Intro to Machine Knitting: Striped Scarf Retreat

Intro to Machine Knitting: Striped Scarf Retreat A small-group weekend workshop at Blue Thistle Fiber Mill — Gauley Bridge, WV

Limited to just five participants, this intimate retreat is your introduction to the knitting machine — from "what does this even do?" to a finished striped scarf you made yourself, all inside the working fiber mill studio at our Gauley Bridge location.

Friday evening is an easy start. Arrive at 6pm, get comfortable, and spend the first couple of hours getting to know your machine, your fellow knitters, and the studio. Coffee, tea, and snacks are available for purchase from the Blue Thistle Coffee Bar — a low-key way to ease into the weekend before we get to work.

Saturday we dig in. From 9am to 4pm, you'll work through the full process: setting up and threading the machine, casting on, managing tension, knitting in stripes, handling yarn changes cleanly, and binding off a finished piece. The Coffee Bar is open throughout the day for lunch, snacks, and drinks.

What you'll learn:

• Machine setup, threading, and carriage technique
• Cast on and bind off methods
• Knitting clean stripes and managing yarn changes
• Basic troubleshooting (every machine knitter earns a few dropped stitch stories)

What's included:

• Instruction from Sara or Clare
• Machine time on studio machines
• Yarn for your scarf — choose your stripe palette from Blue Thistle's naturally dyed selection
• Printed reference card to take home

Food and beverages available for purchase from the Blue Thistle Coffee Bar on-site.

Class size: 5 participants maximum

Schedule:

• Friday: Arrival 6pm — introductions, machine orientation, Coffee Bar open
• Saturday: 9am–4pm — full workshop day, Coffee Bar open throughout

Location: Blue Thistle Fiber Mill, 314 Main Street, Gauley Bridge, WV

Tuition

$295 $265 Early Bird — first two registrations $295 — standard registration

Spots fill fast at this size. Reserve yours today. Questions? Email us at bluethistlefibers@gmail or call 681-560-5749.