March 31st - April 2nd, 2023
Jackson's Falls Inn, Prince Edward County
We all are in need of finding some peace and inner quiet during these tumultuous times. Crafting has often been a way to relax and unwind and never more so than now. We find comfort and our mental health often restored with every stitch and repetitive movements of our hands. This weekend we will draw out all the parts of our craft that brings peace through our hands to our heads
We will do easy yoga that can be done in a chair or on the floor and learn to find our own meditation with our knitting. We will take part in a sound meditation with Lisa Marie from County Fields & Forests, who will be bringing along crystal bowls and a beautiful gong.
Plus we will take part in guided meditation and learn a few knitting tricks from our friend Fiona Ellis. There will be time for walks and hopefully warm enough for an evening bonfire.
We have never needed these calm, quiet, stress reliving tools more than we do right now. Gift yourself with this weekend and leave it feeling restored!
Learn from our experts and relax in the cozy comfort of Jackson's Falls Country Inn and old school house.
Our instructors are Fiona Ellis and Lisa Marie Taylor of County Fields and Forest which is a ‘Natural Wellness Education Centre’.
Fiona Ellis
Fiona Ellis is an uncurable creative. From early lessons in creating knits with her grandmother, on to studying for a bachelor-of-arts degree in fashion knitwear design, and throughout almost three decades of work as a professional designer, her river of creative ideas just flows and flows. She has shared her creative concepts and designs through her books, her on-line lessons, her live workshops and in person. Fiona has developed a mindful approach to her work and teaching, rippling out of her experiences as a yoga instructor. She loves to share her passion with her students - let Fiona change your world by drawing out your own inner uncurable creative!
Fiona is the author of the books Inspired Cable Knits, Knitspiration Journal and Inspired Fair Isle Knits & is also an instructor at Craftsy.
She is also a qualified Yoga instructor.
You can find out what she is currently doing at www.fionaellisonline.com also see all of her extensive design portfolio on Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/designers/fiona-ellis
Lisa Marie (she/they) is a queer Multidimensional Healing Practitioner. A experienced Reiki Master, Certified Kundalini Yoga & Meditation Teacher, Restorative Yoga Teacher, Certified Gong and Resonance Sound Meditation Guide.
Prices:
Prices for the weekend vary according to accommodation locations. The price includes 2 nights accommodations, all your meals for the weekend and your classes.
Please note, there will be a $100 fee for cancellations (no charge if COVID restrictions cause the cancellation and a full refund will be give).
Due to the limited number of bedrooms at Jackson's Falls Inn we will be also having guests staying in Picton at airbnbs. Everyone should arrive at Jackson's Falls on Friday and we will have a full shuttle service to take the group to the airbnb at the end of our day.
Pick up shuttle service will be in the morning at 7 am, in time for morning yoga and then leaving at 9 pm in the evenings. So you can fully enjoy your evenings and have a glass or two of wine. You can leave your car at Jackson's Falls for the weekend if you want to use the shuttle service. The drive to Picton is about 15 mins, 18 kms.
Itinerary
FRIDAY
Arrival anytime after 2 pm at Jackson's Falls Country Inn. Rooms will be ready at 3 pm for occupancy.
Dinner is at 6 pm in the school house.
Time for us to all get to know each other! – we suggest you bring a poem, quote or short inspirational story to share.
Friday evening after dinner
We will gather after dinner to knit and have a Q&A session with discussions around knitting gauge, swatching and yarn substitution with Fiona Ellis and Lesley Snyder. We will knit and chat and maybe have a glass of wine or two!
SATURDAY
Sat 7:30 to 8:15 am (early): Yoga Practise (45 mins) This will be a gentle, accessible practice. Fiona has taken training in how to offer modifications for all physical abilities. Chairs will be available for participants who are unable or uncomfortable sitting on the floor. Today’s practice will focus on shoulders and neck.
