My Vermont Retreats: May and October 2026

Come to Vermont to knit and learn!

Vermont in October-The Connecticut River

One of the many beautiful trees in Vermont

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Vermont Retreats!

Nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains of southern Vermont, I hold knitting retreats every year.  A variety of traditional workshops, based on my research in many European and American museums,  is offered to deepen the skill level of intermediate to advanced knitters.  Attended by warm and friendly knitters from all over North America, the extended weekend is full of camaraderie, good food, interesting classes, and a lovely setting. Classes are held in the Dutton Farmhouse, which is situated on a historic apple farm.  I love teaching knitters in this beautiful place.  We laugh a lot, knit a lot, and eat very well. It all adds up to a memorable time for new and returning participants.  Here are photos of past Vermont Retreats!

The Dutton Farm House

What retreat participants say about the Vermont Retreats…

“Thank you so much for a wonderful knitting weekend. It is always a special experience to work with you, and I learn so much. I share your passion for traditional knitting, and so am thrilled to learn about the history, ingenious construction, and remarkable knitting tips that you share with us. Mostly, Beth, I so appreciate your patience, understanding, and compassionate heart. I feel so fortunate to know you and to have you as a beloved teacher. I look forward to attending your other workshops. I never tire of it. The weekend in beautiful VT, with all its aspects, shines as a jewel in my year.” –Ellie C.

CLASSES FOR 2026

Session 1 (Spring): Scottish Sanquhar gloves

May 14-17     

Sanqugar Gloves

Course Description:   

The intricately patterned gloves from the Sanquhar district of 19th century Scotland are a joy and a challenge to knit.  Worn by the common folk and elite as well, these hand garments required skill and an understanding of the geometry of the design.  The cuff is worked in two parts: first a corrugated ribbing is made: the knit ribs are one color while the purl ribs are a second color.  The second part of the cuff is made with a simple “Salt and Pepper” motif that allows for optional initials and/or the year to be knitted in.  The hand is full of small patterns and tiny gussets around the fingers and thumb.   The tips of the three-sided fingers are finished off in little pyramids.  These gloves are traditionally worked on double-pointed needles, but you may use the Magic Loop or two circular needles, if preferred.

In this class, learn how to design this type of glove to fit your hand and explore the many pattern options of both the ribbing and glove body.  You will have several motifs to choose from, depending on your chosen size and gauge. Over the length of the workshop, most of a full-sized glove will be knitted.  In addition, learn about yarn dominance and how to manage two yarns at a time, in three different knitting styles (two yarns in the right hand, two yarns in the left hand, or a yarn in each hand) as well as reading your knitting, rather than a pattern, to create these marvelous gloves.

Level:  Advanced (must be proficient with dp needles, or Magic Loop or workring with two circulars.  Be familiar with stranded knitting.

Supplies: 

  • Needles: One set of four 7″ (or shorter) double point needles (dpn), US sizes 000, 00, 0, or 1(1.5, 1.75, 2.0, 2.25 mm), whichever size yields the gauge for your size in two color St st in the chart in the Swatching Worksheet, plus a dpn set larger and a dpn set smaller than the dpn size you have chosen for your gauge.
  • Yarn: 1.75 oz- 2 oz. balls /210-262 yards (~50 g./ 240 m) each of two colors (Main Color- MC, and Contrast Color- CC) of plain-textured, solid colored fingering or lace weight yarn, (See yarn suggestions at the end of the worksheet.)
  • Notions: Stitch markers, sticky notes or magnetic board to aid in reading the chart, tapestryneedle, scraps of contrast color yarn, tape measure, scissors.  Optional: a STEEL crochet hook (these are very small hooks–for picking up sts) equivalent to your determined needle size, somewhere in the range of US size 10 / 1.30 mm to US 1/ 2.75 mm.

Homework: A Swatching Worksheet will be sent, describing the supplies list and swatch necessary for a good fit.

Session 2 (Autumn):  Designing Ganseys

October 30-November 2

Course Description:

Students will learn how to construct a Gansey, a sweater form prevalent in the 19th century and early part of the 20th century among the fishermen of the British Isles.  On Day 1, a small-scale sweater will be knitted using traditional construction techniques including the classic Channel Island Cast-on, split welts, seam stitches, traditional knit/purl patterns, the underarm gusset, shoulder straps with perpendicular joining, picked-up sleeves, and triangular neck gussets.  Once the sweater is completed, students will then explore alternative construction methods and apply all the techniques by planning and designing their own garment for the remainder of the retreat.

Supply List:

  • One set EACH of 7″ long (or shorter) four dp needles, sizes 5 and 7 (3.75 mm and 4.5 mm)
  • One 16″ circular needle, size 7 (4.5 mm)
  • 3 oz. plain-textured, solid light-colored worsted weight yarn. Space dyed yarns, heathered yarns and fuzzy yarns will obscure the patterns and are not recommended.
  • Notions: stitch markers, cable needle, tapestry needle, scraps of contrast color yarn, magnetic board or Post-It notes to aid in reading charts.
  • 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 pounds of smooth textured yarn for full sized garment (Bring at least 2 skeins of this yarn to class for swatching.)

