If it's Friday it's Knitting

Okay, so I'm a day late. This is an account of a trip I took last February, sponsored by a local knitting store. My friend and I are already signed up for next February.

Knitting in Winslow

The adventure began as we boarded the train in Albuquerque, where most of two couch cars were reserved for our knitting group of sixty-three (including a few spouses). After some exploration of the train cars, the instructors decided to postpone the classes they’d planned for the train ride. Instead, we ate dinner or gazed at the scenery from the observation car. As we crossed the Arizona border, we were treated to a gorgeous sunset.

The trip was organized by The Yarn Shop of Knob Hill in Albuquerque as a wonderful knitting weekend at La Posada in the historic Arizona town of Winslow. La Posada. La Posada embodies the visions of both Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter, the hotel’s renowned architect, and Allan Affeldt, its current owner. But the story really begins with Fred Harvey, who “civilized the west” by introducing linen, silverware, china, crystal, and impeccable service to railroad travel. Harvey developed and ran all the hotels and restaurants of the Santa Fe Railway, eventually controlling a hospitality empire that spanned the continent. La Posada was formerly one of the Harvey House restaurants as well as the Arizona headquarters for the Santa Fe Railway, the property had been renovated in a Southwestern style hotel, restaurant and train station. The hotel rooms contain handmade furniture, native rugs and rug hangings, and silver framed mirrors. The gardens are filled with local plants. A perfect setting for a knitting retreat.

My Saturday morning was filled with classes on Kitchener stitch for completing the toes of socks, taught by Becky Arnold. Next up was speedy stranded swatching with Celeste Nossiter. After a wonderful pot luck snack/lunch, I learned to create the edge for Orenberg Lace from Ahza Moore. She showed us many examples of her own shawls and runners.

While several of the knitters went to the Snowdrift Art Space for a tour, I joined a group of sixteen who traipsed three blocks, against the wind the entire way, for a photo op: Knitting on the Corner in Winslow Arizona.

We returned to the hotel for dinner. The restaurant serves excellent meals using locally sourced ingredients. Every bite was delicious of my churro lamb, duck cassoulet and elk sausage with potatoes, veggies and beans. Others had coq au vin or a vegetarian plate full of vegetables.

After dinner, a couple more classes were given. I attended one on brioche knitting with one color yarn.

The next morning, after a good night’s sleep, we learned the train was delayed. It eventually arrived around 8 A.M. and we boarded for the trip back to Albuquerque. It had snowed during the night in some locations and we saw the remnants along the way.