Dog House Yarns & More

Yarn, gifts, and accessories for the knitter, crocheter, and spinner

 

Fall Spinning Retreat at Graves Mountain Lodge is September 22, 2012 
More information will be posted during the summer. 
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Dog House Yarns
Spring Knitting Retreat

Saturday, April 21, 2012
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Graves Mountain Lodge in Madison County, VA

        Please join us for A Knitting Sampler on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Graves Mountain Lodge in Syria, Virginia for the second annual Dog House Yarns Spring Knitting Retreat.  The Lodge is nestled at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the shadow of Shenandoah National Park and it's the perfect place to unwind, make new friends, and learn new things. The Lodge is known throughout the region for its bountiful food, beautiful scenery, and relaxed atmosphere so we're looking forward to a fun day.

        Our featured speaker this year Is Melissa Weaver Dunning who is a well-known fiber artist and singer of traditional ballads specializing in the music of England, Ireland, and Scotland.  She is a tartan and linen weaver, a skilled spinner, and a compulsive knitter who loves to share the history and context of traditional textile arts and to pass on the efficient techniques of time worn skills.
Welcome to Graves Mountain Lodge
      Melissa and her husband Peter run the Bluemont Concert Series and she teaches knitting, weaving, and spinning throughout the area and at the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina.

Here's what's happening throughout the day:

MORNING

Registration:  8:30 to 9:30 a.m.  Look for us downstairs in the main building.  Check in, make some friends, knit, and enjoy the scenery until the morning program begins.   Note:  pre-registration is required.

9 a.m. - Vendor booths open in the smaller downstairs room at the Lodge.  A list of vendors will be posted soon.
9:30 to 10:15 a.m.  From Cottage to Factory -- A Musical Tour of Our Crafting Traditions

        Sit and knit while Melissa's clear unaccompanied singing brings the old story songs to life and weaves vibrant pictures of life in another age.  Her program includes 18th and 19th century songs and tales of spinning, weaving, and other trades from both before and after the Industrial Revolution.

10:15 to 10:30 a.m. Break. Vendors available.
Melissa Weaver Dunning
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A British KnittingSampler

      We're all familiar with the words, but do we really know the differences among the many techniques and styles that we have learned from the talented knitters of the British Isles?  What do Aran, Fisherman, Guernsey, Gansey, Jersey, and all those other names of sweaters actually mean?  Do cable patterns really represent geographical regions?  What is jumper weight yarn?  How does Fair Isle differ from other color work techniques?  What's so special about Shetland lace?  Melissa usually devotes a day or more to hands-on workshops on each of the regions and techniques she will be highlighting in our program so she has a wealth of knowledge to share with us.  Sit and knit on a project from home while Melissa enhances your knitting knowledge.
Lunch:  12:30 p.m.  Lunch, included in the registration fee, is family-style, all-you-can-eat.  After lunch there's time for a final visit to our vendors or to make new friends until the afternoon programs begin.  The vendor room closes at 1:45.

1:45 - 2:15 p.m.  Fashions and More. Wear or bring something you've knitted, show it off for us, and tell us all about it.  Or tell us about your knitting guild or a distant workshop or craft school you've attended. 

2:15 - 2:30 p.m.  Afternoon Break.

2:30 - 4:30 p.m.  CHOOSE ONE of the following two sessions:
The dining porch next to the main dining room.
     Group 1: Making Magic With Handpainted Yarns. Hand-dyed yarns are beautiful in the skein but can be disappointing in the knitting. Come learn about techniques and pattern choices that will make these yarns really work for you. Melissa Weaver Dunning also shares a trunk show of handpainted garments. Yarn provided for classwork.
Mary Gildersleeve
      Group 2: Getting Started With Color Knitting. Are you confused by the many different types of color work in knitting? Mary Gildersleeve of By Hand With Heart designs will show how the most popular techniques differ and you will begin a baby cap or small sampler in the traditional Fair Isle style. Bring a main color and several other colors from your worsted weight yarn stash. Those of you who attended our first retreat will remember Mary as the featured speaker.and she now teaches and works on the weekends at our shop in Culpeper.

5 p.m. Time to say good-bye to old friends and new acquaintances.
Registration fee:  $60 includes programs, morning beverages and doughnuts, all-you-can-eat lunch, afternoon beverages, gift bag, door prizes, and an opportunity to sit and knit while spring pops out across the valley.

Overnight accommodations or additional lunches:  If you would like to remain for dinner Saturday night or stay overnight, please make reservations directly with Graves Mountain Lodge  540-923-4231  If you have a friend or family member traveling with you who will not be attending the retreat but who would like to have lunch with our group, you may purchase lunch tickets at the retreat registration table when you sign in upon arrival.







Graves Mountain Lodge in very early spring




Main lodge building where the retreat is being held.

The main building at Graves Mountain Lodge

To find Graves Mountain Lodge on Mapquest click here.
Directions to Graves Mountain Lodge:
From Culpeper - Take Rt 29 South for seven miles.  Turn Right on Rt 609.  Stay on Rt 609 for 9 miles to stop sign.  Turn Right on Rt 231 North, go 1/2 mile, turn Left on Rt 670.  Go 4 miles, the Lodge is on Left. (half hour drive)

From Fredericksburg – Take Rt. 3 to Culpeper and turn south onto Rt 29 and follow as above.

From Charlottesville - Take Rt 29 North for approx. 26 miles to Madison.  Take Left on 29 Business North.  Go 1 mile, turn Left on Rt 231 North.  Stay on Rt 231 North for 8 miles. Turn Left on Rt 670.  Travel 4 miles, Graves Mountain Lodge is on Left. (1 hour drive)

From Front Royal, VA - Take Rt 522 South through Flint Hill.  Turn right on Rt 522/211 to Sperryville.  At Sperryville, turn Left into town of Sperryville and Left at flashing light onto Rt 522.  Drive 1.5 miles to Right on Rt 231 South.  Drive 14 miles, turn Right on Rt 670. Travel 4 miles, Graves Mountain Lodge is on Left. (1 hour drive)
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Please support these great companies who provided door prizes or other assistance for our 2011 knitting retreat.  We offer their products at our shop.  Our 2012 donors will be posted soon.
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