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• 2026 SPRING RETREAT

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Retreat Highlights

Immerse yourself in some of the world’s most exquisite natural fibers. You’ll meet farmers and their flocks, tour vibrant small mills, and create your own custom yarn. Enjoy hands-on classes in knitting and natural dyeing, cozy evenings at the La Conner Channel Lodge, and farm-to-table meals. You’ll connect deeply with the land, the makers, and the materials that inspire your craft.

Itinerary

Over the course of five days, you’ll enjoy a thoughtfully balanced schedule of fiber-filled adventures, hands-on learning, and time to relax in the beauty of the Puget Sound. Each day blends unique farm and mill visits with meals and experiences that celebrate the region’s fiber riches. We’re continuing to fine-tune the itinerary, so there may be a few small updates.

Monday, September 28

4 pm: Meet at the La Conner Channel Lodge, La Conner, Washington, our home for the next four nights.Settle into your room, meet your fellow knitters, and enjoy dinner.

Tuesday, September 29

Meals: Full breakfast at the La Conner Channel Lodge, lunch on Whidbey Island, and dinner at a La Conner restaurant.Today’s highlights:
• Visit three beautiful farms on Whidbey Island and meet their special residents. We will purchase fiber from farms for our custom-spun yarn.• Katie Whitlock and her family raise CVM/Romeldales and Romneys at Windy Indigo Farm & Fiber. We’ll visit on shearing day and see their fleece being shorn!• Jolly Rancher Alpacas raise not only very special suri alpacas but also yaks on their coastal farm.• Aliento Farm is home to a herd of guanacos—the breed of rare wild ancestors of llamas, which produce extraordinarily fine luxury fiber—as well as Pygora fiber goats.• Practice natural dyeing with plants foraged and grown on the spot. Lisa Mitchell of Aliento Farms will prepare natural dye baths using local materials, and we’ll dye locally produced yarns.• View the unique beauty of a Puget Sound island, passing through stunning Deception Pass.

Wednesday, September 30

Meals: Full breakfast at the La Conner Channel Lodge, lunch in Bellingham, and dinner at a La Conner restaurant.Today’s highlights:
• Get a behind-the-scenes tour of SpinCycle Yarns, producers of stunning marled and color-shifting yarns produced from yarns in the American West.• Visit Skagit Woolen Works. This woman-owned, locally focused processing and spinning mill transforms wool into yarn, roving, felt, wool pellets, and other products that help shepherds support their flocks.• Visit Fog & Fleece Sheepery, a home to a flock of Icelandic sheep, and learn about their innovative Farmer’s Flock, a purchasing program to support small farms with wool production.

Thursday, October 1

Meals: Full breakfast at the La Conner Channel Lodge. Lunch and dinner in downtown La Conner.Today’s highlights:
Morning and afternoon knitting classes. Divide into small groups for knitting workshops. Each student will take both three-hour workshops, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.• Knit Farm Yarns with Shepherd Sarah Pope: Known for her casually elegant designs that celebrate small-batch yarns, Sarah will teach a class based on a new project in development.• A Shepherd’s Yarn Tasting with Kate Larson: Shepherd, handspinner, knitwear designer, and Farm & Fiber Knits editor Kate Larson has extensive knowledge in the theory and practice of making yarn. Sample a variety of yarns that Kate has selected for you to try, and learn how fiber, twist, grist, and processing combine to create the yarns you love. With a new understanding of the properties of yarn, we will make recommendations for the yarn that Skagit Woolen Works will make for us!

Friday, October 2

Meals: Full breakfast at the La Conner Channel LodgeCheck out of your room before 11 am.

Instructors

Our instructors bring deep expertise, a love of teaching, and a passion for connecting fiber to the land. You’ll learn from shepherds, designers, and makers who are eager to share their skills and stories.

