Online Nordic Retreat 2021

We are so excited for our first February retreat, all about Nordic knitting! With a key-note speech by Karie Westermann and technical talks by RiverKnits and Midwinter Yarns it’s going to be packed full of information as well as all the community chat and fun things you find at our events, but from the comfort of your own sofa!

Want to know more about Scandinavian knitting traditions, colour theory and yarn characteristics?

• With a deep-dive into the different aspects of Nordic knitting in Scandinavian countries, Karie Westermann will be opening the retreat with her keynote speech on Friday night.
• Known for their keen sense of colour, Becci and Markus of RiverKnits will be guiding us through the technical side of colour-theory on Saturday morning, and how to choose shades to make the best of your stranded knitting.
• Estelle of Midwinter Yarns will be introducing us to the knitting traditions, mills and yarns that are the foundation of Scandinavian knitting on Saturday afternoon.
• Saturday night we will have a Zoom Sit & Knit where we can catch up and discuss what we learned, and Sunday will be our jam-packed marketplace! If you own a yarn or fibre related business and would like to participate in the marketplace, please fill in this form: https://forms.gle/NdFDRND8SnRVtqGm7

The price for this weekend will be £40. Gift bags will be available separately at a cost of £35+p&p. By keeping the cost low and the gift bag as an optional extra we hope to make our retreat more accessible for those on a tighter budget.

Our marketplace is jam-packed with gorgeous virtual stalls; here is a list of the wonderful companies who will be joining us on Sunday, as well as the IG Live timetable.

