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TKGA Retreat 2024: Minneapolis, Minnesota
October 31-November 3, 2024
Hyatt Regency Bloomington – Minneapolis, 3200 E 81st St, Bloomington, MN 55425
With two successful retreats under our belt, we are ready to take our retreat to the middle of the US! Welcome to the TKGA Retreat 2024: Minneapolis. Okay, technically its in Bloomington, but that just means it’s easier access to the airport.
Come and join us for a retreat full of camaraderie, education, and knitting in wonderful Minneapolis. Meet other retreaters that share your passion for knitting, enhance your skills, and recharge your excitement for the craft, all in a city that loves its yarn almost as much as you do.
Registration is now OPEN
Our Teachers
This year’s retreat attendees will be able to select from classes taught by Beth Brown-Reinsel and Faina Goberstein, choosing one six-hour class for Friday, a 3-hour class for Saturday, and another 3-hour class for Sunday. When you register, you’ll be asked to choose one class for each day; you do not select the classes offered by just one instructor for the entire retreat (unless you want to!)
Classes have a maximum size of 25. Once a class is full, you can still register for it to be added to the waitlist, but we’ll reserve a spot in the other class for you.
Friday Class Details (6 hours)
The Cowichan-Inspired Pullover with Beth Brown-Reinsel
On Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, the Coast Salish people developed this V-necked, shawl-collared garment after learning of knitting through Europeans who visited their area. The Salish prefer motifs that reflect the natural world (whales, birds, etc.) as well as geometric motifs. These pullover sweaters, still handspun by some people, are knitted in the round on double-pointed needles, with thick single ply yarns in 2 or 3 colors.
This class will cover working with up to three colors in the round, reading a chart, putting stripes in ribbing without color distortion, a traditional shoulder join, creating a shawl collar shaped with short rows, and knitting sleeves from the top down while shaping the cap. This sampler can be made in worsted weight or bulky yarn.
Skill Level: Intermediate.
Slip Stitch Beyond Mosaic/Slip Stitch Lace with Faina Goberstein
Slip Stitch Beyond Mosaic (Friday AM)
Like mosaic stitch patterns? Take this class to learn about the whole world of slip-stitch knitting and its amazing variety. You will see how simple and inspirational this technique is. The possibility for using colors is endless.
Skill Level: All levels.
Slip Stitch Lace (Friday PM)
This fancy group of slip-stitch patterns is full of beautiful and unusual combinations with other techniques. Learn new and exciting stitches that are surprising and inspirational. You will make a few swatches, see more examples and samples of garments and accessories. Knowing this group of stitches will change your outlook on slip-stitch knitting.
Skill Level: All levels. Ability to cast on, bind off, beginning lace.
Saturday Class Details (3 hours)
Estonian Roosimine Technique with Beth Brown-Reinsel
The beautiful Roosimine inlay technique of Estonia, from the 1800s, is traditionally found on gloves and socks, but can be used to embellish any garment.
In class a sampler will be knitted with a Roositud motif so the student can gain familiarity and experience with the process of reading the charts and working the technique. We will knit wrister warmers beginning with the German Twisted Cast-on, working a Faux Entrelac cuff, the twisted cord, and the Roosimine technique.
Skill Level: Intermediate. Ability to knit in the round on DPNs, magic loop, or two circulars.
Short Row Toolbox with Faina Goberstein
Whether you are creating an interesting shawl shape or want to add bust darts, short rows is your tool. Learn 4 ways to do short rows and use the one that fits the project. We will talk about how to calculate the sequence of short rows and where to apply them.
Skill Level: Intermediate.
Sunday Class Details (3 hours)
Traditional Beginnings: Cast Ons from Long Ago with Beth Brown-Reinsel
Learn eight of the most beautiful and practical cast-ons in our knitting history. From the UK, we will cover the Channel Island Cast-on, the Knotted Cast-on, and the Multi-Strand Cast-on. Included are two basic go-to cast-ons, the Long Tail and Old Norwegian, that are the basis for two decorative cast-ons from the Twined Knitting tradition in Sweden.
Last, the wonderful Braided Cast-on from Finland will be taught in 3 colors! In addition, a couple of bind-offs will be covered as well, for you to practice on as you bind off your swatches.
Designing a Hat with Faina Goberstein
Choose your yarn and gauge to make a hat that you will love following Faina’s simple approach—which you can also use as a blueprint for designing more complex hats. You will learn to use provided tables where you reflect your thought process in designing a hat step by step.