Homework

After you select the yarn for your gansey, decide what gauge you want to work at.  Traditional ganseys were knitted on yarn similar to our sport weight at 7 sts/inch or higher, but you can make a fine gansey in worsted weight yarn as well.

After you purchase your yarn, knit a swatch at least 4″ by 4″ in at least 3 different needle sizes.  (I make one long continuous swatch.)  Work a border of 2-3 rows of garter st at the beg and end and 2 sts of garter st at each side. Indicate the size of needle used in each swatch.  Bring them to class unblocked the first day. You can block the swatches at home that night, or you can do that in class.  I’ll talk about how I block swatches the first day.

Level: Intermediate must be experienced using double-pointed needles, the magic loop, or working with two circulars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Details

Once you have registered and paid in full, your class supply list will be sent to you about one month from the beginning of the workshop.

 

The Schedule

Thursday Evening: Arrive around 5 PM, wine and hors d’oeuvres at 5:30, dinner around 6:15.

Friday: Breakfast- 8:30, Class- 9:30 -12:30, Lunch and break until 1:30, Class until 4:30.

Saturday: Breakfast- 8:30, Free time- until 12:00 (Beth will be available if you would prefer to stay at the Farmhouse to knit), Lunch and break until 1:00, Class until 5:30.

Sunday: Breakfast- 8:30, Class- 9:30 -12:30, lunch and break until 1:30.  Photos and goodbyes!

 

The Cost: $645 includes all instruction and comprehensive handouts, Thursday welcome dinner, breakfast, and lunch on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. (Dinners on those days are on your own.  Sometimes the group will go out or bring dinner in.)

 

Getting There

AmTrak and Greyhound both serve Brattleboro (BRA) with one trip north and south each day.

Car Rental (in Brattleboro): Enterprise: 802.257.4700

Taxi service: This is not always available–email Beth to confirm.

Airports: The closest airports are Hartford, CT (BDL), Manchester, NH (MHT), Albany, NY (ALB), and Boston, MA (BOS).

Driving:
Enter “Dutton Farmhouse 255 Dutton Farm Road, Dummerston, VT 05301”,  into Google Maps for directions.

 

Staying There

Classes are held in the Dutton Farmhouse.   We often eat outside in warm weather and enjoy the view of Mount Monadnock many miles away in New Hampshire!  The farmhouse has four bedrooms with shared baths. Contact John for more information on staying there.

 

 

The following hotels are within 5-10 minutes and 5-10 miles of the workshop.

 

To Register

You can download the flyer here of all the info: 2025.Retreat Flyer

To get more information or to register, email John who handles registrations: knitting.traditions.retreats@gmail.com

A $150 deposit will secure your spot in the workshop, with the balance due approximately 90 days before the class.  Checks should be made payable to Beth Brown-Reinsel and mailed to:

John G. Crane

1010 Waltham St, Apt 10,

Lexington, MA 02421

We hope to see you at the retreat!

 

 

Cancellation Policy

Participant Refunds
Because of the planning and financial commitments involved in putting on our Knitting Traditions retreats, we are unable to give you a refund if you need to withdraw less than 90 days from the retreat. When you pay your full fee, your participation is considered confirmed.

If, after confirming your participation, you need to withdraw from the program for any reason, we will credit a portion of your fee to a future program as follows:
• Should you withdraw between 89 and 30 days in advance of the retreat, we will roll over your fee toward participation in a future program.

• Should you withdraw less than 30 days in advance: we will roll over 50% of your fee to a future program if we are able to replace you in the current workshop.

•If we are not able to secure a new participant for your spot, we will be unable to issue a credit for any portion of your fee.

• If you need to cancel prior to 90 days before the retreat, we will refund any payments made.

Covid Policy

COVID Refunds Prior to A Retreat
Knitting Traditions requires that all participants be fully vaccinated to participate. If we do not believe that the group can meet safely unmasked indoors due to heightened COVID concerns or mandated indoor mask-wearing, we will cancel the retreat and offer you the option of receiving a full refund or transferring your participation fee to a future retreat. We will make every effort to cancel the retreat with sufficient notice so that you can modify any related travel bookings. However, due to the ever-changing COVID landscape, we reserve the right to cancel the retreat up to and including the morning of the retreat. Knitting Traditions is not responsible for paying any non-refundable travel costs you may incur. If you are unable to participate in a retreat due to contracting COVID or being exposed to someone who has contracted COVID within 5 days of your retreat date, we will transfer your participation fee to a future retreat. If you have any questions or concerns about our retreat policies, please email John: knitting.traditions.retreats@gmail.com

We hope to see you at the retreat!