February 16-19, 2012

Tally Retreat Center at Camp Copass in Denton, Texas

 The 2012 Retreat is Currently FULL!  If you would like to be placed on the waiting list,
use the form on our Contact page. Be sure to tell me your name and why you are writing! 

W.O.W.!  We have SO many wonderful classes lined up for 2012 put on by SO many wonderfully talented people that I am at a total loss as to how to describe them all for you in some orderly fashion.  Ultimately,  I fell back on the tried and true: Alphabetically.

Step 1 is for you do take a look at the SCHEDULE.  In fact, it might be helpful for you to print it out and take notes as you read because you have some difficult choices to make.

Step 2 is for you to look at the Class Descriptions (BELOW), and make your choices.

Step 3 is for you to go to the REGISTRATION FORM and sign up.  Once you’ve completed the registration process, you will receive further instructions by email as to payment deadlines and procedures.

Ready?

A

Amigurumi Casserole: Recipes to Crochet Almost Any Character ($15)
Instructor: Cindy Telisak
Description: Learn a few basic crochet shapes, using simple stitches, to make almost any toy character you can imagine! Make adorable toys quickly with minimal crochet skills, and fill your life with your own hand-made whimsy.  Can you make a chain and a single crochet?  You’re in!
Prerequisite skills: Basic crochet skills: Crochet chain, single crochet.  Knowledge of basic increases and decreases a plus.
Supplies you should bring: Crochet hooks in several sizes, to suit worsted weight yarn or slightly bulkier.

Australian Locker Hooking  ($15)
Instructor: Marlene Calame
Description: This is not the traditional locker hooking using fabric.  Instead, we will use roving. Canvas, locker hook, string and fiber will be provided.
Prerequisite skills: None
Supplies you should bring:  None

B

Barre Exercise (covers the entire weekend) (Free)
Instructor: Jeanne Brandon
Description: Bend and stretch, reach for the sky. Stand on tippy-toe, way up high! The best exercise yet for the “mature body”. Barre Exercise at your own pace. Easy to do – no set requirement for present condition or gracefulness. Just learn how to relax through stretching and strenghening your body. Your osteoporosis will love this very gentle workout. Grunts and groans allowed!!!!
Prerequisite skills: None
Supplies you should bring: T-shirt or tank top, Pull on shorts or pants, Socks for the feet, a towel. Tutus allowed!

C

Conquering Cablephobia ($36)
Instructor:  Lynette Elliott
Description:  Have no fear–anyone who can knit can cable, too!  In this two-part class, knitters will learn how to work cables from both written and charted sources and how to cable without a cable needle. They will also learn how twisted stitch cables and sideways cables are created. Participants will overcome their cable fears by knitting and finishing a sweet-and-sassy lined clutch purse they can show off when they go home from the Winter Fiber Fun Retreat.
Prerequisite skills:  Participants must be able to knit and purl. Participants should have a basic understanding of knitting pattern instructions and pattern abbreviations. Cable experience NOT NECESSARY.
Supplies you should bring with you:
1 pair size 10 straight knitting needles
1 medium sized cable needle (recommend bent or U-shaped)
1 tapestry needle for finishing
a pen or pencil

Crocheted Socks ($15.00)
Instructor: Mary Bensel
Description: Learn to make crocheted socks, toe-up, that are truly comfortable and very wearable.  Everybody needs socks, and these are customizable, so lots of fun to make.
Prerequisite Skills: This is not a learn-to-crochet class.  Must have basic knowledge of how to crochet and crochet stitches.
Supplies you should bring: Ball of sock yarn and matching sized hook.

Custom Clay Buttons to Enhance Your Fiber Arts ($35)
Instructor: Louise Schubert
Description: In this class, we learn to work with polymer clay.  We will discuss blending colors, adding textural dimension, using different tools for embellishment, and some basic art concepts.  Each participant will create several buttons.
Prerequisite Skills:  None
Supplies you should bring:  Students may wish to bring favorite rubber stamps for embellishment on clay.

