5 Reasons to Attend an Interweave Escapes Knitting Retreat

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As with any major historical event, I can tell you exactly where I was when the pandemic was declared on March 11 last year: I was having a great time on an Interweave Escapes knitting retreat in Asheville, North Carolina. And while we were all concerned about coronavirus, we were all having too good a time to worry about it too much. There’s nothing like hanging out with a bunch of knitters in a gorgeous location to take your mind off your troubles! Now that I’m vaccinated, I’m looking forward to another Interweave Escape this year.

Here are five reasons you should treat yourself to an Interweave Escapes knitting retreat:

The Locations

So far, I’ve been to two Interweave Escapes, and they were both in gorgeous locations. My first was in California on the shores of Lake Tahoe, which is absolutely stunning. We had a super fun field trip to Jimmy Beans Wool. The second retreat I went to was at the Biltmore Estate. It’s both a resort and a working agricultural estate, so it has a little bit of everything: goats, a winery, beautiful open spaces. The group had a private guided tour of the house, which is every bit as impressive as you would expect for the mansion of a literal railroad tycoon.

For the December 2021 knitting retreat, we’re headed to Madison, CT. Nestled along a curve of the Connecticut coastline, with a clear view across the Long Island Sound, stands the Madison Beach Hotel, Connecticut’s only hotel and restaurant, located directly on the beach. For early risers, the sunrise is spectacular; in the evening, cozy up to the outdoor fire pit and watch the magnificent sunsets.

The Food

I can be persuaded to go pretty much anywhere with the promise of good eating, and Escapes do not disappoint. All the meals are included, and the chosen resorts are known for their ace menus.

They usually include some sort of afternoon snack (cookies and coffee, anyone?) as well, for those of us who need mid-day nibbles.

The Teachers

No matter where you go, the teachers are amazing. On the 2019 knitting retreat, I learned about the different styles and shapes of lace shawls and how to make them from Romi Hill. Last year, Norah Gaughan taught us how to “bend” two-row stripes using easy stitch patterns and increases and decreases.

This year, designer Sarah Solomon will share all she knows about the different kinds of yarn and fiber and how to choose the best skein for your next project. Also, Laura Nelkin will show you how to bling up your knitting with beads!

The Knitters

It’s so great to hang out with folks who also love knitting and are as eager as you are to play with string. These are my people: fellow yarn fondlers and wool huffers. And even beyond that, it’s fun getting to know about people’s other passions, from customized digital planners (can you tell I’m a managing editor?) to prune cake recipes.

I love meeting everyone and petting their knitting projects!

The Fun

Last but most certainly not least, we’re all ready for some fun. I am ready to see new places, new faces, and new knitting techniques. Bring a friend (preferably a knitter, but they don’t have to be!) or go solo and make new friends there; either way, you’re going to have a good time. Have a knitting slumber party with your pals or relax in the beautiful scenery with your knitting. However you roll, you’ll have a blast.

Join us on the next Interweave Escapes knitting retreat!

Happy Knitting,
Laura

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