West Coast Fibre Art Retreat 2023 - November 2023

Come meet, mingle, and learn with other fibre art enthusiasts during a series of workshops led by local and visiting instructors. Nestled in cozy, ocean-side rooms on the beautiful west coast, you will have the chance to learn how to knit lace, add beads to your knitting, do tiny stitches, weave with cedar, and learn about the design process and techniques used to create brick stitch fringe earrings. Stretch your legs and experience coastal rainforests with a local naturalist while taking in spectacular views from the Wild Pacific Trail, explore products from local vendors, and still have your own time to explore the region further or relax by the ocean.

The retreat is now in its’ sixth year! You can read about our 2021 retreat here (https://www.westcoastnest.org/stories/west-coast-knitting-retreat-2021) or watch a video from our second retreat back in 2019 on our Youtube channel here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjeO8E7yYgI).

RETREAT SCHEDULE (example*)

Sunday, November 5th

6 – 8pm: Registration and open knitting (optional)

Monday, November 6th

8:30am – 9:30am: Check-in and morning tea/coffee & knit

9:30am – 12:30pm: Workshop

12:30pm – 1:30pm: Group Lunch at Black Rock Oceanfront Resort

1:30pm – 2pm: Break

2pm – 5pm: Workshop

Evening: Dinner on your own

6pm: Drop-in knitting (optional)

Tuesday, November 7th

9:30am – 12:30pm: Workshop

12:30pm – 2pm: Lunch break (your choice)

2pm – 3pm: Guided walk on the Wild Pacific Trail

3pm - 6pm: Break and Dinner (your choice)

6pm – 9pm: Evening Gathering to knit, enjoy wine and dessert, and browse the local vendor marketplace.

Wednesday, November 8th

9:30am – 12:30pm: Workshop

12:30pm – 1pm: Wrap-up and departure

*Exact times and workshops will be communicated closer to the event*

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS

Lace, Beads and Fringe: Butterknit Cowl

Project-based knitting class with Faye Kennington aka UkeeKnits

Like practicing new techniques, but not so keen on swatching? In this class, learn how to read charts, knit lace, add beads to your knitting, make a simple fringed edge and more, all while getting started on a pretty and highly-wearable cowl, “Butterknit.”

Skill level: Intermediate. Participants should be able to cast on, knit, purl and do simple decreases to take on the challenge.

Materials you bring to class:

• US 4 (3.5mm) needles (long DPNS, straight or 16-24” circular)
• Stitch marker
• Cable needle
• Tapestry needle

Materials supplies by the instructor:

• 1 skein Polka Dot Sheep The Yaak, 60% superwash Merino/ 20% yak/ 20% silk; 215 y/ 196 m; 3.5 oz/ 100g, and
• 0.31 oz/ 9g Toho 6/0 E Glass

Cedar Weaving

Learn the art and skill of cedar weaving with Rose and her son Brian Wilson of Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ. Create a cedar craft while hearing about the many aspects of cedar and grass weaving such as how fibres are prepared.

Skill level: No weaving experience required, only a willingness and enthusiasm to learn.

Materials you bring to class: None.

Materials supplied by the instructor: Prepared cedar strips.

Crochet Snowflakes with Katrina Stewart of CraftyJAKs

In this beginner workshop, participants will learn how to crochet a snowflake and some basic stitches. No previous experience with crochet is needed and participants will go home with at least one completed snowflake that has been blocked and a small book of patterns for more. One of Katrina’s favourite things to do in the winter is hang a series of crocheted snowflakes in her window. This tradition is a hold over from when Katrina was a child and she would visit her grandma, who would hang her snowflakes from the ceiling all winter long. This practice always brought so much joy.

Skill level: Beginner. 

Materials you bring to class: None. 

Materials supplied by the instructor: Hook and crochet cotton.

Beading with Sea Wolf and Sage

During this workshop, students will learn about the design process and techniques used to create brick stitch fringe earrings. The class will walk through the steps of ladder stitch, brick stitch and fringe design.

Skill level: Beginner and up.

Required skills: Enthusiasm!

Materials to be supplied by the participants: None.

Materials supplied by the instructor: Beading kit containing various coloured beads, thread, fireline, needles, beading mat, hooks, wire guards, original seawolfandsage.co beading pattern, blank pattern templates.