E

Entrelac Knitting ($15)
Description: Come and learn entrelac knitting, by knitting a small and simple project. We will be doing a ladies size headband together. You will need to bring your yarn and knitting needles. I will supply the directions. The supplies that will be needed will be announced as we get closer to the Retreat date.
Prerequisite Skills: You do need to know how to cast on, knit, and bind off.
Supplies you should bring:  Worsted weight yarn and knitting needles. Amount of yarn and size of needles still to be determined.

F

Felted Fair Isle Tote ($60.00)
Instructor: Alissa Barton
Description: Learn to knit with 2 colors at a time and follow colorwork charts to create this fabulous felted fair isle purse. It’s fast and fun and way easier than it looks!
Prerequisite Skills: Students should know how to cast on, knit and purl.
Supplies You Should Bring: US #10.5 24 circular needle and 4 double pointed needles (for the handle)  Ring markers big enough to fit your needles.

Felted handles for your Crochet Hook ($22.00)
Instructor: Elizabeth Harkins
Description: Have crochet hooks that hurt your hand? Or just want a tool that is one of a kind? This is a fun, fast & easy class. You can felt a crocht hook, awl, hook for your wheel, even an ink pen. Lot of possibilities!
Prerequisite Skills: Only need 2 hands.
Supplies You Should Bring: Any tool you want to felt.

Fun Fiber Felted Pins ($35.00)
Instructor: Louise Schubert
Description: Participants will use needle felting techniques to make felt from fibers, and then use various embellishing techniques to make at least 2 pins from felt and fibers.
Prerequisite Skills: Anyone should be able to succeed in this class.
Supplies You Should Bring: Basic sewing kit with needles, thread, and scissors.  Students are welcome to bring their own needle felting needles, mat, or foam.  Tools will be provided for those who do not have needle felting tools.

I

Intro to Lace Knitting ($25)
Instructor: Alissa Barton
Description: Anyone who can knit and purl can learn how to make beautiful knitted lace by following both written instructions and charted designs. In this class we will cover various decreases, yarn overs and following the pattern, starting with completely written out instructions and progressing to charts. Students will leave class with a swatch and pattern to work the Tropicana Lace Scarf. (http://www.knittingfairy.com/ItemDesc.asp?item=SH-09)
Prerequisite Skills: Students should be able to cast on, knit and purl.
Supplies You Should Bring: Materials Needed:  US#9 needles (any style)  1 ball of light colored worsted weight yarn  Ring Markers  Size H crochet hook

L

Learn to Hand Spin with a Spindle ($30)
Instructor: Christine O’Hara
Description: A beginners class to learn how to spin with a hand spindle. This class touches on  fiber characteristics, types of spindles,   and plying.  Instructor will provide  spindles and fiber for students to learn with and take home and practice.*This class will be different because you are going to learn on Tussah Silk.*
Prerequisite Skills: None
Supplies you should bring: None

Let’s Block ($5)
Description: Do you have a project that needs blocking? Do you want to see why you should even block your knitting or crocheting?  This class is for you. We will discuss blocking of different types of yarns and actually block items together, so you can see it being done.
Prerequisite Skills: None
Supplies you should bring: Several bath towels, straight pins(that don’t rust), a finished project that needs blocking. If you don’t have a project, but want to come and watch, that is OK.

M

Magic Loop, Two-at-a-Time, Toe-up, Socks ($10)
Instructor: Liz Arthur
Description: If you suffer from second sock syndrome, this is the class for you. We will cover the techniques for knitting two socks at once with one circular needle. This technique is great for many things besides socks and has many advantages over knitting them one at a time. The socks we knit will be small sample size socks – not designed to fit anyone, but designed to teach you the techniques you need for knitting your actual socks. The socks in the photo are multi-colored to show the different sock sections, but your sample socks may each be all one color.
Prerequisite Skills: Students in this class should know how to knit, and purl. Prevous experience with knitting in the round will be beneficial. This is not a learn to knit class.
Supplies you should bring:  (2)  1 ounce balls of knitting worsted weight yarn – any fiber is OK. The balls should be contrasting light colors. (1) 40 inch or longer circular needle size 6,7, or 8. An extremely flexible cable is a must. Knitpicks or Addi needles work best for this techinique. Clover, Susan Bates, or Boye circular needles will not work so please do not bring them to class. (4) stitch markers

My First Fleece!  Now What? ($25.00)
Instructor: Christine O’Hara
Description: You’ve bought your first fleece, but now are unsure of how to proceed or are scared you are going to mess up it up.  This class will show you how to handle  and  what to look for  in your fleece from the moment it comes to your door to sitting down and getting it ready to spin.  Sheep/Alpaca fleeces are covered.
Prerequisite Skills: students should have a basic understanding of spinning.
Supplies You Should Bring: Students should bring something to take notes with.

