Fall 2019 One Day Retreats

Bookings are now open for two lovely days of yarn adventures in our Fibershed. Continuing down the path that began in Spring with the shepherds and their heritage flocks, we resume our exploration of all that goes into the fibers that we love. Brooke SInnes and the yarns of Sincere Sheep are known (so fondly!) by many of us and highly respected in our industry for their quality, creativity, and pioneering use of natural dyes.

We have the fortunate opportunity of being able to go to Brooke’s studio in Napa where she will spend the day introducing us to the wonderful world of her dye pots. We will learn more about the history and origins of dyes - and get hands on dyeing our own mini skeins!

And, of course, there will be lunch! This time we will take a break at one of Brooke’s favorite neighborhood cafes. Napa is gorgeous in the Fall and I know I simply cannot wait for October 13 and get my hands all colours!!!

A couple of weeks later, on October 27, we will head up into the Central Valley to Valley Oak Wool Mill to find out how that fleece that was shorn in the spring, turns into yarn we can knit in the winter! The role of functioning local mills that can process farm yarns from neighouring flocks is an important piece of the puzzle of fiber manufacturing and a vital component in finding a use for local wools which would be thrown away if not for a place to take them for processing. Sadly most local mills have largely disappeared from rural America over the last several decades. Slowly, but hopefully surely, we are seeing the re-emergence of some of them in a labor of real love and incredibly hard work. Marcail Williams is such a pioneer and we are lucky enough to be able to visit her Mill and learn more about her journey and the amazing machines she works with. We will enjoy a picnic lunch in the midst of all the fleece and gears and spindles!

October is going to an interesting time … I hope I’ll spend some of it with some of you along the way!

Also …. mark November 16 on your calendars. It’s our Fibershed Wool Symposium in Point Reyes Station. There’s SO much to see and learn about our local fiber neighborhood! And quite an array of our local yarns for you to explore. I am also very honored to be a small part of the Fibershed Knitalong that begins soon - and ends at the Wool Symposium. More on that exciting topic in due course.

Enjoy our beautiful Versaison if you are lucky enough to be in California - and if you aren’t then relish the long, last days of Fall anticipation.

Farm yarns at Valley Oak Wool Mill