Marketplace Vendors

Name	Website	Description
Cartref Yarn	www.cartrefyarn.com	From Farm to Yarn in Wales. Our exclusive blend of Welsh Mule and Welsh Blue Faced Leicester yarns are sourced, processed and hand dyed in Wales! Hand-picked fleece from Brecon Wool Depot is carefully processed by an independent mill in Ceredigion before being hand dyed by Zoë and Jennie. Non-superwash yarn in rich, heritage colours, Cartref Yarn is perfect for garments, accessories, and particularly well suited for colourwork.
Owl About Yarn	www.owlaboutyarn.com	Owl About Yarn offers yarn and fibre in vibrant jewel tones. Focusing on nylon-free blends, Jennie dyes wearable colourways designed to brighten your wardrobe! Also offered are stitch markers, progress keepers and one of a kind project bags. The new BFL DK range in semi-solid colours is launching at this retreat and will be a regular presence in the shop going forward. Sign up for the newsletter list at Owl About Yarn Newsletter for colourful, cheerful emails every now and again!
Cat & Sparrow UK	https://catandsparrow.co.uk	Cat & Sparrow UK is a small-batch indie dyer of yarn and fibre. Delicious blends and a wide variety of colourways mean that there is something for everyone. Rachael’s focus is on natural and sustainably, responsibly sourced fibres in both her fibres and yarns, which range from the simple to the luxurious. She also sells gorgeous 3d-printed spinning tools and Lykke knitting needles and hooks, stitch markers, snips and leather wrist rulers.
Pippin Yarns	https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/PippinYarn	Pippin Yarns is a new dyer who launched in 2020 and makes kits and sets aimed at time poor makers. Emma is the Pippin Yarns dyer and says ‘I find real joy in pulling some beautiful yarn out of a project bags. Pippin Yarns focus’ on kits and sets including sock sets, hat sets and fades or kits for shawls together with individual skeins for people who like to choose their own.
Garthenor Organic	garthenor.com	Garthenor Organic produces certified organic, climate positive yarn. In weights from lace to super chunky, our yarns are available in saturated dyed and subtle undyed tones. Totally breed specific and traceable from sheep to skein, each and every batch is hand finished in the workshop here on our organic farm.
Mrs S Creations	https://www.mrsscreations.com	Based in East Yorkshire, Gilly is the dyer and bag maker behind Mrs S Creations. Gilly dyes yarns in small batches and creates colourways inspired by life. There is also a selection of project bags and accessories and a dyed to order option for yarns.
YarnAddict by Anniken Allis	www.yarnaddict.co.uk	YarnAddict by Anniken Allis stocks a selection of colourful, affordable yarns perfect for Anniken’s lace & stranded colour work patterns. Anniken has also created several online courses. Choose from Successful Lace Knitting, Stranded Colour Work & Steeking, Continental Knitting, Finishing Techniques & Aventuras Socks. Work through the courses in your own time at your own pace & get help & support as needed. Private & group Zoom lessons are also available.
Beaker Button	http://beakerbutton.co.uk	Extensive range of Dorset button kits including sewing kits, jewellery and button kits, books and knitting and crochet patterns with a button element, all designed and made by us. Rings, our own hand dyed threads, tools and materials for button making.
Charlie Button Yarns	https://yarn-n-yarns.com/collections/charlie-button-yarns	Did you know that the UK is home to over 60 different breeds of sheep – more than any other country in the world? You may well be familiar with Merino yarns imported from abroad or more local Blue Faced Leicester, but have you ever knitted with Ryeland, or Manx Loaghtan, Jacob or Hebridean? Charlie Button Yarns wants to celebrate that huge range of diversity and character and introduce knitters to a few British yarns and breeds that perhaps aren’t as well known. From nutty browns to flecked greys, from dark chocolates to crisp ivories there is a lot to be uncovered from exploring our British Sheep breeds. The yarns are created from fleeces from farms local to me in Lancashire, UK. They are sorted by hand and then processed and spun by a one-woman mill specialising in small batch processing. This means we can work with much smaller quantities of fleece so we don’t have to blend with other breeds and can get just the yarn we want. You can find DKs and 4pys and mini sets dyed with natural, locally-foraged dye-stuffs. For more information follow Charlie on Instagram – @charliebuttonyarns or email: CharlieButtonKnitKits@gmail.com
The Loveliest Yarn Company	www.theloveliestyarncompany.co.uk	The Loveliest Yarn Company, based in the UK, is an online yarn shop bringing you the loveliest yarn, patterns & knitting accessories. From artisan hand-dyed yarns, including The Wool Barn and Banshee Yarns, and beautiful accessories, including CoCoKnits, we hope to make buying yarn online more delightful.
RiverKnits	https://www.riverknits.uk	Hand dyed colour for adventures in the making. We dye British wool yarns in colours and styles suitable for many projects, influenced by the UK landscape and waterways.
Marina Skua	www.marinaskua.com	Marina dyes single-source, natural fibre yarns by hand in rich, subtle colours. She sources natural fibres from local farms in Somerset and works with UK mills to create unique yarns. Her current main yarn ranges are spun from fibre sourced within 25 miles of her home studio in Bath. Mendip (4-Ply and DK) is slightly rustic, woollen-spun yarn dyed in rich semi-solid colours. Caia Baby Alpaca is a very light 4-ply, and is dyed in variegated jewel tones that complement the subtle sheen of the soft yarn. She also designs knitting patterns with a focus on colourwork and texture.
Bellica yarns	www.bellicayarns.co.uk	Bellica Yarns sells a range of beautiful project bags and hand dyed yarn for all your knitting and crochet needs.
Orchidean Luxury Yarns	https://luxuryyarns.co.uk	Orchidean Luxury Yarns brings exquisite, fun and fabulous hand dyed yarns in a wide choice of luxury bases including cashmere, silk and alpaca, and come with a range of exclusive patterns and kits. You’ll also find a selection of project jewellery made with semi-precious gemstones and crystals.
Emily Foulds	https://www.emilyfoulds.com	We love inspiring the knitter to add to their wardrobe. We love yarn, the colours, the texture and fibres.
Dragon Hill Studio	https://dragonhillstudio.com/	We hand dye a large range of self-striping sock yarns, beautifully presented in ‘cakes’ tied with ribbon, along with a range of luxury lace, 4ply, Sport and DK yarns. We also have some lovely Tunisian crochet patterns and kits, designed by Sharon.
Yarn N Yarns	https://yarn-n-yarns.com/	Local Yarn Shop, located just outside of Cardiff. I sell yarns and accessories from brands such as West Yorkshire Spinners, Erika Knight, Rowan and Opal sock yarns. As well as beautiful British Yarns from small producer Charlie Button Yarns, and gorgeous hand dyed yarns from local indie dyer ByMirandaMae
Midwinter Yarns	www.midwinteryarns.com	Midwinter Yarns are passionate suppliers of natural fibre yarns of Scandinavian origins. Their range includes strong sweater yarns from Sweden, naturally dyed Finnish wool, cool linen yarn for summer knits, and their very own line of single flock wool.
Curated Yarn Co.	https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CuratedYarnCo	Curated Yarn Co. is a Luxe Hand Dyed Yarn Company run by Stevie near Brighton on the Sussex Coast. Curated Yarn Co. specialise in inspiration from the past, with beautiful colour ways designed to evoke nostalgia and joy! Offering Yarn, Clubs, Mini Sets and Curated X Creatives Boxes, they collaborate with other makers and pattern designers to give you exquisite fibre inspired treats that compliment your hand dyed yarn and cosy up your knitting space. Stevie is always available to curate colour ways into sets that meet your needs and can put together custom orders for that personal service. With a large range of tonals and bases you will always find the perfect yarn for your project. Check out Stevie’s podcast which also features brand updates and sneak peeks at whats coming up. You can find this and the Curated Insider newsletter at https://linktr.ee/curatedyarnco