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The Olema Inn Knitting Retreat
with Beth Brown-Reinsel
November 12 - 16, 2008
Tradition, Technique & Exceptional Fare
The Olema Knitting Retreat: a gathering of friends old and new to knit, eat, drink
and enjoy the breathtaking beauty of coastal west Marin.
The Olema Restaurant serves up amazing food in a restored Victorian Inn built in
the late 1800's. The menu is seasonal, organic and features the bounty of west Marin.
The Teacher
 Teacher
Beth Brown Reinsel, author of Knitting Ganseys, an expert in traditional knitting.
Her website is http://www.knittingtraditions.com. Beth wrote Knitting Ganseys and has published
many articles and designs in magazines such as Knitters, Interweave Knits, Threads,
Spindle and Dyepot. She has been involved in many facets of the fiber arts as a spinner, basket weaver,
dyer, knitter, yarn shop owner author and designer. Her demystification of technique and gentle ways
make her classes a joy!
Schedule
All classes will be held at the newly acquired Alta Olema (formerley the English Oak) in the private cottage furnished with
comfortable arm chairs, a large work table and fire place.
Wednesday, November 12th
8:30am - 4:30pm -- Class: Scottish Sanquhar Gloves
Lunch and Dinner at the Olema Inn
Thursday, November 13th
8:30am -- Full Breakfast
9:30am - 4:30pm -- Class: Scottish Sanquhar Gloves
4:30pm - 5:30pm -- Question and answer with Beth
Lunch and Dinner at the Olema Inn
Friday, November 14th
Day off or excursion
Saturday, November 15th
8:30am -- Continental Breakfast
9:30am - 4:00pm -- Class: Norwegian Mittens
Lunch and Coffee Breaks at the Olema Inn
Sunday, November 16th
8:30am -- Continental Breakfast
Lunch at the Olema Inn
9:30am - 4:00pm -- Class: Seamless Arans
7:00pm -- Farewell dinner at the Olema Inn
Costs
Four-day retreat, exclusive of wine, tips and accommodations: $750
Two-day retreat, exclusive of wine, tips and accommodations: $450
Preferred payment is by credit card by calling The Olema Inn & Restaurant 415-663-9559.
Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 12 - 13, 2008
Scottish Sanquhar Gloves
Length
12 hours (2 days)
Level
Advanced (must be proficient with dp needles)
The intricately patterned gloves from 19th century Scotland are a joy and a
challenge to knit. Full of small geometric patterns and tiny gussets around the
fingers and thumb, they are made on double-pointed needles. Explore the many
pattern options of both the ribbing and glove body and discuss designing
possibilities while knitting a full-sized glove. Learn about yarn dominance and how
to manage two yarns at a time, in three different knitting styles as well as reading
your knitting, rather than a pattern to create these marvelous gloves.
Supply List
- Needles: One set of five 7" (or shorter) long dp needles, sizes 0, 1, or 2,
whichever size yields a gauge of 9-11 sts/ inch in two color st st, and is
comfortable for you to work with. (My hand is medium sized and I worked my
glove at 11 sts/inch. If you have a larger hand, you may wish to work the
pattern at 9 sts/inch or choose a larger motif.) Please also bring an extra set
each of dpn one size larger and one size smaller than the size you will use for
your gloves, just in case you find you need to make gauge adjustments.
- Yarns: 1.75 oz- 2 oz. balls /240-262 yards (~50 g./ 240 m) each of two colors
(Main Color- MC, and Contrast Color- CC) of plain- textured, solid colored
fingering weight yarn, such as 3 or 4 ply sock yarn. (You may need 2 balls of
each color for a pair.)
-
Some appropriate yarns:
Froelich Blauband
Schoeller-Esslinger Fortissima
Lang Jawoll
Dale Baby Ull
Paton Kroy
Zephyr
Koigu
Schachenmeyer Regia
Fach Haltbar 4 fädig
Brown Sheep Wildfoote
Knit Picks sock yarn
Knit Picks Palette
Jamieson and Smith Jumper weight yarn
Shetland 2000
Jamieson and Smith shawl weight
3 ply or 4 ply Cherry Tree Hill super sock
Jaeger Matchmaker Merino 4 ply
Many space-dyed sock yarns are not appropriate as they will cause the motifs
to blur. Solid colored yarns are best.
- Extras: St. markers, sticky notes or magnetic board to aid in reading the
chart, tapestry needle, scraps of contrast color yarn, tape measure.
- Homework is required (see below).
Homework
If you have any questions regarding the homework, please email beth@knittingtraditions.com
- Cast on 40 sts and work a gauge swatch in the round with your 2 yarns. Work
the following pattern for 2" with needle size #0, then 2" with #1, then 2" with #2.
The darkened square in the lower right hand corner represents the repeat of the
motif. Separate the different gauges with a purl round or a solid colored round.
- Block with steam, then measure the gauge: _______________________sts/ inch
- Now measure your wrist: ___________________inches.
- Multiply the stitch gauge by your wrist measurement: ________________ sts.
- If necessary, adjust this number to be certain the total number of sts is divisible
by 4 for the ribbing repeat.
The Ribbing
Cast on sts in MC (darker) yarn. Join CC (lighter) yarn and work ribbing for 1.5" (or
desired length) in one of the following patterns of corrugated ribbing. (Patterns 1 &
2 are one-color ribbings):
Then knit 2 rounds in MC. Leave on needles. In class another 7/8" will be knitted
for the cuff in a different motif.
