The notion of spending winter days knitting in the cosy atmosphere of Parcevall Hall’s Tudor lounges is a highly attractive prospect. That’s why with fellow friend and knitting tutor, Gwen Wagner Adair, I have planned a 3-day weekend knitting retreat at Parcevall Hall commencing on the last day of January. We’re going to delve deep into the Yorkshire Dales colourwork glove tradition, with classes and talk based around this and Yorkshire’s woollen textile history.
Regular readers of my blog will know my sister and I have a strong interest in Yorkshire’s knitting past. That passion has inspired us to knit several pairs of gloves based on specific historic pairs of Yorkshire Dales gloves. Participants in the knitting retreat will be offered the option to knit one of these, with either a fringed or ribbed cuff according to their preference. All materials will be provided along with expert tuition. We will also provide relevant simple options for beginner knitters.
We will have two guest speakers during the weekend. Farzana is coming to share with us about the experience of South Asian immigrants in Yorkshire’s wool mills, and Barbara is coming to show us historic colourwork items from the Knitting and Crochet Guild collection. These include an antique pair of Dentdale gloves which we will examine in great detail:
I’ll have with me my collection of Yorkshire Dales knitting sheaths. I will demonstrate their use and will offer participants the option to try out supported knitting with a sheath for themselves.
I am confident that the weekend will be a very unique and very pleasurable experience. Join us!