You will be able to add other sizes from baby to adult, if you need it. Standard measurements will be provided. Your hat size will be determined in class.
During this class you will learn to:
- Design a beanie in Stockinette
- Design a simple cable beanie based on the first hat
- Calculate hat brim and body stitch counts
- Work through the crown
- Have an idea of some modifications of the pattern
Note: This class intended to be an example of how to design a hat. Every hat is different and there is no one recipe for all. You will leave the class with general understanding of how to do it on your own with tools learned in class.
Skill Level: Advanced Beginner
Beth Brown-Reinsel has been teaching historic knitting workshops for 30 years both in the United States and abroad. Her love of traditional methods and her skill in imparting that information to others is well known. She shares her passion through her traditional patterns, workshops, and Vermont retreats. Her workshops are known for the little sweaters which are the class samplers. These small garments teach construction techniques in context rather than through meaningless swatches.
Beth’s classic book Knitting Ganseys has been expanded and revised, and was released in 2018. In addition, she has produced three DVDs and a class for Craftsy.com. Her warm and supportive teaching style and her generous and thorough handouts have made her a favorite with guilds, shops, and all the national conferences. She lives in Vermont and loves New England winters! (Editor’s note: She is also a TKGA-certified Master Hand Knitter.)
Faina Goberstein is an independent knitwear designer, author, and a professional teacher based near San Francisco, CA. Taking an early retirement from a long career as a math professor gave Faina a chance to let her creativity and long-time passion for knitwear design to become a second profession.
Faina’s interest in wide assortment of knitting techniques and stitch patterns is evident in her designs and topics of her inspirational classes. Faina is a great communicator and energetic teacher who cares about her students and focuses on sharing her knowledge and excitement about the craft. She teaches at Vogue Knitting Live, Interweave Yarn Fest, and various venues such as guilds, fiber fests, and yarn shops locally and around the country and abroad.
Follow Faina on Instagram @Faina.go to see the links in her bio to current classes and workshops taught online at Craftsy.com, Interweave.com, Vogue Knitting Live and more. Faina designs for her own line of patterns, FGDesigns and her designs often appear in internationally recognized magazines such as Rowan, Vogue Knitting, Interweave Knits, Knit.Purl, Cast-On and in numerous books. Faina is best known for her elegant and well-fitted classic designs.
- Opening Reception and Banquet
- 12 hours of classes over three days with internationally known instructors Beth Brown-Reinsel and Faina Goberstein
- All meals (except Saturday dinner) in the Ballroom
- Off-site event with Blue Sky Fibers (transportation included)
- Guest speakers, including Kathleen Pascuzzi of local hand dyer ModeKnit Yarn
- Explore Minneapolis and/or the nearby Mall of America on your own on Saturday night
- Late night knitting and socializing
- And more!
- Double Occupancy (2 Queen Beds): $1675
- Single Occupancy (1 King Bed): $1900
- Additional Nights: $170
- Parking is free for retreaters
This is an all-inclusive retreat. Price includes three nights of lodging (Thursday-Saturday), all meals and refreshments except Saturday dinner, all classes, and all events. Prices also include all taxes, gratuities, and resort fees.
Cost is payable in full, or with a $300 deposit and two additional payments of $ 687.50 (dbl) or $800 (single) due on July 15 and September 15.
You can cancel without penalty by August 1. If you cancel after August 1, you will be charged a $300 fee. Any cancellations after September 15 will not receive a refund.
You can specify a roommate on your registration form (be sure to send your forms at around the same time) or we can match you up with one.
Hyatt Regency Bloomington – Minneapolis provides travelers with a quiet setting in an unbeatable location next to Mall of America, minutes from Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) and steps from MetroLink Blue Line.
Start your vacation at our upscale hotel in Bloomington featuring
- an indoor pool
- 24/7 fitness center
- an on-site restaurant serving locally sourced ingredients
- a vibrant bar and lounge.
MINNEAPOLIS – ST. PAUL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (MSP)
The hotel is 2.8 miles from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport (MSP)
Courtesy airport shuttle runs daily on demand from 3:30am to 1:30am.
