After a year off, we are excited to bring back our Knitting & Natural Dyeing Retreat!
✨ Knitting
Get personalized, hands-on support tailored to your projects.
Choose from a flexible schedule of breakout sessions, including:
Understanding gauge
Seaming & finishing
Blocking techniques
Picking up stitches
Cabling (no cable needle!)
Brioche, short rows & steeking
Colorwork
You’ll also have access to 1:1 guidance all weekend long—so whether you’re stuck, learning something new, or refining your skills, we’ve got you covered.
🌿 Natural Dyeing
Learn the art of natural dyeing with expert Sarah Hanson, who will guide you through the process all weekend.
You’ll experience:
Live dyeing demonstrations (yarn + finished garments)
Hands-on opportunities to dye your own pieces
Techniques you can confidently take home and repeat
✨ Have a sweater you love but don’t wear? Bring it—Sarah will show you how to transform it with natural dyes!
🧶 What’s Included
As part of your retreat, you’ll receive:
5 fingering-weight mini skeins
2 full fingering-weight skeins to dye
A custom apron to protect your handmade pieces
Access to additional yarn for purchase throughout the weekend
💛 A Weekend Designed Around You
We shape the experience around your needs.
Tell us what you want to learn—we build sessions accordingly
Sign up anytime for 1:1 help with Allyson & Laura
And enjoy plenty of uninterrupted knitting time to make real progress
More about our natural dyeing expert, Sarah Hanson!
Sarah has worn many hats so far in life and doesn't expect to stop any time soon. From studying textiles and landscape architecture to working in video production and somewhat reluctantly loving running, Sarah is passionate about learning. She loves textiles most of all and enjoys natural dyeing, quilting, and obviously, knitting. Someday she will use her loom for more than one project too!
Sarah has studied natural dyes in the textile department at Lillstreet with Chicago artist Amy Taylor and has completed courses with the Vancouver based natural dye experts at Maiwa. She is currently developing her own consistent practice in natural dyeing.
Pricing
A $800 deposit reserves your spot! Balance payment due in September.
We will then email you and work with you to get the accommodation you require. Spots will go first come first serve, so when you sign up be sure to keep an eye on your email to reserve the accommodation you’d like!
$2200 - A king bed in a two person room with private bathroom - 2 spots available
SOLD OUT $2200 - A king bed in a single room with shared bathroom
$2000 - A king bed in a three person room with private bathroom - 2 spots available
$2000 - A king bed in a two person room with shared bathroom - 1 spot available
$1800 - A twin bed in a two person room with a private bathroom - 3 spots available
$1700 - A twin bed in a two person room with a shared bathroom - 5 spots available
$1700 - A twin bed in a three person room with a private bathroom - 3 spots available
Learn More About Our Retreat Weekends
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Natural Dyeing expert Sarah Hanson leading demos and helping one on one all weekend long
Laura & Allyson, experienced knitting teachers, on hand to answer all your questions all weekend long
Three nights luxury accommodation, including spacious indoor and outdoor spaces, hot tubs, theater room, and fire pit!
Two full days of natural dyeing and knitting instruction
If necessary, transportation to the retreat space from downtown Chicago, leaving Friday at 12pm CST and returning to downtown Chicago at 11am CST
Catered dinners from local chefs Friday and Sunday night
Wood-fired pizza party Saturday night
Three family style breakfasts and two lunches
Plentiful snacks, handmade cocktails, wine, beer, coffee, and tea
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OUR WEEKEND SCHEDULE
FRIDAY
3pm: Guests can start arriving and settling in
3-7pm: Happy hour drinks and snacks, sewing set up
7pm: Dinner from a local caterer
8-10pm: Craft & chill!
SATURDAY
7-10am: A la cart breakfast
9-12pm: Natural dyeing & knitting classes
11-1pm: A la cart lunch
12-5pm: Natural dyeing & knitting classes
5-7pm: Happy hour drinks and snacks
7pm: Pizza party from South Shore Ovenworks
8-10pm: Craft & chill!
SUNDAY
7-10am: A la cart breakfast
9-12pm: Natural dyeing & knitting classes
11-1pm: A la cart lunch
12-5pm: Natural dyeing & knitting classes
5-6pm: Happy hour drinks and snacks
6pm: Dinner from a local caterer
8-10pm: Knit night!
MONDAY
7-9am: A la cart breakfast
10am: Check out and head back home!
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations made up to 1 month prior to the retreat are eligible for a balance payment refund minus a 10% administration fee. Deposits are non-refundable.
Because of the potential for a dramatic Michigan weather event, if there is a blizzard and we have to cancel the retreat you will get a full refund.