Kate Larson

Kate Larson is the editor of Farm & Fiber Knits and a beloved fiber arts teacher with deep knowledge of yarn, knitting, spinning, and all things natural fiber. She loves to help others find their paths as makers and forge deeper connections with the landscapes that produce the wool and cotton, flax and silk that they hold in their hands. As an instructor, she’s known for her sold-out classes in color, yarn design, knitting and bandweaving techniques, and creativity. Kate edited Spin Off from 2018–2025 and remains the magazine’s contributing editor and event director.When she’s not traveling to teach or attending photo shoots, Kate lives in Indiana, where she spends as much time as she can in the barn having a chat with her beloved Border Leicester sheep.

Lisa Mitchell

After years as an art therapist in suburban Sacramento, Lisa Mitchell decided to make a radical life change and move to Whidbey Island, Washington, with her husband. With space for livestock on their farm, they selected an unusual kind of fiber animal: a small herd of guanacos. Raising wild animals that evolved in the Andes of South America proved to be a deeply meaningful and challenging introduction to farm life. In addition to guanacos, Aliento Farm is home to Pygora goats and Angora rabbits. Lisa dyes yarn and fiber with locally foraged material.

Sarah Pope

Sarah Pope lives on San Juan Island, Washington, a ferry ride away from the mainland, on her family’s historic 30-acre sheep farm, where they are dedicated to stewarding their flocks and their land. Sarah runs a tiny wool company, San Juan Woolworks, which creates small-batch yarns from a blend of wools, and botanically dyes the yarns using foraged pigments. She has designed knitwear for companies such as Brooklyn Tweed, Quince, Shibui, and Farm & Fiber Knits. She is also the market manager for an interisland food hub and sings soprano in three community choirs. Find her online at San Juan Woolworks.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do I get to La Conner Channel Lodge?There are several ways of reaching the Lodge from SeaTac (SEA), the closest large airport, which is about 75 miles south of La Conner: rental car, ride share (Uber/Lyft), limousine, or airport shuttle. (Public transportation is available via Amtrak and Skagit Transit but requires several transfers.)Nearer the Lodge, Seattle Paine Field (PAE, 35 miles) in Everett and Bellingham International Airport (BLI, 30 miles) in Bellingham both offer commercial flights.Bellair offers shuttles from the SeaTac and the Bellingham airports. The closest shuttle stop is the La Conner Whitney Shell, less than 10 minutes by car/rideshare from the lodge. Learn more and book at airporter.com.Travel to and from La Conner Channel Lodge at the start and end of the event are not included in your retreat ticket.

Where will we be staying?
We will be staying at the La Conner Channel Lodge, located at 205 N 1st St, La Conner, Washington 98257.
Parking for one vehicle per room is included.


What skill level is required?
Tuesday and Wednesday activities do not require knitting experience. For classes on Thursday, students should have basic skills such as knitting, purling, basic cast-ons and bind-offs, slipping stitches, and seaming. Please contact us at [email protected] with any questions.


What is included in the retreat fee? Do I need to purchase fiber or yarn?
The retreat includes lodging, meals, tours, classes, transportation to daily activities, yarn for classes, and a skein of our custom yarn blend.


Will this event be accessible for people with disabilities?
This event includes visits to farms and working mills, with transportation provided by bus. These sites may involve steps, uneven terrain, and extended periods of standing. Please contact us at [email protected] to discuss your specific concerns, as some portions of the event may be challenging.ADA-compliant rooms at La Conner Channel Lodge are limited. Please contact us at [email protected] to ensure availability.


Can my spouse/companion attend?
Spouses/companions must be pre-approved by Long Thread Media before the event to ensure we can accommodate them for meals and lodging, and additional charges will apply. Spouses/companions may not attend classes or activities. Attendees who have approved guests joining them should choose a private ticket type.


I have specific food requirements/restrictions. Can you accommodate me?
We strive to accommodate dietary needs at every meal, provided that you let us know in advance. Please note that some lunches will take place away from the hotel and may have limited options. If you have specific concerns, please contact us at [email protected] so we can do our best to help you prepare. We will send a pre-event survey to capture dietary requirements.