Metro Blue Line also runs from the airport to the hotel approximately every 15 minutes, and costs $2.50. From the airport, take the Blue Line southbound towards Mall of America and exit at the Bloomington Central stop. The hotel is just a block north of the station. https://www.metrotransit.org/route/blue
Rental cars, taxis, and ridesharing are all available at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. See the airport website for more information. https://www.mspairport.com/directions/ground-transportation
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
The Hyatt Regency Bloomington is located just 2 minutes south of I-494/MN 5. Take Exit 1B (34th Ave/SB Old Shakopee Rd), turn right on American Blvd S, then left on 33rd Ave S, then right on 81st Ave E to 3200 81st Ave E. (Driving Directions – Google)
PARKING
Self-parking is available at the hotel at no cost for retreaters.
How about if I want to bring my non-knitting spouse/friend?
Sign up for a single attendee room and a non-knitting spouse or friend can stay with you at no extra charge. Guests can join the retreaters at the Opening Reception and Dinner with prior arrangement at an additional charge – contact Celia Cahill at ccahill@tkga.org to make arrangements.
All other meals, as well as classes and activities, are for retreat attendees only. Guests may be welcome to join in the late night knitting and socializing if there is room available.
Explain how the classes work.
Classes taught by Beth Brown-Reinsel and Faina Goberstein will be taught concurrently in the Wakota and Waterford rooms, with one class on Friday (morning/afternoon), another Saturday morning, and a final class on Sunday morning.
The most either classroom will hold is 25 students, so once a class reaches that registration level, it’s considered closed. New registrants will be automatically put into the other class held at the same time and added to a waiting list for the preferred class.
What's the meal setup?
The retreat is set up to be virtually all inclusive, with all meals except for Saturday dinner included. This means a full breakfast each day, along with buffet lunches and theme dinners held in the Ballroom. Dietary restrictions, such as vegan/vegetarian, gluten free, etc., should be noted on the registration form.
There will also be beverage service (coffee/tea/water) provided in the hallway outside the classrooms each day. For late night knitting and socializing, there is a cash bar in the hotel lobby.
A highlight of the retreat is the Opening Reception and Dinner in Ballroom 1. The reception includes a voucher for two drinks, then a luxe plated dinner.
We know many people will want to explore Minneapolis and Bloomington, so we left time for optional activities after our outing on Saturday. This also gives retreaters the chance to sample the local cuisine at your leisure on Saturday evening and for those interested, the hotel provides a free shuttle to the nearby Mall of America.
Will there be any other activities?
Yes! We have a chartered bus that will be taking us on a trip to a Blue Sky Fibers event on Saturday afternoon. We will also have guest speakers on Friday lunch and dinner with local knitting artisans, a yarn tasting, and a small vendor marketplace.
We have also left time available to explore Minneapolis and Bloomington after our outing on Saturday. The hotel provides a free shuttle to the nearby Mall of America.
What if I want to come to Minneapoilis early or stay later?
Rooms are available at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis – Bloomington at our preferred rate (including taxes) of $170 per night for up to 3 nights before and after the retreat. Just make note on the registration form!
I live in the area. Can I just come for the day?
The retreat is set up to be an intensive, all-inclusive, on-site educational experience – an immersion into knitting, if you will. That assumes everyone would be staying on site for the duration of the retreat.
This was the approach in our contract with the host hotel, which means we are contractually obligated for the rooms and meals, and why only an all-inclusive rate is offered. There is no day rate. Even if you live nearby, consider that you may enjoy the getaway feel of a retreat in your local area!
What are the travel options?
One of the reasons we chose the Hyatt Regency Bloomington is that it’s easy to get to!
From the Minneapolis – St. Paul International Airport (MSP), you can take the Metro light rail Blue Line south towards Mall of America to the nearby Bloomington Central stop – which lets you out virtually in front of the hotel – or you can use the Hyatt Regency’s free airport shuttle service.
For those driving, parking is free for our retreaters.
Detailed travel directions are here.
What participants are saying about TKGA’s Retreats:
“I’m excited to be signed up for TKGA’s 3rd Retreat! The instructors are top notch, and the length of the classes really allows you to dig in to the topics. The meals, the prize drawings, the field trip, and most importantly, spending time with old and new friends makes it a wonderful event.”
— Lynette from Iowa
“I’m looking forward to attending the TKGA retreat in Minneapolis. Last year’s retreat was outstanding – food, classes, speakers, and an awesome field trip. Most of all, I enjoy meeting other TKGA knitters. Fall season in Minnesota is a wonderful place for everyone to show off their knitted treasures!”
— Maris O., Fargo, ND