Wrapped in Fiber: A Retreat for the Senses
When: January 17 - 19, 2025
Where: The Smiley Manse, Springfield, VT
With Ellen A. Thompson, Ed.D 802ARTsHouse President, Jim Holzschuh, Woodturner and Hand Spinner, and Nicole Jamison
Join us in a fiber retreat like no other! Are you interested in weaving, knitting, spinning, drop spindling and more? This retreat is for you.
Imagine yourself in a centuries-old farmhouse located on a sloping hillside in Springfield, Vermont surrounded by fiber and fiber folk! Cozy up to the hearth to take part in these offerings, or bring your own project to complete. Participants may stay overnight in the Manse or in the Hartness House Hotel just down the hill. Meals are included in the cost of the retreat.
Register Today!
Please fill out our signup form when registering.
In 2005, Ellen turned her passion for all things fiber into a working goat farm with her husband, Jim Holzschuh. Together they created Yellow Dog Farm (YDF). YDF raises Angora goats and a few alpacas to produce lustrous exotic fibers. These are used to create mill spun yarn, hand dyed or painted by Ellen. Ellen also spins yarns for knitters and weavers. She is especially interested in the use of color and texture for her knitted and woven goods.
Jim had been a wood turner prior to getting Angora goats in 2005. He started making tools for fiber artists - yarn bowls, shawl pins, nostepinnes and niddie doddies. “As we became more familiar with the fiber from our animals both my wife and I decided it was time to learn how to spin. Ellen took on the task of learning on a spinning wheel and I learned on a drop spindle. This was in 2005 or 6 and we have been spinning ever since. As a woodturner I started making drop spindles and have developed and perfected a method that ensures that the spindle will be well balanced and provide years of enjoyment for the user. With a single inexpensive drop spindle you can make finished two ply yarn ready for knitting or crocheting.”
Nicole Jamison has been knitting for 45 years. She is currently an elementary school teacher in Swanton, Vermont. She spends as much free time as she can knitting or reading. She also enjoys hanging out with her teenage kids who are turning out to be pretty amazing young adults.
Fiber Retreat schedule
Friday, January 17, 2025: 5-9:00 PM
Meet and Greet with Soup & Spin
Meet your hosts and the weekend’s facilitators as well as other participating fiber enthusiasts. Bring your current fiber project to share with others. Try your hand making a lanyard with a handmade (Jim) Louette!
Saturday, January 18, 2025: 9-5:00 PM
9:00 AM - Gather & Discuss
9:30 -12:00 PM - Workshop Choice
Hand Spinning with a Drop Spindle
Instructor: Jim Holzschuh
Description: Learn how to use a drop spindle to create beautiful hand spun yarns. Jim will demonstrate both spinning and plying. Participants will need to bring a drop spindle or can borrow and/or purchase one of Jim’s hand turned spindles.
Branch Weaving
Instructor: Ellen A Thompson
Description: Using found branches, participants will learn the basics of weaving using color and texture. These unique weavings will brighten up any room. Branches and yarns will be supplied by Ellen
Knitting a Winter “Roll of the Dice” Shawl
Instructor: Ellen A Thompson
Description: This knitting class will help participants understand how to knit, purl, add and decrease stitches using a variety of yarns to create a powerful color palette. This shawl is always unique, warm, and cozy.
12:00 - 1:00 PM GROUP LUNCH
1:00 PM Gather & Discuss
1:30 - 4:30 PM
Drop In Spinning
Bring your own spinning wheel or drop spindle or try one of ours. Take time to better understand how fiber is spun into yarn.
Drop in Weaving
Bring your loom of choice or try one of ours. Available loom types - rigid heddle, branch weaving, tapestry, and circular looms will be available to try out.
Drop In Knitting
Continue your morning project or swap into one brought with you. Knitting books, patterns, and more will be available to peruse. Take part in a “Yarn Tasting” with Yellow Dog Farm yarns: 2 ply boucle, brushed, sport, and bulky mohair blend yarns and 2 ply sport alpaca blend yarns. Yarns will be available to purchase.
4:30 - 5:00 PM Gather & Discuss
7-9:00 PM Fiber Stories and Participant Sharing
Sunday, January 19, 2025: 9-1:00 PM
9:00 AM - Gather & Discuss
9:30 -12:00 PM - Workshop Choice
Hand Spinning with a Drop Spindle
Instructor: Jim Holzschuh
Description: Learn how to use a drop spindle to create beautiful hand-spun yarns. Jim will demonstrate both spinning and plying. Participants will need to bring a drop spindle or can borrow and/or purchase one of Jim’s hand-turned spindles.
Branch Weaving
Instructor: Ellen A Thompson
Description: Using found branches, participants will learn the basics of weaving using color and texture. These unique weavings will brighten up any room. Branches and yarns will be supplied by Ellen
Knitting a Winter “Roll of the Dice” Shawl
Instructor: Nicole Jamison
Description: This knitting class will help participants understand how to knit, purl, add and decrease stitches using a variety of yarns to create a powerful color palette. This shawl is always unique, warm, and cozy.
12-1:00 PM GROUP LUNCH
1-1:30 PM Gather & Farewells
