fun exploring!