Guided Walk on the Wild Pacific Trail

The guided walk will take place on a section of the ‘Lighthouse Loop” portion of the Wild Pacific Trail. A map of the trail is here. We will meet at the trail sign in the “Whale Lot”, which is the first parking lot you come to when travelling down Coast Guard Drive. The trail is described as easy grade along the coast, hills inland. There are no stairs on the main route. Our guide will lead a walk and talk from the Whale Lot, along a 0.5km section of the loop, to the Amphitrite Lighthouse. This portion will take about 45 minutes to 1 hour. From there, participants can choose to continue and complete the full loop, turn around and head back on the trail, or walk back to the parking lot via the road.

INSTRUCTOR BIOS

Faye Kennington has been closely involved with our fibre retreats since the very beginning! Ucluelet’s storm season provides the best excuse for her to make and wear wool knitwear. Faye is known for her colorwork designs and quick knits. She attended Helen Lefeaux School of Fashion Design in her earlier years and holds a diploma from the British Columbia Institute of Technology in Business Administration. Her combined interest in design, Excel spreadsheet know-how, and passion for a pretty skein have made a good basis for knitwear design. Find Faye @UkeeKnits on Instagram and Twitter.

Rose Wilson is a Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ cedar weaver living in Hitacu on the inner-shore of Ucluelet Inlet. She is both self taught and has the traditional teachings from elders in processing materials and creating traditional works of art. Rose and her son, Brian Wilson, work with red and yellow cedar bark and several types of specific grasses to create clothing, hats, baskets which incorporate traditional and meaningful designs that have been passed down through her family for many generations.

Katrina Stewart loves to play with colour and is passionate about sharing her knowledge with others. She draws much of her inspiration from the natural beauty that surrounds us on the Southwest coast of Canada, which she spent 25 years capturing through the lens as a professional photographer. You can follow her on Instagram @craftyjaks.

Cecelia Smith is a Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ knitter and beader. She currently lives and works on Syilx territory in the South Okanagan. Her earrings and accessories are thoughtfully designed, incorporating her love of the desert (her current home) with the beauty of the west coast. Please follow her creative journey on Instagram @seawolfandsage.co

RETREAT LOCATION

The 2023 West Coast Fibre Art Retreat will take place at the Black Rock Oceanfront Resort in Ucluelet, BC. Perched at the north end of Big Beach, the resort offers some of the best possible views for a retreat! One of our classrooms, the wine cellar, is situated at the end of an active surge channel and has spectacular views of the coast and Pacific Ocean - a perfect location to peacefully craft while viewing the powerful sea.

Black Rock Oceanfront Resort has some great rooms available at a discounted rate for retreat participants. Room booking details will be provided once event registration is complete.

ALSO INCLUDED

Also included in the cost of the retreat is morning coffee/tea and pastries, one lunch at Black Rock Oceanfront Resort*, a vendor market evening with wine, cheese, and desserts, plus a guided walk on the Wild Pacific Trail (non-participating travel companions, partners, spouses, and on-leash pets are welcome to join the guided-walk at no cost.) *Alcoholic beverages at the group lunch are the responsibility of the participant. There is no reimbursement if you cannot attend the scheduled group lunch.

ACCESSIBILTY

Activities for this event include sitting for long periods, listening, reading, moving between rooms to attend workshops, and walking for up to one hour on a gravel pathway. Please let us know ahead of time if you require accommodations to enable your participation and learning during these activities, and we will do our best to assist you.

HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY

West Coast NEST is committed to hosting a safe, equitable and inclusive event. Discriminatory behaviours and harassment or any other emotional or physical harm will not be tolerated and anyone displaying such behaviour will be asked to leave the event. The event will adhere to any health restrictions in the Province of British Columbia that may exist at the time of the event. Participants will be responsible for ensuring they meet the requirements. No refunds will be issued if a participant does not comply.

REFUND POLICY

Refunds will be accepted within 7 days of the date of purchase until September 30th, 2023. Refunds will be issued for the ticket cost, less the Eventbrite fees determined by Eventbrite. If we must cancel the event due to unforeseen circumstances all registrants will receive a full refund regardless of the date.