Name: Introducing “Loops” - The Oxford Rug Hooking School’s retreat for in-person punch needle education!
Brand: ORHS
Price: 950.0 USD
Availability: InStock

Introducing “Loops” - The Oxford Rug Hooking School’s retreat for in-person punch needle education!

Join us for a one of a kind, all-inclusive* five day punch needle retreat nestled in the heart of Burlington, Vermont at beautiful Champlain College. Enjoy the breathtaking views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains while immersing yourself in all things punch needle. You'll have your choice of three amazing punch needle classes:

Amy’s Bee Skep Course with Kim Scanlan
Peony Garden; Fine Shading Course with Judith Hotchkiss
Open Workshop and Retreat with Heidi Whipple and Simone Vojvodin
The first annual Loops will be from June 23rd to June 27th, 2025

What’s included:

Four nights of accommodation at Champlain College with private bedrooms
Choice of three different courses with Advanced Certified Oxford Instructors (see details below)
Small classroom sizes for plenty of individual attention
Monday night dinner
Breakfast, lunch and dinner on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
Breakfast on Friday
Free punching time
Shopping
Goody bag and treats!
Fun, friendship, games, prizes and more!
First dibs to attend in future years

Check in time will be between 2:00pm and 4:00pm on Monday, June 23rd at Juniper Hall, Champlain College, Burlington VT. Class goes until 11:30am on Friday to allow for ease of travel home.

You won’t want to miss out on this special opportunity! Join us at ‘Loops’ where we'll be crafting fun and friendship one loop at a time!

Cost for the entire retreat: $950*

*Additional material costs may apply depending on the workshop chosen. Further details in Tabs below.

Course Descriptions:

Option 1.) AMY’S BEE SKEP with Kim Scanlan

Advanced Oxford Instructor Kim Scanlan will guide you in creating a beautiful sculptural bee skep using all eight Oxford Punch Needles in this charming pattern and course designed by Amy Oxford. During the week with Kim you'll build strong foundational skills, have fun experimenting with novelty yarns, learn basic shading, how to use multiple strands at once, punching with wool strips, and more! Students are invited to participate in a "fun fibre pot luck" to share and explore even more novelty yarns and color combinations. This course is truly unique with all the techniques covered and is open to all skill levels. Please see details in the Tabs below.

Option 2.) PEONY GARDEN - Fine Shading Course with Judith Hotchkiss

It is June in Vermont and who doesn’t love a garden full of peonies! In this class you will learn the basics of fine shading using worsted weight yarn with the #14 Oxford punch. The pattern is 14x14 and aﬀords many opportunities to experiment with multiple values. Various fine shading techniques will be presented with the opportunity for guided practice in class. Backgrounds and finishing will be thoroughly discussed with options to turn the punched piece into a pillow or footstool. Kit will be available in several colorways with a choice of light or dark background. Please see details in the Tabs below.

Option 3.) OPEN WORKSHOP with Heidi Whipple and Simone Vojvodin

Treat yourself to a relaxed and inspiring open workshop retreat while studying the creative art of punch needle rug hooking. Instruction will be geared towards the needs of each student with a special emphasis on improving workmanship and/or stitching techniques. Work on the project of your choice with experienced instructors available for support, consultation and guidance. You can start a brand new piece or bring in one you have already begun. Instructors will reach out prior to the start of the retreat so they are well prepared to help you reach your goals. Your rug hooking skills will flourish with lots of individual attention, and the ability to also learn from each other. Please see details in the Tabs below.

CHOOSE YOUR OPTION

AMY’S BEE SKEP

PEONY GARDEN

OPEN WORKSHOP

Total $ 950.00

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PEONY GARDEN with Judith Hotchkiss

It is June in Vermont and who doesn’t love a garden full of peonies! In this class you will learn the basics of fine shading using worsted weight yarn with the #14 Oxford punch. The pattern is 14x14 and aﬀords many opportunities to experiment with multiple values. Various fine shading techniques will be presented with the opportunity for guided practice in class. Backgrounds and finishing will be thoroughly discussed with options to turn the punched piece into a pillow or footstool. Kit will be available in several colorways with a choice of light or dark background.

Materials Fee: $85 Includes pattern on a 24x24 piece of Monk’s cloth with gorgeous value dyed yarn and background yarn sufficient to complete the project.

Students should bring the following items to class or make arrangements to borrow/buy prior to the class: Frame, 15x15 or larger, a #14 fine Oxford Punch Needle, scissors. The Oxford Company will have supplies for sale at the school.