Friday, Nov. 14, 2008
Day off or excursion
Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008
Norwegian Mittens
Length
6 hours
Level
Intermediate (must be proficient with dp needles)
Students will learn Norwegian mitten construction, knitting a mitten in two colors on double
pointed needles. Techniques to be covered include the striped, ribbed cuff, the Norwegian thumb
gusset, seam stitches, different patterning for the front and palm, and the pointed tip shaping
at the end of the mitten. Designing will be discussed as well as several options in thumb
construction.
Supply List
- For Adults: 3 oz each of 2 colors of worsted weight yarn and one set each of dp needles size 4 for ribbing, and 6 OR 7 for mitten body.
- For Large Child Size: 3 oz. each of 2 colors of DK weight yarn and one set each of dp needles size 3 for ribbing, and 4 or 5 for mitten body.
- Tapestry needle, stitch markers, sticky notes or magnetic board for reading the charts.
Homework
If you have any questions regarding the homework, please email beth@knittingtraditions.com
The Cuff: Cast on 40 sts with main color. Join and work k2, p2 ribbing for 10 rounds. Leave on needles, do not break yarn.
Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008
Seamless Arans
Length
6 hours
Level
For beginning Aran knitters. Students must be proficient with double pointed needles, or, if preferred, use the Magic Loop or two circulars.
Arans are the well-loved sweaters from Ireland which are characterized by creamy white yarn, cables, bobbles and other deeply
textured patterns. Students will knit a mini-sweater circularly in class to learn to work from a chart while creating different
traditional patterns (bobbles, traveling stitches, cables) as well as seamless construction methods used for circularly-knitted
Arans. Emphasis is placed on the saddle shoulder style of Aran.
Aran sampler made in class
Supply List
- 3 to 4 oz. light colored heavy worsted weight yarn
- One 16" circular needle, size 7 or 8
- One set 7" long (or shorter) dp needles, size 7 or 8
- Stitch holders, st markers, cable needle, tapestry needle
- Magnetic board or sticky notes to keep your place on the graph.
Pre-Class Work for the Aran Class
Two Ways To "C2B" (Cable 2 sts) Without A Cable Needle--use one for sleeves:
- True Cable- Knit into second st on left needle, do not remove from needle, knit into first st on
left needle, slip both sts off.
- Barbara G. Walker's Baby Cable- Knit 2 sts tog, but do not remove from needle. Knit into the
first st again, remove both sts from needle.
C4B- Sl 2 sts to cable needle and hold in back of work, k2, k2 from cable needle.
C4F- Sl 2 sts to cable needle and hold in front of work, k2, k2 from cable needle.
- Sleeves: MAKE TWO
With dp needles, cast on 20 sts and join circularly.
Rnds 1,2,4: K1, *p2, k2*, p2, k1.
Rnd 3: K1, *p2, C2B*, p2, k1.
Rnds 5 and 6: Rep rounds 1 and 2 once more.
Rnds 7 and 9: K5, p1, k8, p1, k5.
Rnd 8: K5, p1, C4B, C4F, p1, k5.
Rnd 10: K1, inc 1, k4, p1, k8, p1, k4, inc 1, k1. (22 sts)
Rnd 11: K6, p1, k8, p1, k6.
Rnd 12: K6, p1, C4B, C4F, p1, k6.
Rnd 13: K1, inc 1, k5, p1, k8, p1, k5, inc 1, k1. (24 sts)
Rnds 14 and 15: K7, p1, k8, p1, k7.
Rnd 16: K1, inc 1, k6, p1,C4B, C4F, p1, k6, inc 1, k1. (26 sts)
Rnd 17and 18: K8, p1, k8, p1, k8.
Rnd 19: K1, inc 1, k7, p1, k8, p1, k7, inc 1, k1. (28 sts)
Rnd 20: K9, p1, C4B, C4F, p1, k9.
Rnd 21: K9, p1, k8, p1, k9.
Rnd 22: K1, inc 1, k8, p1, k8, p1, k8, inc 1, k1. (30 sts)
Leave on needles or waste yarn.
- The Ribbing (or "Skirt"):
With dp needles, cast on 56 sts. Join, being careful not to twist sts, place marker at
beg of round, and work ribbing as follows:
Rnd 1, 3, 4: *K2, p2*
Rnd 2: *Cable 2, p2*
Repeat rnds 1 -4 once, then 1 -3 once. Total: 11 rnds.
Leave sts on needles.
For more information about the knitting retreat and accommodations
Call us at (415) 663-9559
Please advise regarding any ambulatory limitations, so that we may plan for them.
Beth Brown-Reinsel has been involved in many facets
of the fiber arts as a spinner, basket weaver, dyer, knitter, former
yarn shop owner, author, and knitwear designer, but teaching is her
passion. She has worked in production as well as in creating and teaching
courses and workshops both locally and nationally.
Beth developed and implemented the correspondence course
Traditional Ganseys for The Knitting Guild of America for 11 years,
as well as owning Knitting Traditions, a mail order business of imported
traditional yarns, for seven years. Beth has authored the book Knitting
Ganseys, published by Interweave Press.
Beth's articles and designs have been featured in magazines such as
Knitters, Interweave Knits, Threads, Cast-On and Shuttle, Spindle and
Dyepot.
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