Can I stay at home and commute to the event?
Because the Farm & Fiber Knits Retreat is intended to be an immersive experience, we do not offer tickets without lodging and meals.


What if I need to cancel my reservation?
You may cancel your registration for any reason up to 90 days before the event for a refund. (We charge a 10% processing fee to cover our transaction costs, so you will receive 90% of your payment as a refund.)


What should I pack?
We recommend packing comfortable clothing suitable for outdoor activities. As we will be visiting farms, please bring attire and footwear that you don’t mind getting dirty. We suggest preparing for both rain and sunshine by bringing layers, a waterproof jacket, and sturdy shoes. We will contact you closer to the event about any knitting notions needed for classes.

Contact Us

Get Updates

Retreat Highlights

Immerse yourself in the heart of New England’s fiber traditions with the Farm & Fiber Knits Retreat—a rare opportunity to experience every step of the journey from sheep to skein. Over four unforgettable days, you’ll watch skilled shearers at work, meet farmers and their flocks, tour historic mills, and create your own custom yarn. Between hands-on classes with renowned instructors, cozy evenings at the historic Grafton Inn, and farm-to-table meals, you’ll connect deeply with the land, the makers, and the materials that inspire your craft.

Itinerary

Over the course of five days, you’ll enjoy a thoughtfully balanced schedule of fiber-filled adventures, hands-on learning, and time to relax in the beauty of New England. Each day blends unique farm and mill visits with meals and experiences that celebrate Vermont’s rich tradition of craft. We’re continuing to fine-tune the itinerary, so there may be a few small updates.NOTE: There are two dates listed on each itinerary block. The first is for session one attendees while the second is for session two attendees.

Sunday, April 19/April 26

4 pm: Meet at the Grafton Inn, Grafton, Vermont, our home for the next four nights.
Settle into your room, meet your fellow knitters, and enjoy dinner.

Monday, April 20/April 27

Meals: Full breakfast at the Grafton Inn, lunch in historic Harrisville, and dinner back at the Grafton Inn.Today’s highlights:

• Visit a beautiful sheep farm in southern New Hampshire on shearing day, and watch shearer Siri Swanson of Yankee Clippers carefully harvest their wool. Siri will share her expertise as a shepherd, shearer, and yarn producer. Learn about different fleeces and how wool is prepared for the mill. We will purchase wool from the farm for our custom-spun yarn.

• Visit Harrisville Designs to take a private tour of the family-owned woolen spinning mill that carries on the tradition of New England’s rich textile past. Enjoy private shopping in the company’s retail store, which includes yarn, knitting and weaving supplies, and equipment.

• Stroll through the streets of the historic landmark village of Harrisville.

• Visit an alpaca farm to learn about the care of these gentle animals and what makes their fiber so luxurious.

Tuesday, April 21/April 28

Meals: Full breakfast at the Grafton Inn, lunch on the way to the afternoon’s activities, and dinner back at the Grafton Inn.
Today’s highlights:

• Visit the Green Mountain Spinnery. Tour the mill’s production floor and learn how small-batch yarns are made. Deliver the fleece purchased at Monday’s shearing for custom processing. Green Mountain Spinnery will work with us to design yarn from the wool we’ve selected from the farm. After we depart, the mill will produce skeins of our very own yarn (we’ll send you several skeins to enjoy at home).

• Visit Wing & A Prayer Farm. This small farm in southwestern Vermont features beloved sheep in a variety of breeds, from small Shetlands to Valais Blacknose (“the world’s cutest sheep”). Learn about Farmer Tam’s unique approach to her flock, meet her charming animals, and explore the bespoke, naturally dyed yarns that she creates in partnership with other trusted shepherds. Then enjoy the farm’s new Apothecary, which offers homemade soaps, a variety of yarns, and other unique fiber gifts.

