The Lancaster Knitter's Retreat 2026 takes place in an inspiring rural setting with excellent teachers and in the good company of knitters from near and far. We will gather at the beautiful Amish View Inn in Bird-In-Hand, Pennsylvania, April 10 - 12, 2026. We are so pleased to welcome Mary Jane Mucklestone, Lavanya Patricella and Françoise Danoy as this year’s featured teachers!
Friday begins with LKR2026 check-in starting at 4:00. After dinner on-your-own, CLASS 1 is 6:00 - 9:00, followed by a “sip-and-stitch” reception in the Great Room.
On Saturday, CLASS 2 is in the morning, CLASS 3 is in the afternoon, followed by a Banquet Dinner and Keynote speaker, and then more knitting in the Great Room.
On Sunday morning, join us for The Knitting Salon! We’ll spin a yarn or two, share songs and ideas and projects and learn from each other – all to inspire you and your knitting. Enjoy the Hand Knit Runway, special guests, live music, and more!
Classes - all attendees take all three classes!
Scandinavian Knitting – Mary Jane Mucklestone
Thistle Thorn Cowl – Lavanya Patricella
Whakairo Wonders – Françoise Danoy
The cost includes three class sessions, Friday night reception, Saturday lunch, Saturday banquet dinner with Keynote speaker, and the Sunday Knitting Salon. Tea, coffee, and refreshments will be available throughout the weekend.
NO REFUNDS AFTER FEBRUARY 15, 2026
Please note any refund will be less a 15% administrative fee.
You are responsible to book your own lodging. All classes and included meals will take place at Amish View Inn & Suites/Plain & Fancy Restaurant where a block of rooms has been reserved at a special rate for this event. Please CALL Amish View Inn & Suites and mention Lancaster Knitter’s Retreat to receive this special rate: (866) 735-1600.
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
Scandinavian Colorwork with Mary Jane Mucklestone
What makes Scandinavian colorwork different from other world traditions? We will study classic motifs found in Scandinavian stranded knitting and explore the traditional use of color. We will begin by learning a fun, tricky way to knit garter stitch in the round, a common border in traditional vintage garments. We'll discover when and how to tack down extra-long floats, learn to Norwegian purl, and consider combining motifs to create new ones. We will start a headband or hat using Mary Jane's Storhedder pattern as our template.
Thistle Thorn Cowl with Lavanya Patricella
Learn the 2-color thorn stitch using Lavanya’s cowl pattern. This fun two-color stitch is made using a combination of slip stitches, increases, and decreases. You will work one color at a time, and the pattern lends itself wonderfully to gradient yarn coupled with a contrasting solid.
Whakairo Wonders with Françoise Danoy
In this engaging workshop, participants will explore the intersection of Māori carving traditions and Japanese knitting techniques through the "Whakairo Cowl" pattern. This session is designed to teach the art of translating the intricate patterns found in Māori whakairo (carving) into the precise and meticulous world of Japanese knitting stitches. Attendees will gain hands-on experience in crafting a cowl that embodies rich cultural aesthetics and detailed stitch work, reflecting both Māori and Japanese influences.
TEACHER BIOGRAPHIES
Mary Jane Mucklestone is a knitwear designer, teacher, and author of six knitting books specializing in stranded colorwork. Her volumes, 200 Fair Isle Motifs and 150 Scandinavian Motifs, sit on thousands of knitter's bookshelves worldwide. Endlessly inspired by traditional knitting, she likes to apply vintage ideas to modern knits.
Mary Jane loves to teach, specializing in lively informative classes where history, craft, fashion, and locality meet. With lots of personal attention, she aims to give students the courage to trust themselves and try something new!
She lives on the coast of Maine where sweaters are welcome even in summer!
Lavanya Patricella is an American fiber artist, knitting instructor, knitwear designer, and photographer based in North Eastern Pennsylvania. She’s been teaching knitting since 2010 and specializes in the captivating brioche stitch. Her hands-on approach to teaching and passion for the technique has consistently filled classes at local yarn shops and fiber festivals across the country. Lavanya has published more than 100 original patterns since 2014 both independently and in select publications.
Beyond her creative endeavors Lavanya is a loving mother to three wonderful children and spends most of her free time immersed in her bountiful backyard garden, finding inspiration for her designs amidst nature’s beauty.
Françoise Danoy (Ngāti Porou) is a Franco-Māori American Australian fiber artist and illustrator. Her work explores identity, belonging, and cultural reclamation through the lens of a third-culture, mixed-race upbringing. Drawing from her global lived experiences, she documents and reinterprets creative practices, particularly those tied to Māoritanga, to knit connections between heritage and contemporary art.
Based in San Antonio, Texas, Françoise runs The Practice of Fibre, a studio dedicated to textile art, storytelling, and the preservation of craft traditions. Her work resonates deeply with diasporic and multicultural audiences worldwide.
