Cumberland Mountain

YARN RETREAT​

September 16 – 18, 2022

The Yarn Patch staff and friends invite you to join us for a celebration of “all things fiber” at the Cumberland Mountain State Park just outside Crossville on Friday evening, Saturday & Sunday, September 16, 17 & 18. We’ll have classes, some special vendors, a time to meet the designer, and side excursions to some of our area attractions. Your fee includes meals on Friday evening, Saturday evening, and a Sunday picnic, plus most of the activities. 

Because space is limited, we are charging a small fee for add-on classes and activities to help us better plan. You can pick as many add-ons as you like, or just hang out with friends and work on your project. More details as you read below. 

You also pick your own level of accommodation. We have a discounted rate at the nearby Hampton Inn and will have a shuttle to the Park, or you can stay in one of the cabins, or even take your RV or camp. You book these directly. Our fee is the Retreat only. See Accommodations section below.

The days you come are flexible too. We will have an opening reception on Friday night, classes and outings all day Saturday and Sunday, but if you check in on Thursday, we will be hosting a drop-in at the Mill House with light snacks and refreshments. 

The retreat fee is $375 per person. Click here to go to our event registration page and cancellation policy. (A “Plus One fee” option is available for $125, if you would like to have a significant other join you for meals and side trips, but not classes, knit/crochet things, or swag bag. Please call the store 931-707-1255.)

Please note, participation in this event is “at-will” and we will not be requiring vaccinations or masks. Do not come if you are sick (flu, cold, covid, etc.) If you wish to wear a mask, you are free to do so. Please be responsible.

Our event is sponsored by Brazil’s #1 yarn company:

The main events: Homesteads Restaurant and Conference Center

Our headquarters area is the lower level of the Homesteads Restaurant overlooking Byrd Lake. Three meeting rooms will host our opening reception, morning meet-up, some of our classes and vendors. Meals are served buffet-style upstairs in the restaurant. 

Don’t want to be inside all the time? There are lots of lovely areas to sit and knit or crochet while enjoying the view.

The Mill House Stone Cabin will be one of the small group hospitality areas. Please note for this venue, there may not be wheelchair or walker accessibility.

In addition, we have rented the 3 largest cabins which have kitchens and decks overlooking Byrd Lake. Each cabin will have one of our teachers as a host for small group get-togethers. If you would like to stay in one of the cabins, there are 2 rooms available in each cabin. We can book these for you for just $300 per room for all 3 nights (Friday, Saturday and Sunday); there are 2 beds per room if you want to share with a friend. Please call us at 931-707-1255 to book these rooms in addition to your cost for the Retreat.

Included Activities

Pick Your Project: Knit or Crochet

Whether you work on the project at the Retreat or afterwards, everyone will receive a Retreat Pattern. For knitters, it’s Bombogenesis, designed by Emily Hines from String & Bean. For crochet, it’s the Hotel of Bees. There are a variety of stitches in each of these designs. You can add on a class or two to learn a new stitch or enhance your skills using these projects as the reference.

Opening Reception & Stitch Marker Exchange – Friday evening we will have a meet & greet with food and beverages; cash bar available for this who want an adult beverage. We’ll also give out our exclusive Yarn Retreat SWAG BAG, worth over $75 retail.  

Saturday & Sunday Mornings Stretches for Crafters – Private yoga instructor and avid knitter Adrianna Ledbetter will lead us in a series of light stretches, including some that are especially helpful for fiber crafters, to get us ready for a fun and productive day.

Meet the Designer: Julie Likely from Circulo Yarns will be joining us from Miami. Julie is a talented young and trendy designer who has joined staff at the Brazilian yarn maker. So, in addition to asking any design question you might have, you can learn what it’s like to work for a major yarn company.

Sunday Vendor Fair – Hand-crafted leather bags and accessories by Janet Derrick, from Cove Bear Leathercraft & Designs in Grassy Cove, Indie-dyers Cumberland Fiber Works and Ada Loves Laces, and more… 

Morning Walks & Ranger Talks – There’s great hiking, including an ADA accessible path, with lovely views of Byrd Lake. Each evening a park ranger will offer a talk on bird. 

Shuttle to The Yarn Patch & Downtown Crossville.

Add-on Activities: Classes

We will have a number of classes on Saturday and Sunday. Because spaces are limited, and as a courtesy to the teacher, there will be a $5 additional charge for each class, a token fee to help ensure those signing up attend the session. Schedule to come.