Instructor Bio:

Judith Hotchkiss grew up in a rug hooking household and watched her mother and older sister punch beautiful rugs. As a young girl, her mother often let her choose colors and practice punching on her big floor frame. Now Judith is an Advanced Oxford Certified Instructor, as well as McGown certified to teach traditional rug hooking, and she loves to share the art to others. She produces her own line of hand-dyed wool and yarn, specializing in multi value “swatches” for fine shading. She recently completed a new home studio where she is able to hold classes and retail rug hooking supplies. She lives in Deer Isle, Maine where she is constantly inspired by the colors and beauty of Down east Maine.

AMY’S BEE SKEP with Kim Scanlan

Advanced Oxford Instructor Kim Scanlan will guide you in creating a beautiful sculptural bee skep using all eight Oxford Punch Needles in this charming pattern and course designed by Amy Oxford. During the week with Kim you'll build strong foundational skills, have fun experimenting with novelty yarns, learn some shading, how to use multiple strands at once, punching with wool strips, and more! Students are invited to participate in a "fun fibre pot luck" to share and explore even more novelty yarns and color combinations. This course is truly unique with all the techniques covered and is open to all skill levels.

Material Fee: $95 for the kit. The kit includes pattern on monks cloth, beautiful Violet Jane wool yarns, value dyed yarns, and wool fabric, and alternative fibres required to complete the design and plenty of options for color customization.

Students should bring: Complete set of Oxford Punch Needles, 18" Gripper Frame, small sharp pointed scissors. The Oxford Company will have supplies available to purchase at the event.

Instructor Bio:

Kim has worked with fiber arts for over twenty-five years mostly in the areas of embroidery, cross-stitch, and needlepoint but has always had a love of punched rugs. Finding no teachers in Minnesota, Kim found her way to Amy's school and found her passion! Kim loves hooking rugs and is an excellent resource for people in Minnesota and surrounding areas as they learn the fabulous craft of punch needle rug hooking. Kim received her Oxford Instructor Certification in 2017 and her Advanced Oxford Instructor Certification in 2019. Kim is a member of the Oxford Punch Needle Instructors Guild (OPNIG), the Association of Traditional Hooking Artists (ATHA) and the Rochester Area Rug Hookers.

OPEN WORKSHOP RETREAT- with Heidi Whipple and Simone Vojvodin

Treat yourself to a relaxed and inspiring open workshop retreat while studying the creative art of punch needle rug hooking. Instruction will be geared towards the needs of each student with a special emphasis on improving workmanship and/or stitching techniques. Work on the project of your choice with experienced instructors available for support, consultation and guidance. You can start a brand new piece or bring in one you have already begun. Instructors will reach out prior to the start of the retreat so they are well prepared to help you reach your goals. Your rug hooking skills will flourish with lots of individual attention, and the ability to also learn from each other.

Material fees: Varies. Students may choose to start a new project or bring one they’ve already begun. Supplies from home, and The Oxford Company will also have a wonderful range of materials and supplies available for purchase.

Instructor Bios:

Heidi Whipple started working at The Oxford Company in 2009 by assembling Oxford Punch Needles. She took a lesson from Amy in 2010 to learn about punch needle rug hooking and fell in love with the craft. Heidi punched many rugs and wall hangings over the next three years and received her Oxford Instructor Certification in 2013. Heidi learned to dye yarn under the guidance of Sara Burghoff, the founder of Violet Jane. When The Oxford Company purchased Violet Jane in 2014, Heidi began dyeing Violet Jane for our many customers and students. In 2015, she took a four-day intensive dye workshop at The Pro Chemical & Dye Company to further her dyeing knowledge. In addition to teaching punch needle rug hooking and yarn dyeing, Heidi is the Senior manager of The Oxford Company. Her desire to help others in all aspects of life makes teaching a special joy for her, especially to see others enjoy and feel proud of their accomplishments.

Simone Vojvodin is an Advanced Certified Oxford Instructor, who is incredibly passionate about teaching punch needle rug hooking, sharing her love of the craft with students since 2011. She is the Dean of the Oxford Rug Hooking School, and also oversees the Instructor Certification Program. A nature and animal lover, Simone resides on her little farm near Dutton, Ontario where she has her studio, Red Maple Ruggery. She enjoys designing patterns, dying wool, helping students, and of course punching rugs- which she describes as 'paintings in wool'. Her works have been featured in exhibitions in Canada and the U.S.A, published in magazines and books, and have won multiple awards. She is also the author of various articles on the subject, and the book "Mastering the Art of Punch Needle Rug Hooking," published by Rug Hooking Magazine.

EXPLORE OTHER POPULAR COURSES

Introducing “Loops” - The Oxford Rug Hooking School’s retreat for in-person punch needle education!

Starts: June 23rd

$ 950.00