Knitting

You are cordially invited to join us for a mid-week knitter’s sojourn in the delightful atmosphere of the renowned Story Inn, located adjacent to Hoosier National Forest, near Brown County State Park in southern Indiana. Although widely known for the beauty evident at every turn in the autumn months, this area is resplendent in all seasons. A January retreat may be the perfect solution for post-holiday burn out, a time to allow the staff at the Story Inn to pamper us with delicious meals, fine wines and the all the comforts they can muster on our behalf.

January is also a wonderful time to pursue an in-depth look into the fine art of knitting, beloved by 18 million North Americans for its creative aspects, therapeutic rhythms and meditative qualities. In addition, the finished project exemplifies the tenacious, analytic and determined natures of those who love the feeling of fine fiber running through their fingers as they perform magic with sticks and string.

We’ll gather for dinner Wednesday evening at the Story Inn Restaurant, widely acclaimed as one of the finest in Indiana. The ambiance is a combination of the antiquity of the general store the building once housed, juxtaposed with white linens, oil lamps and cuisine created with one goal: to provide guests with a unique dining experience they’ll always remember.

After being served a bountiful breakfast on Thursday morning, we’ll spend the day with Barb Bettegnies, recent editor of Creative Knitting magazine and knit instructor in the Indianapolis area. This will be a hands-on class time, not a lecture format or knit theory exercise. Barb will demonstrate ways to improve the quality of your knit projects, from cast-on to finishing details, and will answer specific questions from the attendees about their works-in-progress. Fitting issues will be discussed, with help provided to adapt patterns to fit in ways written patterns seldom address. For example, short rows can be used to personalize the fit of a generously endowed lady or a gentleman with sloping shoulders. Barb’s teaching style is that of gentle persuasion rather than autocratic rule; she readily admits that there are many ways to answer most knitting questions.

A break for lunch will be followed by more class time in the afternoon. If you have questions regarding finishing details, this is an area of specialty for Barb, who learned to love this often-neglected area. If you have a project ready for assembly but are hesitant to start the process, bring it to the retreat for suggestions and demonstrations.

Another evening of being wined and dined will come to an end with casual knitting and conversation for as long as our nodding heads will allow. Breakfast on Friday will conclude the session, with attendees free to head back home or to enjoy the local area merchants a while more. You might consider having your significant other join you for the evening, for a romantic dinner together or to linger one night longer in one of the Inn’s special suites.

Call The Story Inn at 1-800-881-1183, or CLICK HERE to make reservations!

About Barb Bettegnies

As a very determined 4-year-old, I insisted that my mother teach me to knit. The eureka moment came at the age of 12, when I began to throw the yarn the way Mother did, and I have been knitting without ceasing ever since. I began teaching knitting, first at Stitches & Scones, then at The Golden Thimble and eventually as an independent instructor. In 2007 I became the editor of Creative Knitting magazine and continued free-lance classes in Carmel to keep in touch with knitters and knit trends. Having made every possible error on my projects through the years, I specialized in learning to read the knitting rather than just the instructions. One skill my clients learn is to correct many types of situations in creative ways rather than resort to ripping out hard-won stitches and rows.

My mission is to imbue in others the satisfaction and passion of creativity, precision and thoughtful problem solving which knitting can provide. I teach the continental, British and French pencil methods of knitting, am fluent in Fair Isle and conversant with cable techniques of all styles. Come join us for a full day of exposure to knitting in thought-provoking and problem solving ways you may not have encountered elsewhere!