Crochet Classes – Hotel of Bees

We will have 3 different classes presented by Jessica Rollow covering the different stitch techniques used in the Hotel of Bees Shawl: Filet Crochet Honeycomb, Front Post Wings, and Bee Bobbles.

Knit Classes – Bombogenesis

We will have 3 different classes presented by designer Emily Hinds covering the different skills needed to create her Bombogenesis Shawl: Chart Reading, Brioche Rib and Beaded Quilt Stitch.

Classes from Sheri Pitroski

Sheri Pitroski will present 3 knit classes: 6 Essential Increases, Riff Hat and Helix Knitting; plus a crochet class. Sheri’s Rose City Cowl class covers how to read a crochet chart while making an elegant small cowl. Sheri says this is the perfect pattern for that one special skein of sport/DK yarn you’ve been snuggling with!

Classes with Julie Likely

Designer Julie Likely will present 2 crochet classes. The Wintertide Scarf is a beginner-friendly scarf. The Dhalia Dress is an intermediate level design. We won’t complete the entire dress in a single class, but you’ll learn how to make the octagon, the square, the straps and how to join it all together for this fun crochet dress.

Add-On Activities: Tours

The Retreat is providing a shuttle to each of the off-site events below. You will be able to sign up along with selecting your classes. Schedule to come.

DeepDraw-Yaks2-Razzlebella

Visit a Yak Ranch

Come meet the yaks at Deep Draw Yak Ranch. What began as a rescue project for yaks from two zoos, is now a fiber ranch working to save the American yak. 

Tibetan yaks were imported to the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s. After more than a century of genetic separation from their cousins in Asia, purebred yaks in America are now in need of conservation. Recently moved to Tennessee, at Deep Draw the yaks are raised for fiber only. Their “fleece” is non-allergenic and does not hold odors, plus it’s super warm and soft. The yaks are gentle enough to feed by hand and pet.

We have two options: one is to visit and feed the yaks, the other is to stay longer and you’ll get to comb out their fiber!

Wine Tasting Tour

Come visit two of the Cumberland Plateau’s fabulous wineries, both here in Crossville. We will visit Stonehaus Winery for a tasting and Chestnut Hill Winery for a tasting and tour. Stonehaus is the only Tennessee winery with state-wide distribution, while Chestnut Hill is one of the largest wineries in the state of Tennessee with a fermentation capacity of over 23,000 gallons. Meet the families and sample the great wines that are unique to our region.

Cumberland Homesteads Tower & House Tour ($6 admission)

The area around the park is famous for its Cumberland Homesteads. A New Deal subsistence homesteading program of the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration created during the Great Depression,  the Homesteads were famously championed by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. 

The tower was constructed in 1937-38 to house the government administrative offices of the Cumberland Homesteads. A marvel of innovative design and execution, the octagonal stone tower houses a water tank and a winding stairway leading to a lookout platform at the top. Most of the original 252 farmsteads can be seen from this vantage point.

A short drive away, the Homesteads House Museum is one of the 252 original houses built in the community. The former residence of the Tom and Clara Crabtree family, the house has been fully furnished to give visitors the experience of what the daily lives of the Homesteaders were like during the 1930’s and 1940’s. Many of the furnishings on display came from original homesteader families including several pieces of furniture including beds, chairs and mattresses that were made on the Homesteads. 

Boat Rentals (Various prices)

Peddle boats, kayaks, canoes, and fishing boats with electric trolling motors are all available to rent at the park.

The retreat fee is $375 per person. Click here to go to our event registration page. (including cancellation policy)

Acommodations

There are several options so you can book the accommodations that best suit your style and comfort requirements.

1. Book a Cabin at Cumberland Mountain State Park. 

2. Reserve a spot for your RV or camp at Cumberland Mountain State Park.

3. Reserve your room at Hampton Inn. We will have a shuttle to and from the park so you only need to drive if you want to. We have arranged a block discount rate of $120 per night, + taxes, single or double occupancy. You need to call the hotel and ask for The Yarn Patch block to secure this price. Call (931) 707-7170.

4. Stay in a Homestead House AirBnB. We are working on some options and will have links here on or before May 27.

5. Stay with us in one of the cabins we have booked. As noted above, we 6 rooms that will accommodate up to 12 people. Just $300 for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Please call us at 931-707-1255 to book these rooms. This amount is an addition to your cost for the Retreat. (Note: there is one room left for this option as of 7/12/22.)