I've just returned from the trip of a lifetime: Jean Moss's Knit and Garden Tour of Wales and Yorkshire. (NAYY) I am still reveling in sensory overload, and thought you might like to share some of it with me.

We were 12 knitters, all from the US (except me: I am an American living in Mexico), and a special treat was that even the spouses (two) on this trip were knitters!

First the knitting. We were privileged to have personal lectures and workshops with Jean Moss, Sasha Kagan, and Erika Knight. These were held in museums, gardens, stately mansions, and private cottages. We heard each designer tell her secrets, how she got to where she is today, and what she has learned along the way.

From Jean we learned marvelous and meticulous detailed technique: how she produces those wonderful fitted, couture garments, and what she learned in knitting for Ralph Lauren, Laura Ashely, etc. Jean is intensely creative, and a caring, thoughtful teacher. A don't miss experience, and worth the whole trip in itself.

Sasha Kagan not only talked about her inspiration from nature, she gave us a hands-on opportunity to try it ourselves. We gathered flowers, chose our design, drafted to graph paper, and then knit up our very own colorways. Sasha individually taught us her technique for multi-color stranding, so it wasn't as impossible a task as it first appeared.

Erika Knight brought a different perspective, as she has currently left the cottage-industry knitting business and is consulting to large corporations, yet writing books and teaching to the hand knitter. We were all intrigued to hear about the way that a new knit design can be in stores in just ten (10!) days, as much of the production work is done on ships, by robotics! Our workshop with Erika focused on using natural and innovative materials, and simple, clearly defined stitches. A perfect balance to the detailed approaches which preceded it.

Next the yarns. We had a two hour visit with Colinette, who personally walked us through the process of creating her exciting fibers and colors. (To see if I bought anything, check out click here).

We visited a shop in a picturesque mill town that specialized in Rowan yarns. A very special stop was at Samuel Lumb, the factory which spins many of the Rowan yarns. Samuel Lumb is not open to the public and normally does not permit tours, but Jean's connections with Rowan gave us access to the visit, led by the factory owner himself. We also had a fascinating stop at Wensleydale Farms, home to the sheep which produce some of the longest and softest knitting wool available. (They also have a wonderful shop, with wool, patterns, roving ....)

Then the venues: we rode a narrow gauge railroad to Portmeiron, the Italianate fantasy village on Wales north coast. (Yes, we had a chance to buy the pottery at the Seconds shop.) We went down into a slate mine, to experience first hand the cold and damp that necessitated the making of all those warm and textured sweaters. We toured marvelous historic houses and mansions. We visited the dales, the moors, the land of Herriott and Jane Eyre and How Green Was My Valley.

Very especially, we toured Welsh and English gardens, led by Jean (who holds a university gardening certification) and other professional botanists and horticulturists. Then Jean presented a personally tailored talk to us on Color From the Garden for knitters.

We stayed at luxury hotels, ate excellent multi-course dinners and sample local fare (i.e., Ploughman's Lunch), drank LOTS of tea with and without scones and homemade preserves, and enjoyed each other's company. (More photos click here)

One very special memory was the night that Anthony Griffiths, Wales' premier folk/classical guitarist, serenaded us in the drawing room room after dinner ... and Jean, an accomplished folk singer, sang to us.

The whole trip was thoughtfully, professionally, and meticulously planned by Philip Mercer, Jean's partner. And an indication of the personalization that Philip and Jean bring to the tour was their inclusion of Felix, their son, in our farewell dinner the final night.

I can't say enough good things about this trip. Again, no affiliation, just a seriously happy traveler. For more info, go to www.jeanmoss.com , or write me off-list.

Definitely a trip to save for and savour.

Sheila Ruof
Mi Rinconcito
Yarn, chocolate, conversation, coffee: Life Is Good