Our fourth and final tutor is…

We are so excited to reveal our final tutor to you. It’s a fantastic line up of four truly talented wooly artisans and we just can’t wait to get them all together at our retreat!

Our fourth tutor is Renée Callahan!

As we did with our other tutors, we asked her a few questions which she was kind enough to answer so that we could get to know her a bit better!

What’s your name and where do you come from / are you now?

My name is Renée and I am from Seattle. I came to the UK many years ago as an exchange student, met a boy and decided to stay!

– Could you give us a brief outline of how you started knitting, and your yarny career to date?

After studying fashion design with knitwear at Central Saint Martins college, I began to hoard yarn and a range of knitting machines.  I love textiles and technical challenge of knitting. There is real joy in producing something both useful and beautiful! After several years of making samples for designers and helping students with final collections, I decided to give up my studio to pursue hand knitting full time. I love to see new knitters taking to the needles and teach a range of hand knitting classes.

– Which design are you most proud of and why?

That would probably be Angelus Novus: a cardigan design that is part of the Klee Collection.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/angelus-novus

I was pleased with the design that sort of came to my brain fully knit up and I admit it made me feel pretty clever. Even better is that other people seem to like it as well! I love to see other people’s versions.

– What is your favourite drink to accompany your knitting?

Since moving to the UK, I have become a greedy tea drinker! The bigger the mug, the better. I am also partial to a gin cocktail on occasion when simple knitting is on hand…

– What will you be teaching at The Knit Tea Retreat? 

Brioche Stitch Basics and Twice The Fun:Learn To Double Knit

You can find Renée online as @eastlondonknit on social media, EastLondonKnit on Ravelry and at http://www.eastlondonknit.co.uk

Renée is going to fit right in at our retreat, being a self confessed “greedy tea drinker”! So, are Brioche and Double Knitting techniques that are on your must-learn list?

To recap, our four amazing tutors are as follows:

1. Anniken Allis teaching Shetland Lace, Colourwork and Steeking
2. Jen Best teaching Crosswheel Dorset Buttons and Posy Dorset Button brooch
3. Emma Bevan teaching needle felting a miniature landscape
4. Renée Callahan teaching Brioche and Double Knitting.

We really look forward to having you join us on what is shaping up to be a pretty awesome weekend!

Dates for your Diary

It’s getting very close to that time when we will be opening bookings! The form to request to book will be available via the “Bookings” page on Sunday 8th October after lunch (UK time!). Beware leaving booking too long; we only have a limited number of places and once they are gone, that’s it!

This weekend: We will be releasing a podcast filling you in on all the nitty gritty details. It will all be available in written form here on our website as well to make it easier for you to check information.

Sunday 8th October 🎉 BOOKINGS OPEN!! 🎉 We will open the bookings page in the early afternoon and there will be a link to click to take you to the booking form. Once you have submitted it, we will be in touch shortly thereafter to confirm whether you have a place. If all the places sell, you will have the opportunity to go on a waiting list in case someone drops out.