MFKR, Day 1

The annual Men's Fall Knitting Retreat is held at Dumas Bay Center, in Federal Way, Washington.  This is between Seattle, and Tacoma Washington.  The center is just off of Dumas Bay, and a beautiful park. This is the view from our window.

Several of us met at the airport and took the shuttle to the center.  We were greeted by our host, Michael and Alexander.  We got our keys and took our luggage to our rooms.  Unlike some retreats, each attendee gets their own room.  Each room has a bed, desk and a half bathroom.  The shower room is shared.  We then had our picture taken by Franklin Habit.  We picked out our badge, with our name, Ravelry Name and Ravelry Avatar.  We also had our sponsor bag.

We did end up with a couple more items.  We also had a pattern to download from one of the attendees.  Dinner, and all meals were served by the kitchen staff.  Everything was very healthy and very well done.  We usually had 3 hot trays and salad/fruit each meal.

After dinner was the ice breaker, where we introduced ourselves, and stated how many of the Fall Retreats we had attended.  After that was the first of many classes lead by attendees.  This was the traditional Introduction to Drop Spindle Spinning.

We already had 36 guys join us Thursday Night.

MFKR, Day 2

Friday was going to be a busy day.  The morning started with Yoga for those interested, and then breakfast.  Afterwards, came two classes. Mosaic Knitting and  Short Row Heel.  While classes were being held, a large folding wall separated the two rooms.  Next came lunch, then our only fiend trip this year.  

Makers’ Mercantile & Rylie Cakes  is the Skacel HQ/Flag store.  Skacel, know for distributing many different yarns and Addi Needles, has their warehouse in Seattle.  Previous years we visited the warehouse, but since the store opened in 2013, we visit the store instead.  The store has most of the Skacel collection, along with a few local independent dyers. There was a lot to look at, but I limited myself to a specific project, except for fiber and some yarn for dyeing.  One of my goals was also to find a bag from Slip Stitch Studios.  Most of the bags were already gone, but I did find one, perfect for a project.  I even enjoyed an amaretto latte.  

Here is a picture of my purchases.

Before dinner, there was a Card Weaving Demo.  After dinner, I host my first of two classes,
Technology & Fiber Roundtable.  We talked about different uses of technology with our knitting.  I talked about Stitch-maps, while others talked about IOS (Apple) Applications.  I had hoped for some Android Applications to be mentioned, but no one had any to offer from the group.  

Next was the annual Show and Tell.  With 40 guys in the room, we had many very interesting projects being shown.  Everyone was limited to two projects, and a few didn't bring anything.  It also shows every year how talented the members are.  Before we finished off was a group pictures of those wearing kilts and sarongs.  I was over packed and limited myself to one suitcase, so I did not bring my kilt this year.
 

MFKR, Day 3

We did not realize that today would be even busier than the day before.  Yoga and Breakfast.  Before breakfast, a few of us decide to go for a pre-breakfast walk to coffee.  We got to the coffee place just in time to enjoy a light Seattle drizzle.  It wasn't too much, and we enjoyed the walk back.  After breakfast was our dyeing class with Kathy Hattori.  Kathy owns Botanical Colors, a store dedicated to natural dyeing.  She also teaches many dyeing classes through the year.

Kathy has taught us before, and she recognized many of us from before.  This year we were doing Indigo Dipping & Tee Shirt Shibori Workshop.  We started placing our yarn on rings and letting them soak in one of several containers of water.  Normally, the indigo buckets go outside, but with the light rain, we used the basement classroom.

She then introduced us to Shibori.  Shibori looks similar to tie-dye.  We used different objects to work with our "MFKR" tee shirts, including painting stir sticks, small marbles, rubber bands, string, and a few other items.  We learned that we could adjust our dipping time into the indigo for different results.  I started by dipping both skeins of yarn all the way in.  Then I had to lift it out of the bucket.  Everything came out a medium green, then it slowing "aerating" and turned blue.  I them dipped again, but only 3/4 of the way in.  After aerating again, I dipped half way, which was 1/3 on the second skein.  I dipped a fourth time for 1/4 on the first skein.  Afterwards, I took my yarn outside and rinsed in a bucket of water and hung my yarn.  Here are some of the skeins of yarn.

 Then I moved to start of my tee shirt.  I started at the bottom of my shirt, and took small glass rocks (slightly larger than a marble)  and wrapped a rubber band around each.  then I used paint sticks to wrap around my shirt.

Once again I dipped the shirt into the indigo.  After two dips, I took it outside to rinse and hang. 

We took a group picture with our shirts, cleaned up and had lunch.  It was a very enjoyable morning, but we were in for a real treat next.   

Judith Mackenzie presentation “History of Textiles” & Pop Up Shop.  Judith is a very knowledgeable with fiber, spinning and weaving.  She has traveled to many  parts of the world, and has studied many different areas.  She is a bit of a celebrity, and impressed us all with her stories.  Afterwards, with a Q&A session, we broke up into small groups and saw a spinning demo.  I asked about worsted vs woolen, so we got a great demonstration on worsted, semi-worsted and woolen.  I was very impressed, and felt more knowledgeable afterwards.  The Pop up shop was a few selected fibers that were for sale.

 Yak and baby camel and silk blend.  I skipped the plain baby camel.

I'm told that Seattle has a dry period during the summer.  For the second year, we had a good rain that brought in the coastal fog.  Next came my second class, called Fun of Double Knitting.  My students enjoyed the technique, and one even worked on the class chart for the next couple of days and finished it.

Thanks to my friend Andy for finishing and showing off your work.  After dinner, was the group picture, which for the first time had to be taken inside due to the damp ground.  I'm still waiting to see the group picture, so I'll try to post it after I receive it.  Next was the end of the silent action.

We had a wide range of items to bid on.  Some were hand crafted, others were independent (indi) dyers, or some commercial fibers. I brought a bag and yarn for a project from my friend at Knitter's Brewing Company.  All the bids then went to the MFKR Scholarship fund.  This help to a few extra men to join us each year.  The evening ended with the Movie Night / PJ Party.  I was not interested in the first movie, but went to the other room to knit and watch Doctor Who with another attendee.  

 The final sunset

MFKR, Last Day

Final walk around the park.  Today was the final last things, but mostly good-byes and hope to see you again next year.  This was also going to be a season of change.  Mike has been the main organizer for all seven of the MFKR (This was my 4th).  He has had a lot going on in his personal lif, and passed the torch to another gentleman.  He still plans to attend, just not al the organizing duties.

See you next year Seattle

 My Indigo yarn and shirt.

More pictures in my photobucket

http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/DarkinnKnits/library/MFKR/2014