Wednesday, April 22/April 29

Meals: Full breakfast at the Grafton Inn. Lunch in downtown Grafton with the chance to explore the town to see covered bridges, walking trails, and even a cheese making factory. The Grafton Inn will prepare a farewell dinner.Today’s highlights: Morning and afternoon knitting classes. Divide into small groups for knitting workshops. Each student will take both three-hour workshops, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

• Mosaic Knitting with Samantha Guerin: Known for her wearable designs that celebrate unique yarns, Samantha loves designing colorful mosaic knitting accessories. Students will begin by learning about reading a mosaic chart and working a two color I-cord edging. Cast on a project in class and explore this method for creating graphic patterns, and discuss how to select yarns for a mosaic project. Before parting, you’ll discuss binding off and blocking.

• A Shepherd’s Yarn Tasting with Kate Larson: Shepherd, handspinner, knitwear designer, and Farm & Fiber Knits editor Kate Larson has extensive knowledge in the theory and practice of making yarn. Sample a variety of yarns that Kate has selected for you to try, and learn how fiber, twist, grist, and processing combine to create the yarns you love. With a new understanding of the properties of yarn, we will make recommendations for the yarn that Green Mountain Spinnery will make for us!

Thursday, April 23/April 30

Meals: Full breakfast at the Grafton Inn
Check out of your room before 11 am.

Instructors

Our instructors bring deep expertise, a love of teaching, and a passion for connecting fiber to the land. You’ll learn from shepherds, designers, and makers who are eager to share their skills and stories.

Samantha Guerin

Samantha Guerin is from Connecticut, where she raises her family and steals every minute she can to knit, spin, or just snuggle some skeins in her stash. Her designs always start with inspiration from a particular yarn: unique hand-dyed yarn from indie entrepreneurs, earthly woollen-spun yarn, and everything in between. With a passion for supporting indie dyers, shepherds, farmers, and small-batch mills, her designs use a range of techniques to bring out the best in every yarn. Some of Samantha’s most popular designs use mosaic knitting, the technique she’ll teach in one of our Wednesday classes, to celebrate special yarns in eye-catching patterns.

Kate Larson

Kate Larson is the editor of Farm & Fiber Knits and a beloved fiber arts teacher with deep knowledge of yarn, knitting, spinning, and all things natural fiber. She loves to help others find their paths as makers and forge deeper connections with the landscapes that produce the wool and cotton, flax and silk that they hold in their hands. As an instructor, she’s known for her sold-out classes in color, yarn design, knitting and bandweaving techniques, and creativity. Kate edited Spin Off from 2018–2025 and remains the magazine’s contributing editor and event director. In one of our classes on Wednesday, Kate will lead us on an exploration of fiber, plies, weight, and other factors that make the perfect yarn for your knitting project—the perfect background for our custom yarn design.

When she’s not traveling to teach or attending photo shoots, Kate lives in Indiana, where she spends as much time as she can in the barn having a chat with her beloved Border Leicester sheep.

Siri Swanson

Siri Swanson is a first-generation shepherd and shearer based in Vermont, where she and her partner care for their flock at Yankee Rock Farm and travel the region as Yankee Clippers Shearing. She started shearing at 17 and learned the craft through hands-on experience and mentorship. She now works New England and beyond, shearing thousands of sheep each year and promoting the benefits of wool. On her own farm, Siri raises commercial Cheviot sheep, managing them with a holistic approach to the health of both the flock and the land. At the retreat, Siri will share what she’s learned about shearing as a skill that serves both animals and fiber—and she’ll show how skilled shearing can set the stage for beautiful yarn.

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Frequently Asked Questions:

How do I get to the Grafton Inn?The Grafton Inn is located at 92 Main St, Grafton, VT 05146. If you are traveling by plane, the team at The Grafton Inn recommends Bradley International Airport in Hartford, CT.  It’s 1 hour and 45 minutes from the Inn. Boston Logan International Airport is typically 2 hours and 30 minutes from the Inn.Grafton and the surrounding area are remote. Because of that, we strongly suggest not relying on Uber, Lyft, or taxis for your transportation. Rental cars and car services are available at both Bradley and Boston Logan.


