said. “I’ll be here all weekend to help all of you.”
I ventured a look inside my bag. There were a bunch of small balls of yarn in different colors. There were also several pairs of needles and then two packages of the most beautiful yarn that changed colors from rust to muted shades of beige and brown.
Along with the yarn, there was a clear plastic pouch. There were a bunch of things that looked odd to me, though I figured the rest of the room knew what they were.
Finally I found a little burgundy ruler type thing with a slot in it and a bunch of holes. I noticed something written in gold along the top.
Compliments of Kris Garland’s Retreat in a Box
. “What’s this?” I said, holding it up.
Edie started to explain that it was to measure gauge, whatever that was, but then noticed the writing on it. She had a similar bag of tools in her tote. She pulled out the ruler, read it over and started to wave it around. “Wow, you actually did it,” she said to Kris. She turned to the rest of us. “You have no idea how exciting this is.”
Kris beamed with pride. “Edie’s right, it is very exciting and an absolute savior. I don’t know what I would have done if this hadn’t come through.” Her expression had become serious as she said the last part, but she gave her head a little shake as if to get rid of a bad thought and her round face brightened. “Starting in a month or so, kiosks will be in yarn stores offering the same thing you’ve all just gotten. A custom-designed project that broadens the customer’s horizons, pushes the envelope or shows them how to make something they’ve always wanted to accomplish.” She explained that a customer would use a touch screen to answer a questionnaire that gave the key to their skill and their desire. The perfect project would then be chosen for them. A supply list would be generated, including yarn, instructional DVDs made by Kris, written instructions for the project and all the necessary tools. “And then the store clerk would put everything together in a tote bag similar to what you got and present it to them,” Kris said. Her whole face grew more animated as she talked about the project. Enthusiasm danced in her blue eyes. “This is my chance to take a step up and join the movers and shakers in the yarn world. And have some breathing space. Being a single parent with two teenagers gets expensive.” Then she caught herself and apologized, saying the weekend was supposed to be about the group, not her.
“And to think it all started here,” Edie said. “It was the last night of the first Petit Retreat. At dinner, I think. Who was it who brought up the Retreat in a Box idea? What a fabulous meal. Chicken Piccata made with local lemons, and salad with those baby greens. I think there were scalloped potatoes, too.”
I think we were all grateful when Kris stepped in and stopped Edie from going on with her rambling monologue before she got into the details of the dessert they’d had. Kris suggested we all get started on our projects.
I needed the most help. I was absolutely starting from scratch. My kit included a whole stack of printed instructions, but I was glad when Kris personally helped me. She decided it was best to cast on the stitches for me and then showed me how to do the knit stitch. In no time, I had the hang of it.
“Don’t worry about a thing,” Kris said. “You’re just going to be making practice swatches at first.”
The time flew, and before I knew it, Kris was telling us to pack up. I had managed to complete a number of rows on my first swatch and found out that
circs
was short for circular needles. Not that it seemed likely I’d have anything to do with them. But I thought my stitches in the golden yellow yarn looked particularly nice. I got a lot of congrats from the rest of the group as we stopped working. Kris told us just to leave our tote bags in the room and only work on them during our workshop time when she was there
I ventured a look inside my bag. There were a bunch of small balls of yarn in different colors. There were also several pairs of needles and then two packages of the most beautiful yarn that changed colors from rust to muted shades of beige and brown.
Along with the yarn, there was a clear plastic pouch. There were a bunch of things that looked odd to me, though I figured the rest of the room knew what they were.
Finally I found a little burgundy ruler type thing with a slot in it and a bunch of holes. I noticed something written in gold along the top.
Compliments of Kris Garland’s Retreat in a Box
. “What’s this?” I said, holding it up.
Edie started to explain that it was to measure gauge, whatever that was, but then noticed the writing on it. She had a similar bag of tools in her tote. She pulled out the ruler, read it over and started to wave it around. “Wow, you actually did it,” she said to Kris. She turned to the rest of us. “You have no idea how exciting this is.”
Kris beamed with pride. “Edie’s right, it is very exciting and an absolute savior. I don’t know what I would have done if this hadn’t come through.” Her expression had become serious as she said the last part, but she gave her head a little shake as if to get rid of a bad thought and her round face brightened. “Starting in a month or so, kiosks will be in yarn stores offering the same thing you’ve all just gotten. A custom-designed project that broadens the customer’s horizons, pushes the envelope or shows them how to make something they’ve always wanted to accomplish.” She explained that a customer would use a touch screen to answer a questionnaire that gave the key to their skill and their desire. The perfect project would then be chosen for them. A supply list would be generated, including yarn, instructional DVDs made by Kris, written instructions for the project and all the necessary tools. “And then the store clerk would put everything together in a tote bag similar to what you got and present it to them,” Kris said. Her whole face grew more animated as she talked about the project. Enthusiasm danced in her blue eyes. “This is my chance to take a step up and join the movers and shakers in the yarn world. And have some breathing space. Being a single parent with two teenagers gets expensive.” Then she caught herself and apologized, saying the weekend was supposed to be about the group, not her.
“And to think it all started here,” Edie said. “It was the last night of the first Petit Retreat. At dinner, I think. Who was it who brought up the Retreat in a Box idea? What a fabulous meal. Chicken Piccata made with local lemons, and salad with those baby greens. I think there were scalloped potatoes, too.”
I think we were all grateful when Kris stepped in and stopped Edie from going on with her rambling monologue before she got into the details of the dessert they’d had. Kris suggested we all get started on our projects.
I needed the most help. I was absolutely starting from scratch. My kit included a whole stack of printed instructions, but I was glad when Kris personally helped me. She decided it was best to cast on the stitches for me and then showed me how to do the knit stitch. In no time, I had the hang of it.
“Don’t worry about a thing,” Kris said. “You’re just going to be making practice swatches at first.”
The time flew, and before I knew it, Kris was telling us to pack up. I had managed to complete a number of rows on my first swatch and found out that
circs
was short for circular needles. Not that it seemed likely I’d have anything to do with them. But I thought my stitches in the golden yellow yarn looked particularly nice. I got a lot of congrats from the rest of the group as we stopped working. Kris told us just to leave our tote bags in the room and only work on them during our workshop time when she was there
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