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 Our 5th annual Maine Knitting Workshop July 20-25, 2009 is expected to be another success. Our knitting retreat is a great way to get away from the heat of the summer, the noise of the city, and the rush of the day-to-day. The very talented Bill Huntington of Hope Spinnery Hope Spinnery will again be our teacher as fans of fiber congregate on our beautiful site in New England for a Fiber Arts Retreat. We welcome young, old, novice and experienced knitters to learn, share, enjoy and relax with us.Bill Huntington is a fiber artist and the owner of Hope Spinnery, a wind-powered fiber mill in coastal Maine. He is a self-taught knitter who first learned to knit and purl even before moving to his grandmother's secluded homestead in Vermont over 20 years ago. In Vermont, his talent matured exponentially and Bill is now a well-known figure in the field. He has a deep passion for fiber arts and, more specifically, a continual fascination with the world of color and pattern. Bill is a knitter, designer, spinner, and color artist. A native of Harpswell, Maine, for the last twelve years he has settled in the small town of Hope, in Maine’s mid-coast region. In Hope, Bill has focused successfully on the creation of Hope Spinnery. Bill now pursues his fiber interests as a full time career as well as an everyday pastime. Hosted at our Retreat Center, Medomak's guests enjoy being surrounded by fields of blueberries, woods of pine and oak, and a sparkling clear lake just down the hill! Participants find it a wonderful setting to learn knitting, meet new friends, work on unfinished projects, learn new techniques, improve knitting skills, eat great food and enjoy the beautiful New England landscape. Cabins are simple, yet clean and comfortable. The learning spaces vary from rooms in our historic lodge, to an outdoor amphitheater, from rocking chairs on our porch, to a pontoon boat on the lake. Meals that will be dreamt about for months are served in our dining hall or outside at picnic tables on the front lawn. Our style is laid-back graciousness and our aim is not only to make you feel comfortable, but at home. As part of the knitting retreat participants will also have the opportunity to observe the wonder of a working farm for an "on the hoof" experience, including the excitement of seeing how yarns are dyed naturally, as well as how they come to life at a spinnery. Because so many artisans are close-by, inspiration is endless. The opportunity to meet Katharine Cobey, world renowned fiber artist, at her studio and listen as she describs her creations is always a highlight of the week. New in 2009, Demetrio Bautista Lazo from Mexico will be joining us about the artist Considered by Mexican and international weavers to be one of the best rug weavers of his generation, he has had solo exhibits in both Mexico and the US and has been featured in the book, Zapotec Weavers (Museum of New Mexico Press) as well as The Oaxacan Times (an English language publication for Oaxacan visitors). Demetrio is known for his natural dye colors and innovative designs based on tradition. As a third generation weaver he has made his own mark as designer and dyer using dyes from 9 types of native or locally grown plants plus cochineal, a small insect that grows only on Prickly Pear Cactus. Through experimentation, he has learned to combine dyes and use a variety of acid and base modifiers to achieve a rich and varied natural palette of over 300 colors. At Medomak Demetrio will teach methods of dying using the natural plants he brings with him as well as those on site, in Maine. Knit n' Peace Knit n' Maine also offers exciting possibilities through local vendors and artists who have their wares on display and for sale giving fiber lovers a sample the fiber Maine has to offer. Participants are free to set up a table and bring any of their own products to sell to the group. For us, it was not about the competition, but about sharing and helping with exposure. From seacolored yarns, using a seawater process, to handspun cashmere, felting to hand spinning, there was bound to be something new for everyone. Bill is on hand each day along with several guest artists to provide plenty of one-on-one instruction. Call us toll free at 866-633-6625 for additional information. For pricing information click on the registration form in the upper right hand side of this page. For information on accommodations at Medomak click here Our location, in the mid-coast region of Maine, offers a host of recreational activities. For more information click here To view a suggested packing list click here GROUP DISCOUNT If you are interested in organizing a group of friends, family or whomever, for 2009 we offer discounts to groups of five or more. Call for more details. To register, click on the registration button at the top of the page or contact us at our winter office. Our past workshops were a success... We called it the “Knitting Workshop” but it really was a Wool and Fiber Festival at Medomak! From spinning to basic knitting and purling, from felting to “fiber on the hoof”, we learned so much more about where a sweater comes from than any of us ever imagined. Did you know that all goats have cashmere? That was the lesson at Yvonne Taylor’s, Be sure to check out the Retreat Center's gallery to view more photos from former workshops.  Here is what participant's are saying about our 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008 knitting workshops:"Bill is a very patient and knowledgeable as well as a positive teacher." "Bill's depth of knowledge is incredible and he is so laid back and patient with my questions." "Katherine Cobey's studio is in a wonderful setting overlooking the bay and her art is so imaginative. What a treat!" "The trip to Katherine Cobey's open up new thought patterners for me. Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Lovely facilities, food and setting. Instruction was excellent and I really valued the fact that we learned from one another." "I loved meeting others who share my passion for knitting." "Bill really is a cut above. He is a real artist." “The trip to Nanny’s farm blew me away.” “Experiencing Maine – including the coastal towns, the camp, the farms, everything I learned about being “green” (composting, eating organic foods, natural fibers vs. synthetics, etc), was amazing!” “I gained a better understanding of/appreciation for what it takes to produce the wool we buy in stores, and the people and animals who produce it.” “The food was sumptuous, a real treat! I have dreams about Karen’s chocolate chip cookies…” “The yoga. That was my first time, loved it." I learned so much -- I’m not the same person I was before this experience. I really felt like I was part of something special and I was soooo sad to leave. Thank you!” "The quality of the food was EXCEPTIONAL… better than I’ve had at some fancy resorts. " "Formost was the relaxed atmosphere/instruction provided by Bill & Geri. We each set out on our own tasks supported by excellent instructors." The staff was wonderful and helpful in the best of ways and the food was terrific!" "Bill and Geri were so knowledgeable and helpful. They both had a very hands-on, relaxed teaching style. They were able to quickly analyze the group and adjust their lesson to suit the needs and desires of the group." I wanted to be able to create a better hat. Got that and more! I explored colors more than I anticipated and between Bill & Geri's use of color was of great importance to me." "I have already been raving to my friends and family about the wonderful time I had at Medomak. I particularly enjoyed the natural beauty of Maine, the wonderful people I met at the workshop, and the fact that I can now do something other than just knit and purl!" "I am glad that I had the opportunity to see Nanney Kennedy’s indigo dying technique." "I appreciated the focus of an instructor on my needs. The entire week was a HIGH!" "Bill and Geri were fantastic instructors. They both had a wide knowledge of knitting and openly answered all questions. They both demonstrated their flexibility in modifying the schedule to meet the needs of the group." Check out one participant's (Naomi) blog about the retreat at A Little Red Hen |
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