Where will we be staying?
We will be staying at the Grafton Inn, located at 92 Main Street, Grafton, Vermont, 05146. Complimentary parking is available to guests.


What skill level is required?
Monday and Tuesday activities do not require knitting experience. For classes on Wednesday, students should have basic skills such as knitting, purling, basic cast-ons and bind-offs, slipping stitches, and seaming. Please contact us at [email protected] with any questions.


Will this event be accessible for people with disabilities?
This event includes visits to farms, working mills, and historic sites, with transportation provided by bus. These sites may involve steps, uneven terrain, and extended periods of standing. Please contact us at [email protected] to discuss your specific concerns, as some portions of the event may be challenging. The Grafton Inn does offer some ADA-compliant rooms.


Can my spouse/companion attend?
Spouses/companions must be pre-approved by Long Thread Media before the event to ensure we can accommodate them for meals and lodging, and additional charges will apply. Spouses/companions may not attend classes or activities. Attendees who have approved guests joining them should choose a private ticket type.


I have specific food requirements/restrictions. Can you accommodate me?
We strive to accommodate dietary needs at every meal, provided that you let us know in advance. Please note that some lunches will take place away from the hotel and may have limited options. If you have specific concerns, please contact us at [email protected] so we can do our best to help you prepare. We will send a pre-event survey to capture dietary requirements.


Can I stay at home and commute to the event?
Because the Farm & Fiber Knits Retreat is intended to be an immersive experience, we do not offer tickets without lodging and meals.


What if I need to cancel my reservation?
You may cancel your registration for any reason up to 90 days before the event (January 19, 2026) for a refund. (We charge a 10% processing fee to cover our transaction costs, so you will receive 90% of your payment as a refund.)


What should I pack?
We recommend packing comfortable clothing suitable for outdoor activities. As we will be visiting farms, please bring attire and footwear that you don’t mind getting dirty. April weather in Vermont is unpredictable, so we suggest preparing for both rain and sunshine by bringing layers, a waterproof jacket, and sturdy shoes. We will contact you closer to the event about any knitting notions needed for classes.


Do I need to provide my own transportation?
You will need to arrange transportation to and from The Grafton Inn on the first and last day of the event. All transportation to our excursions on Monday and Tuesday will be provided.

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Itinerary

April 19/264:00 pm: Check-in begins at the Grafton Inn5:00–6:00 pm: Welcome Happy Hour6:00 pm: Dinner and Welcome in the 1801 TavernApril 20/277:00–8:30 am: Breakfast in the Garden Room in the Main Inn8:30 am Leave for morning Morning visit to Sunny Fields Farm for shearing with Siri Swanson of Yankee Rock Farm/Yankee Clippers12:30 Lunch in historic Harrisville, New Hampshire, from the Harrisville General StoreAfternoon: tour of Harrisville Designs mill and factory store and meet alpacas at Whispering Winds Farm4:30 pm: Arrive at the Grafton InnRelax and freshen up after a busy day of visiting farms6:00 pm: Dinner in the Garden RoomAfter dinner, enjoy the Grafton Inn’s cozy nooks for knitting.April 21/288:00–9:30 am: Breakfast10:25 am: Leave for morning tour of Green Mountain Spinnery12:15 pm: Lunch at A Vermont Table, Brattleboro, Vermont1:00 pm: Leave for Wing & A Prayer Farm, Shaftsbury, Vermont, to visit animals and Apothecary5:10 pm: Arrive at the Grafton Inn6:00 pm: Dinner in the Garden RoomApril 22/298:00–9:00 am: Breakfast in the Garden RoomParticipants will take both 3-hour classes, one in the morning and one in the afternoon:Mosaic Knitting and the Grid Gambit with Samantha Guerin
A Shepherd’s Yarn Tasting with Kate Larson9:00 am–12:00 pm: Class12:00pm: Lunch from MKT Grafton2:00–5:00 pm: Class6:00 pm: Farewell Dinner in 1801 TavernApril 23/30Check out of the Hotel by 11:00 am

