Knitter’s Review Announces Retreat Information

For 10 years now fans of the online knitting review site Knitter’s Review have been gathering in New England for a weekend of knitting, camaraderie and learning about fiber with the fabulous founder of that site, Clara Parkes.

The event will celebrate entering its second decade of existence at the Inn on the Lake in Canandaigua, N.Y., November 8-11. Special guests this year include Ann Budd, Sivia Harding, Amy Herzog and Mary Scott Huff. The main event is the weekend retreat, which includes a workshop, access to the “stash lounge,” a marketplace and food and lodging.

Choices of workshops include fixing mistakes, designing a sideways knit shawlette, knitting to fit and color knitting. An optional Thursday extension allows for another workshop: reading your knitting, designing lace, and extended version of the knit to fit class and Selbu mittens.

Registration for the event begins August 3 at noon Eastern US time. It’s sure to sell out quickly, so if you want to go you need to be on your toes.

Have you ever been to one of these retreats? Spill it!

[Photo by Knitter’s Review/Clara Parkes.]

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The felted slipper craze that began last year doesn’t seem like it’s fading away. The Sailor Slippers, often striped knit and felted slippers made with super bulky yarn, because the project of the moment late last year (check out more knit slipper options in this post all about sailor slippers) and they’re still consistently popular with knitters.

Which makes sense because they are fun and fast to knit, and seeing them go from this giant thing to something that actually fits a foot feels a little magical.

I have always loved felting (in fact my first book was about felting knitting) and it’s always fun for me to see people rediscover this technique.

If you’ve knit enough plain slippers to fit all the feet you know, maybe it’s time to stitch up some tabi style slippers instead.

Maymade Knits has designed these cute tabi ballerina slippers, made with bulky yarn and felted. They’re worked flat at first and then in rounds, and are available in 10 EU sizes (the Internet tells me add 31 to your American shoe size to get your EU size). The designer says the slippers are meant to have a close fit and you should choose a size a little smaller than your foot for the ideal fit.

The pattern includes a video tutorial along with the written pattern.

You can grab this pattern on Ravelry. The same designer has her own version of the striped felted slipper as well, called Sarah’s Striped Slippers. These are worked in super bulky yarn and have a contrasting foot and a striped body. These are knit flat and seamed and there are 7 size options available. Check that pattern out here if you’re looking for a more traditional slipper shape. They also look roomier so you can wear them with socks if you like.

[Photo: Maymade Knits]

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