Knit-A-Way 2025 Day 3

The Knit-A-Way retreat was held at the Big Lynn Lodge from September 18 to 21.

Don had severe heartburn and had to leave breakfast early. I finished breakfast to check on him, and he decided to rest for a little while, so I went to knit on the patio. In about an hour, we headed to Marion and Rutherfordton to go antique shopping. In Marion, we found a flea market and baby pigs for $100, but I didn’t buy any. LOL Next, we found a farmer’s market with live music. Then we went to Rutherfordton and went to the Vintage Lace Antique Market, where Don found a treasure (a 1939 World’s Fair ashtray). Then, Don wanted to come back early so he could watch ballgames, and we weren’t hungry, so we skipped lunch. After a shower, we made our hotel reservations for DC, and then I sat on the patio and knit until dinner. Don watched ballgames until dinner. At dinner, we had pot roast, rice and gravy, carrots, and green beans, but Don had heartburn again and didn’t eat much. He went back to the room, and I knit until it was time for our 8pm meeting. At the meeting, I won a door prize of 3 skeins of beautiful yarn! We decided to skip breakfast and leave early, so I checked out at the front desk.

Original photos by Pat Hensley

Knit-A-Way 2025 Day 2

The Knit-A-Way retreat was held at the Big Lynn Lodge from September 18 -21. 

The lodge served breakfast at 7:30, and it was wonderful as usual. After breakfast, we headed down the Blue Ridge Parkway. One lady told us yesterday that the parkway was closed to Mt. Mitchell, but at dinner, another lady informed us that it was open. So, we decided to go find out for ourselves. 

We made it about a mile only to find out that the parkway was closed. So, we headed north for about 8 miles, and then the parkway was closed again. We decided to head north to Moses Cone National Historic Site. We walked around there and then went to Flat Top Manor (the Cone’s summer home), and they had an open house of the 2nd floor so we were able to see the upstairs rooms. For lunch, we ate at a Mexican restaurant in Newland and then went back to the lodge. I spent the rest of the day knitting. 

After dinner, we had Show and Share. I shared my Bonfire Tee and my Go Go Dynamo shawl. They were both a hit! 

Original photos by Pat Hensley

Knit - A-Way 2025 Day 1

The Knit-A-Way retreat was held at the Big Lynn Lodge from September 18 -21.

We left home at 7:15 and arrived at Big Lynn Lodge at 9:30. I dropped off my lawn chair and said hi to everyone before heading to Burnsville. We went to Hammond Antiques, where Don found some postal stamp pins. Then we walked to the Yummiyarns yarn store (opened at 11 am). I bought a skein of West Yorkshire Spinners, and the owner (Wendy) gave me a skein of Ella Rae yarn. Then we stopped at Spruce Pine to see how it fared from the hurricane. Most everything was gone except a few restaurants. We found one shop that had store gifts and vintage items. I found a knitting book there.

Then we went back to the lodge and checked in. We are in Room 134, located on the ground level, which is a nice room. I knitted on the patio until dinner, and then after dinner, Don had an issue with the TV. The lady at the front desk reset the TV for us. At 8pm, we had our group meeting where door prizes were handed out.

Original photos by Pat Hensley

Knit-Away Retreat Day 2

Click here for pictures.

Last week we went to the Knit-A-Way Retreat at Big Lynn Lodge in Little Switzerland, NC. It was hosted by the Spartanburg Knitting Guild.

After a wonderful breakfast at 7:30, we headed to the Linn Cove Viaduct. We hiked on the Tanawha Trail and the weather was absolutely perfect for hiking! We hiked a couple of hours in and then back to our car. It was tougher than I remembered. We had to climb up and down a lot of rocks.

After hiking we headed to Spruce Pine and had lunch at the Anchors Away Diner again. Then we went to two antique shops in town.

When we returned to the lodge, I sat and knit with my friends until dinner time. Then after dinner, we knit until the general meeting. It was time for Show and Share and many people had beautiful things to show and share.

Original photos by Pat Hensley

Knit-A-Way Retreat Day 2

After breakfast, we drove north along the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was a lovely drive and we stopped at several places to do a short hike/walk. We visited the Linn Cove Viaduct, Julian Price Park, and Moses Cone Park. The weather was cool and a little breezy but it was a beautiful day. We had a late lunch at the Anchor Diner in Spruce Pine.

When we returned to the lodge, I knit until dinner and Don relaxed in our room (watching TV and reading). I got to know some of the other knitters better. After dinner, we had our nightly meeting.

I won a door prize from Twice Sheared Sheep (Idaho) which was a bag of yarn, a row counter, and a project bag. Next, we had Show and Share (like a fashion show) and I was able to show off the mittens and socks that I designed.

It was a great day and I was in bed by 9:30.

 

Sunrise

 

hiking to an overlook

 

Linn Cove Viaduct

 

Julian Price Park

Moses Cone Park

Original photos by Pat Hensley

Knit-A-Way Retreat Day 1

We had Day 1 of the retreat at Big Lynn Lodge in Little Switzerland. Since it is only 2 hours away from home, we took our time on the way here. We left home at about 8:30 and stopped at antique stores along the way. We drove to Bakersville to find the restaurant we ate at last year (Bonnie and Clyde) which had wonderful food. Then we drove through Bakersville but there wasn’t anything there so don’t waste your time going there!

We checked into room 139 around 3:30 pm and even though the parking spaces were marked, people didn’t park in the correct space so we didn’t have a space. Don found an open spot to park in. Our room was nice with a min fridge, TV, and internet. Don watched TV while I knit and visited with people. I turned in my charity soap sacks and entered my camper blanket for the clothesline contest.

At 6 pm, we had dinner and sat with Betty Buck. Our dinner was very good (Ham, corn, wild rice, tossed salad, and peach pie with ice cream). Don went back to the room and I knit until our evening meeting at 8 pm. Some door prizes were given out but I didn’t win anything. I was in bed by 9:30

Original photos by Pat Hensley