Travel

The Grafton Inn is located at 92 Main St, Grafton, VT 05146. If you are traveling by plane, the team at The Grafton Inn recommends Bradley International Airport in Hartford, CT.  It’s 1 hour and 45 minutes from the Inn. Boston Logan International Airport is typically 2 hours and 30 minutes from the Inn.Grafton and the surrounding area are remote. Because of that, we strongly suggest not relying on Uber, Lyft, or taxis for your transportation. Rental cars and car services are available at both Bradley and Boston Logan.

We created a Facebook Group for each set of dates for the retreat. We encourage you to join the Facebook group for your event and connect with your fellow attendees to share rides. Please find the link to join the Facebook Groups Below:Week 1: April 19 – 23, 2026 – Join the Facebook GroupWeek 2: April 26 – 30, 2026 – Join the Facebook Group

Accommodations

All hotel accommodations are included with your Farm & Fiber Knits Retreat ticket. We will be staying at The Grafton Inn for the duration of the event, and the Farm & Fiber Knits team will provide the hotel with the final rooming list.If you plan to arrive early or stay late, please contact the Grafton Inn directly to reserve any additional night(s).If you need to cancel your Retreat ticket for any reason, please contact our team directly. We kindly ask that you do not contact the hotel to cancel your room, as this can cause confusion.If you would like to bring a spouse or guest to stay in your room, please email [email protected] to make that request. The Grafton Inn is a historic property with a variety of room sizes and layouts, so it’s important for us to know in advance if two people will be sharing a room. There is no additional charge for a spouse or partner to stay in your private room.Please note that any guests who are not registered retreat attendees will need to purchase a meal ticket to participate in the included dinners. At this time, we are unable to accommodate plus-ones on daily excursions and lunches due to space limitations at our destinations.

Meals

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in your Farm & Fiber Knits Retreat ticket. Breakfast will be held at the Grafton Inn each morning. Lunch on Monday and Tuesday will be at different locations during our travel days. Lunch on Wednesday will be back at The Grafton Inn. All dinners will be held at The Grafton Inn. We will do our best to accommodate all dietary restrictions. If you have a gluten or dairy allergy, it is strongly suggested that you bring snacks to supplement just in case. If you have any specific meal concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Communication

The primary means of communication for the Farm & Fiber Knits Retreat will be emails from [email protected]. We recommend adding this email address to your contacts to ensure that our emails do not end up in your junk or spam folder. These emails are sent through the same platform as all Long Thread Media newsletters, so we ask that you do not mark any emails from Handwoven, Little Looms, Spin Off, Farm & Fiber Knits, or PieceWork as spam. Please reach out to [email protected] at any time if you have a question that isn't answered here.

Clothing

We will be visiting several working farms where animals and their waste will be present. On the first day, we will have the option to prepare fiber for the mill by separating it with our hands, which is a strong-smelling process. Spring in Vermont and New Hampshire can be muddy, icy, or raining. Please plan to bring at least two pairs of footwear, preferably a pair of boots that you don’t mind getting dirty as well as an everyday pair. Please also bring a full set of clothing that you don’t mind wearing in a barn. You may also want to bring a bag to put your dirty clothes and shoes in.The temperature in Vermont and New Hampshire can be unpredictable, so bring layers!

Mobility

Please email us as soon as possible if you have any mobility challenges that we should know about. The lodging rooms and most of the dining and retail locations have some wheelchair accessibility, but working farms and mills are not ADA accessible, and one of the classrooms requires climbing a flight of stairs. Depending on your needs, we may be able to find a solution.

Knitting Classes

Before the event, we will let you know what knitting and needles and notions you should plan to bring. Several of the farms and mills along our tour will have opportunities to purchase house-made yarns and other goods.