Please bring: your own mat, a cushion, a necktie or towel (optional), something to keep you warm (a knitted shawl is perfect) and wear comfy clothes.
Breakfast: 8:30 am
9 am to 12 pm: MEET YOUR NEW FRIENDS - SWATCH & GAUGE
It’s a fabulous feeling when a pattern reveals itself during a knit project, and when the garment has the perfect fit. Let’s learn how to capture the experience of having that wonderful feeling every time we knit - by spending time with our friends Swatch and Gauge!
Beginning by looking at the all-important aspect of how and why to make a gauge swatch. Drawing on this information, we will examine using gauge swatches: how to adjust a pattern to match our gauge and achieve the perfect fit, how to adjust a sleeve for style and fit and how to add a cable panel.
We will then move on to explore the creative buzz and ideas that can emanate from the practise of making a swatch. We will look at how to reap information from our swatches, taping into our knitting creativity taking it to spectacular levels. We will learn how our swatches can reveal much more than gauge, such as auditioning yarn, getting a sneak peek at new stich pattern, and an intimate look at our colour palettes.
What to Bring: Swatch from homework, tape measure, gauge swatch measuring tool.
Homework: Using a light-coloured medium weight (DK or Worsted weight) yarn and appropriate needles; cast on 24 sts.
Set-up Row (RS): (K1, p1) to end.
Set-up Row (WS): (P1, k1) to end.
Beginning with a knit row, work 20 rows in St st.
Est Cable pattern
Row 1 (RS): P4, k6, p4, knit to end.
Row 2 (WS): P10, k4, p6, k4.
Rows 3 & 4: Rep rows 1 & 2.
Row 5: P4, C6B, p4, knit to end.
Row 6: Rep row 2.
Rep rows 1-6 for pattern. Work a further 2 reps of pattern (18 rows total). Bind off all stiches. Wash & block your swatch.
Lunch: 12:30
1:30 to 2:45 pm: Sound meditation and Reiki healing
Lisa Marie will weave together modalities of meditation, movement, breathwork, song, chanting, sound, mysticism, poetry, and plant medicine. The intention of these practices is to access channels of sensory awareness, inner listening, and a reverence for what is present. Through exploring the subtle practices of tuning in, there is a continual opportunity to cultivate a relationship with the heart’s intuition and the mind's higher consciousness. We are here to remember our belonging, to honour our commitment to nature and to acknowledge & celebrate our ability to become better humans.
3 - 5 pm: You will have time to relax, knit or take a contemplative walk. Fiona will be on hand to follow up on techniques or knitting questions. She will also set a simple exercise designed to encourage you to find your own inspiration to be used in class on Sunday.
Dinner: 6:00 pm
7pm : Show & tell of ideas gathered during the afternoon
SUNDAY
7:30 to 8:15 am (early): Yoga Practise (45 mins)
This session will also be accessible to all fitness levels, with chair poses as an option. Today we will focus on hands and wrists.
Breakfast: 8:30 am
9:30 am to 12:30 pm: EMBROIDERING THE TRUTH & MENDING OUR WAYS
When we add detail to a story, we describe it as embroidering it. So why not enhance our knits by embroidering them too! These embellishment techniques can bring a project to life and make them totally unique.
We will explore many techniques, from the technical to the whimsical. The opportunities are endless for adding fun, whimsy, texture, sophistication and refinement. Fiona will demo the techniques and show lots of samples. Students will work on their own samples as they harness their own creativity. Leaving the class with a myriad of ideas and techniques that can be applied to projects, used as decorative visible mending or to add character to knitted toys and gnomes!
What to Bring: A small swatch of knitted fabric (approx 6 x 6ins / 15 x 15cm), blunt ended sewing needle, a few lengths of smooth medium weight yarns.
Homework: None, other than making the swatch if you don’t already have one.
12:30 pm Closing Guided Meditation
Lunch 1 pm
Depart after lunch.