N

Needle Felted Embellishments with Silk and Sparkle ($38)
Instructor: Suzanne Morgan
Description: Learn to make a variety of shapes of felted wool beads amd brooches which you can embellish with silk and sparkle, add  silk rods and metallic yarns and use as a brooch or embellishment for a hat, purse, headband, journal – whatever you desire. Note: The bead making techniques can also be used to make jewelry if desired. No previous felting experience required.
Prerequisite Skills:  None
Supplies you should bring: Clover Pen Style Needle Felting Tool with needles; A needle felting mat — prefer high density foam

Needle Tatting ($12)
Instructor: Mary Cresson
Description:  Needle tatting, while a different method of lace-making than shuttle tatting, makes a product indistinguishable from the other.  Tatting needles, thread, and patterns will be provided.
Prerequisite Skills: None
Supplies you should bring: If you have a particular color of #10 bedspread cotton you wish to use in making a bookmark, feel free to bring it.

No Fuss Indigo Dyeing ($25.00)
Instructor: Laura Easterling
Description: A demonstration of a simple way of doing an indigo pot.  It will include one 4 ounce skein of 100% wool yarn for each participant. After the class/classes are completed, class member wanting to help deplete the pot, will be welcome to dye any yarns they bring.
Prerequisite Skills: A love of the color blue and no fear of getting messy.
Supplies You Should Bring: Please bring apron, gloves, and wear OLD CLOTHES. Some extra yarns if you would like.  This gets messy even at the best of times.

S

Spintastic: Making the Most of Hand Painted Rovings ($25)
Instructor: Liz Arthur
Description: Hand painted rovings can be so beautiful, but sometimes the resulting yarn does not live up to their potential. This class will explore several different ways to spin and ply those beautiful rovings.
Class fee will include 2 ounces of hand painted roving to spin in class.
Prerequisite skills:  Students should be able to spin yarn from roving. This is not a “learn to spin” class.
Supplies you should bring:  Spinning wheel in working order; Bobbins for the wheel

Successful Beginning Crochet ($20)
Instructor: Cindy Telisak
Description: Master the basic stitches of crochet in one easy session.  Are you a knitter who’d like to expand her repertoire?  Crochet adds a different dimension to your yarn crafts that sometimes no other technique will accomplish.  Are you completely new to needle work?  Crochet is a perfect place to start, and the perfect gateway into the wonderful world of fiber and yarn.
Prerequisite Skills: None.
Supplies You Should Bring: None.

W

Wet Felted Scarf with Locks & Wool ($49)
Instructor:  Suzanne Morgan
Description: Learn to wet felt and create a lovely wool scarf! We will start with a piece of wool prefelt, add silk and other textures and felt them all together to make a lovely winter scarf.
Prerequisite Skills:Felting requires that participants stand and roll for an hour or more. Some hand strength is also required.
Supplies you should bring: Sharp scissors that will cut fabric, 2 old towels that will lay flat, wear clothes that you don’t mind getting wet.

Y

(Power) Yoga in the Morning; Restorative Yoga in the Afternoon ($30)
Instructor: Shari Withey
Description: The morning sessions will offer an opportunity to begin the day with simple Asanas (postures) to stretch, strengthen and bring focus to your day. Everyone will be challenged at their own personal level. The afternoon class will be another opportunity to practice your Yoga. The focus or intention will be more for a recharge or restorative type practice.
Prerequisite Skills: Most postures can be modified for all level of experience. Come w/open mind and heart.
Supplies You Should Bring: Mat or towel, water and loose comfortable clothing.