We Gotta Get Outa Here...

As the temperatures drop, the soggy days start to stack up, and the darkness squeezes in tighter and tighter from either end of the day, two thoughts come to mind. The first is, "Oh NO! I can't handle this for 4 more months!" and the second, "Alright, where's my wool?" Delightfully, we've come up with a scheme to address both musings, a Winter Weekend Sewing Retreat in Sun Valley! A change of scenery always lifts the cold-weather blahs, especially if that scenery includes the breathtaking winter landscape of Sun Valley, and working with and then wearing wool, well that's simultaneously relaxing, rewarding, cozy and chic.

Ohmygosh! When is it? Where are we staying? What are we making?

January 18, 19 & 20th, 2013, we’ll be heading to the charming Kentwood Lodge, located in the heart of Ketchum. They've got a big, cuddly, conference room ready for us where we'll have all our sewing supplies and equipment set up, and where we'll all be working our woolen magic. We encourage you to bring a woolen project (or several) that are appropriate to your sewing skill level - whether you've been sewing 6 months or 60 years, you'll benefit from the techniques taught, the restorative surroundings and the inspiration from your fellow retreaters. Make a wool skirt, dress, jacket, pants, overcoat, whatever you like! Barbie and Erin will both be on hand to help with fabric and design choices, fitting, and general project questions and techniques. Barbie will be teaching techniques geared toward working with woolens throughout the weekend. Students will be introduced to concepts like turn of cloth and using wool’s formable properties to one’s advantage. Interfacing for wool will be discussed, demonstrated and experimented with. Participants will be taught how to construct a collar that lays correctly, how to do bound buttonholes, tricks for working with and matching plaids in wool, among other techniques. You'll be guided through making several samples and then you'll get help incorporating some of those methods into your own project. Some tailoring methods will also be covered if there is interest; pad stitching, roll lines, etc.

About the logistics:  Arrive Friday at 1pm in the conference room of the Best Western Kentwood Lodge for lunch with your fellow retreaters (included), then we'll get started sewing! If you can’t make it by Friday at 1:00, feel free to join us as soon as you are able. We’ll toil until about 7, or whenever brains feel full and tummies feel empty, then it’s dinner on your own at any of Ketchum’s wonderful restaurants (many within walking distance). We’ll regroup after breakfast on Saturday morning at 10 to resume our projects and learning. Lunch is again provided and there will be snacks and beverages available throughout the day as well. We’ll follow the same timeline for the end of the day, regrouping Sunday morning and Sunday lunch. Around 3pm on Sunday, the retreat will wind down so we can all begin to make our way back to reality...or to the ski slope.

Materials:   We’ll be bringing a couple of machines and sergers, presses, irons, a bunch of sewing tools and a bit of fabric, interfacing and trim for samples. Bring your favorite machines and supplies and let us know ahead of time if there’s anything specific you’d like us to bring along for your use. A more comprehensive supply list will be showing up sometime in the next couple of months, but probably the most pressing (har har) material you'll want to procure is some wonderful wool. Since Caledonia Fine Fabrics is not long for this world, time is of the essence. Need help picking? We have a class for that. And we're always available for quick questions via phone and e-mail, too.

The pricing for the retreat is as follows:

Sewing retreat which includes over 18 hours of sewing workshopping and 3 lunches - $200 per person

We will happily make your arrangements to stay at the Kentwood Lodge. Add $300 per person for single occupancy for 2 nights ($150/night) and $160 per person for double occupancy for 2 nights (assuming you already have made arrangements for a roommate). We’re glad to set you up with another retreater as your roommate if you are open to double occupancy, but obviously if there is not an even number of roommate-wanters, the last person to sign up will not be able to take advantage of the associated savings.

You should probably sign up sooner, rather than later...we limited the number of retreaters so everyone will get enough attention, workspace and equipment. CLICK HERE to go to the registration page.