Fiber Beat, Episode 27: "The Manly Art of Retreat" featuring Jon McCoy & Doug Upchurch
Media Link: The Manly Art of Retreat (44:20)

There's a million crafters in Fiber City and we've all got a yarn to spin.

This episode of Fiber Beat is made possible with the support of Entangled magazine, our brand new sponsor from New Zealand! Entangled is a new digital only, quarterly fibercraft publication. Issue Four featuring Stella Lange, Rosalind Aymes, Jacey Boggs and Donna Druchunas is out now and available through Zinio

This year marks the 5th year of the Men's Knitting Retreat events. The spring retreat will be happening in upstate New York this coming May while the Men's Fall Knitting retreat will return to dreamy WA state in early September. Other retreats across the US and even around the globe, while not as established as the spring & fall retreats, are gaining popularity and promise to continue this worthwhile practice.

In September 2011, the 4th annual Men's Fall Knitting Retreat was host to two very special gentlemen & entrepreneurs: Jon McCoy of Pocket Wheel & Doug Upchurch from White Bear Fibers. Jon was a guest lecturer & workshop leader, while Doug was attending his very first Men's Knitting Retreat. I spoke with both them during breaks in the manly activities of the event.

You know, I met both of these gentlemen at a Men's Knitting Retreat and I cannot stress enough what an enriching experience it is for men to come together and celebrate their creativity. This year we are very fortunate to be able to offer a scholarship to attend the Men's Fall Knitting Retreat this September over Labor Day Weekend. If you know a male knitter whom you'd like to nominate - even if it's yourself - do so on the Men's Knitting Retreat site or send me, WonderMike, a private message on Ravelry.

I recently ordered some yarn from Doug called Texas Wild Flowers and it's such a great name and a fabulous colorway. If you haven't seen or heard about White Bear Fibers, do we have a special treat for you. Check out the contest for this episode and see what cool yarn from White Bear Fibers you can win for yourself! Details below.

The following people, places & things are mentioned in this episode:

• Nominate a man for the 2012 Men's Fall Knitting Retreat
• Norm Abrams/This Old House
• Cat Bordhi
• Judith MacKenzie
• Oregon Flock & Fiber festival
• Whidby Island Spin In
• Amelia Garripoli aka Ask the Bellwether
• WooLee Winder
• Will Taylor's Clever Kate
• Tour de Fleece blog, last updated 2009
• Tour de Fleece Ravelry forum, active & current
• Spin Off magazine
• Ravelry Pocket Wheel forum
• Skacel's Artfelt
• Men's Rocky Mountain Retreat

Fiber Beat CONTEST for Episode No. 27

Doug has generously offered 4 skeins of White Bear Fibers' Northern Silk Sock (BFL & Silk) in a custom dyed colorway chosen by one lucky winner. This is an incredibly generous offer from Doug and we're excited to be able to offer it as prizing. In addition to this, I'm going to offer the two spindles that yours truly made during Jon's "Make Your Own Spindle" workshop.

All you have to do to enter this contest is answer the following question: Who is ONE of your favorite guy knitters & why? One of my absolute favorites is my friend and designer, Kyle Kunnecke . He's such a generous soul and a crazy talented artist. I recently did a little photoshoot with him where I saw his latest hand knit design which he is submitting for publication. Hopefully you'll be seeing it soon too. I'll keep you posted. Now, it's your turn. You can leave your answer in the website shownotes or in the Ravelry Fiber Beat forum. One winner for each prize will be randomly selected from all the entries. DEADLINE FOR ENTERING IS APRIL 30, 2012.

I'd like to give a tip of the hat to wheelsmith Jon McCoy and a big bear hug to Doug Upchurch for allowing me to interview them at last year's MFKR. Big shout out to Fiber Beat sponsor, Entangled magazine. Finally, the most manly embrace to all of you, our loyal and patient listeners, for downloading and listening to our first THIRTY FOUR episodes (audio/video) of Fiber Beat! If you like what we do, please consider leaving a review on iTunes.

We used snippets of all the songs below in this episode. If you like the music, please support the artists (links provided for your convenience):

• "Fiber Beat theme" performed by Anthony Bonet from exclusive to Fiber Beat (2011)
• "The Luckiest Guy On The Lower East Side" performed by The Magnetic Fields from 69 Love Songs (Merge, 1999)
• "Do It For Love (Edit)" performed by Sheena Easton from Sheena Easton: Greatest Hits (EMI, 2003)
• "Kate" performed by Bing Crosby from Bing Crosby with Judy Garland & Al Jolson (Avid Records, 1997)
• "Anything You Can Do" performed by Ethel Merman and Ray Middleton from Annie Get Your Gun - Original Broadway Cast (Decca, 1946)
• "Inner City Boundaries" performed by Freestyle Fellowship from Innercity Griots (Fontana, 1993)
• "Little Wheel Spin And Spin " performed by Buffy Sainte-Marie from Little Wheel Spin And Spin (Vanguard, 1992)
• "Seattle" performed by The Hot Toddies from Smell the Mitten (Asian Man Records, 2007)
• "Seattle" performed by Bobby Sherman from Bobby Sherman (K-Tel, 1969)
• "September In Seattle" performed by Shawn Mullins from Soul's Core (Sony, 1998 )
• "Viva, Sea-Tac!" performed by Robyn Hitchcock from Jewels For Sophia (Rhino, 2005)

My name is WonderMike and I'll see you at the Men's Spring Knitting Retreat and the Men's Rocky Mountain Retreat & the Men's Fall Knitting Retreat AND on the Fiber Beat!!