Knitting Retreat, Sievers School of Fiber Arts

October 2025 was a great time to visit Washington Island, WI.  I was there to attend my first-ever knitting retreat.  An intermediate knitter at best, I was game to attend a retreat with fellow knitters!  It was a great experience all around.

The "Open Studio Knitting Retreat" took place from Oct. 7th - Oct. 12th.  I journeyed to Washington Island, WI one day ahead of time.  I stayed at the Inn at Frog Hollow, a charming B & B I'd stayed at before. The entire experience was wonderful.  Fellow knitters at the retreat were very welcoming.  Many have been attending this retreat for years.  The retreat typically fills quickly once registration opens.  There was an instructor-lead knitting class running concurrently in the other studio. Those knitters were friendly as well. The staff at Sievers is top notch. Don't hesitate to go there if the chance arises!

I took the Washington Island ferry on October 6th, arriving a day ahead of the retreat.  The day was initially blustery.  The weather improved upon arrival on the island.  I drove around on the island.  I visited Schoolhouse Beach.  Eventually I stopped in at the Sievers School of Fiber Arts gift shop.  It's simply the best gift shop around, especially for those who are into fiber, basketry, and other handmade goods. 

Photos are pure eye candy!  Some show scenes from Sievers, the world’s cutest dog spotted outside a gift shop, the Inn at Frog Hollow, signage at the knitting retreat, and, riding on the ferry to and from Washington Island.  Oh, and there’s a “class” photo too!  I'm in the row that's standing. I'm wearing an orange print shirt.  Last photo shows the two shawls I worked on while at the retreat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All text and images ©️Suzanne Myers Otto

Floor Loom Weaving at Home: First Project

After taking a weeklong weaving class at Sievers School of Fiber Arts last summer, I decided it was time to get brave!  I started this project in July of 2021, one month after the weaving class.  This project was done on a Wolf Pup LT loom, purchased used, in 2020.  I did not yet know how to weave on a floor loom at the time I bought my loom!  The Wolf Pup, made by the Schacht Spindle Company, has an 18" weaving width.  I had researched small floor looms before purchasing a loom.  I bought the loom via the facebook group "The Weaver's Marketplace".  My husband and I drove to Iowa to pick it up.

 

The following photos tell the story of my first project.  Enjoy!

The warping board was one of many accessories that came with my loom.  Winding the warp is the first step in weaving! 

 

The wool yarn that I decided to use for the warp is hand dyed.  The color is “Great Grey Owl”.

I relied on notes and photos from my June 2021 weaving class to jar my memory on how to dress a loom.  I warped the loom from front to back.



A peg, attached to the side of the loom, is inserted in the frame of the beater to hold it upright while warping the loom.  The peg is pulled out before weaving is started.





Sleying the reed involves pulling thread ends through the reed.  One thread goes through each slot.







Lucky for me, the back beam can be removed on my loom.  This makes threading the heddles easier.






Getting the warp ready for weaving.

I used two treadles for this "plain weave" project.  Remaining treadles have been dropped to the ground (so they don’t get in the way).

Weaving has commenced!  The weft is composed of assorted art yarns, along with some of the same yarn I used for the warp.  I was not using any pattern for this scarf.  It is a spontaneous, organic creation! 

Finishing and mostly finished!  I like the undulating edges.