THE LAKE DISTRICT

Our next three days will be devoted to all things Lake District! We’ll have a day trip on a real 1940s bus, and roam around the lakes, hills, and valleys with stops to some of the picturesque towns along the way! We’ll spend time with Maria at Dodgson Wood farm, saying hello to a wide variety of British sheep breeds. Don’t forget to stop in her store for bespoke tweed, yarn, and soap made entirely in the Lake District! Sit back and relax in the early evening on board the historic yacht gondola that’s been sailing around the lakes since the nineteenth century. And no trip to the Lake District is complete without Beatrix Potter. Mandy Marshall, a local expert on the area, will come to tell us all about the indomitable Beatrix Potter and her determination to preserve the Herdwick sheep breed. Once we’re filled to the brim with inspiration, it’s time to visit Potter’s beloved workspace at Hilltop farm and later to meet the Herdwick sheep ourselves! We’ll have an unforgettable experience with the sheep among the fells, and will cap off the night with a visit from Susan Crawford who’ll tell us all about the Fashion ‘on the ration’ during WWII. Don’t worry, there will be stops to replenish your yarn supply and grab some world-famous Grasmere gingerbread while we’re here, too!

THE YORKSHIRE DALES & HAWORTH       

Leaving the Lake District will be hard, but adventure awaits! We will make our way through the Yorkshire Dales - James Herriot Country - to our new accommodation in the Bohemian town of Hebden Bridge. In the morning we’re off to see some historical knitting from the Dales up close and personal. And yes, of course we will stop in Grassington where All Creatures Great and Small was filmed - perhaps lunch in the Drovers Arms with Tristan? Then it's on to Shibden Hall where the remarkable woman Anne Lister once lived. We’ll all hum the Gentleman Jack theme song as we mosey through the gorgeous tudor home and gardens. Finally, our time in Yorkshire culminates in the quaint town of Haworth where the Brontë sisters wrote all their gripping tales! In between wandering the moors and down the cobblestone streets, there are plenty of boutique shops to get in some souvenir shopping while we enjoy a leisurely afternoon here.  

BLETCHLEY PARK    

A few special activities will break up the drive today from small town Yorkshire to metropolitan London! We will visit RiverKnits for our yarn fix, and then head to Bletchley Park, where we can immerse ourselves in the wartime atmosphere for the afternoon. Once the top-secret headquarters of the World War II codebreakers, it is now a vibrant heritage attraction. Step back in time to experience stories about the extraordinary achievements from the women and men that worked here. From accounts of the women codebreakers during World War II to Alan Turing’s teddy bear, there’s lots to see and learn on this beautiful campus. When we arrive in London, we'll drop our bags at The Georgian Hotel in Pimlico and be off for a well deserved dinner all together to discuss the day! 

LONDON 

We have two full days to explore London – there’s no time to waste! Our morning will be spent with the wonderful people at Beautiful Knitters, our local yarn shop while in London. Then we’ll hop on the tube for a day out in the city! The Victoria & Albert Museum has a wonderful collection of fashion through the ages - which Sydney will guide us through, including some of the highlights currently on display. Why don’t we discuss our favorites later on over sweets and sandwiches at our Afternoon Tea? 

We’ll start the next day with a trip to the unbeatable Liberty, with fabric and fashions galore. Then we’ll head to Camden Passage, which is chock full of antique shops, boutiques, haberdasheries, and of course, the iconic yarn shop Loop! Peruse Loop and fill your yarn totes one last time before sitting down for workshops with some of London’s best makers. We’ll pop into as many shops down the passage prior to arriving at the special venue for our farewell dinner. 

How are we ever going to say goodbye after such a magical trip? 

DEPARTURE DAY

I know we’ll meet again some sunny day! Farewell knitters, and safe travels home! 

Sydney is a voracious knitter, designer, and knitwear historian. She has been knitting and studying fashion history for over fifteen years and recently turned her passions into a career at Squid's School of Vintage Knitting, an online school devoted to the education and love of historical knitwear. Her work in the knitting world is also supplemented by her academic background in film history, and she tries to combine the two as often as possible. In collaboration with Rowan Tree Travel, Sydney works to develop tours that have a historical or vintage bent, often with elaborately themed and niche activities! With over ten years of working in the fiber industry, Sydney continues to love meeting other knitters and sharing fiber experiences with them more than anything else. You can find her at patreon.com/squidschool or over on instagram as @squidneyknits. 

Suzie is an avid knitter, spinner, and all-around fiber enthusiast plus writer, gardener, adventurer and appreciator of both cityscape and landscape.  When she realized she could combine her love of making things with her love for travel and new experiences, she found her happy place! Suzie lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She’s the author and illustrator of The Nervous New Owner’s Guide to Angora Rabbits. No longer a fiber animal owner, she loves nothing more than visiting fiber animals someone else owns -- preferably in another country. She writes about her travel experiences at www.studiobriddsang.com