Knit Camp Sedona - 2026

April 12-18, 2026
15 spots
REGISTRATION OPENS MARCH 1, 2025
(Retreat will appear sold out until then)

A knitting retreat in the red rock desert

Mud season can be tough in Grand Marais, so Dappled Fern is heading to the Southwest in April 2026! Join us for a 6-night knitting retreat in Sedona, Arizona to knit, hike, thaw out, and recharge in the breathtaking red rock desert.

Each day begins with a continental breakfast and knitting circle hosted by Dorothy (Dappled Fern owner and holistic coach); features a guided excursion, workshop, or free day activities with a packed brown-bag lunch, and ends with dinner and another knitting circle around the campfire.

Our gentle itinerary offer ample time through the week to knit, explore the hiking and biking trails behind the resort, soak in the hot tubs, do a little shopping, and connect with new knitting friends!

Where we’ll stay

We’ll stay at my favorite Adventure Resort in Village of Oak Creek, 7 miles south of downtown Sedona. While technically a Sedona address, this area is a little quieter, more walkable, and has easy access trails. 

The resort’s sweet chalets and simple studios arch around a spacious courtyard with fire circle, pool, and hot tubs overlooking iconic Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte. We’ll spend much of our time at this retreat outside.

Each chalet has a single room (queen) on the main floor and a shared loft (1 queen, 1 twin) accessible from the living room / kitchen by spiral staircase, accommodating 3 guests total in each.

Hiking and biking trails lead out into the desert from the courtyard into the Coconino National Forest making this a perfect place for days full of adventure and nights of peaceful relaxation around the camp fire.

Our retreat will occupy about half of the units at the Red Agave and will share courtyard space with other guests. This resort does not have indoor gathering space so we will gather outside no matter the weather, giving this retreat a true Knit Camp vibe!

Featuring Designs from Native Knitter and Tsin Bikéé’ Knits

During the retreat, we will spotlight and explore the work of two Dine (Navajo) knitwear designers: Jennifer Berg (The Native Knitter) and Tressa Weidenaar (Tsin Bikee Knits):

• Trunk Show of Dappled Fern shop knit samples designed by Jen and Tressa.
• Show and Share (bring anything you’ve knit by Jen and Tressa to show off and share what you enjoyed about the patterns. 
• Tsekoh Cowl Workshop: Explore nature-inspired motifs and color work design while knitting this pattern designed by Jennifer Berg. 

The Tsekoh Cowl Workshop

In this workshop you’ll learn how to design a color work motif and cast on your very own version of The Tsekoh Cowl by The Native Knitter. 

Tsekoh means the “Rock-cut or Canyon”. Designer Jennifer Berg dreamed up this pattern to: “teach aspiring designers how to create their own motifs within a developed design. The blue river that runs through the yellow canyon walls is where the manipulation and creativity can flow or the pattern can remain its rocky rapid self. Tsekoh Cowl is worked in the round and follows a color work chart. A second chart is available to create your own chart within the pattern to make it uniquely yours”.

We will spend time walking and sitting in the desert behind the resort to find inspiration for our unique color palettes and nature-inspired motifs. We’ll return to the resort where you’ll translate these ideas into color work knitting motifs using grid paper, simple math, and various stitch dictionaries. You can then work on this project throughout the retreat, or take the design home as a souvenir to knit up later. 

Guided Excursions

You’ll have the opportunity to participate in two guided excursions in the area:

• A jeep tour of the region with a stop at Sinagua cliff dwellings.
• A guided day hike through the red rock desert around Cathedral Rock. 

You can sign up for one or both (no extra cost!) or do your own thing on these days instead! Transportation to and from these excursions is included. Please note the destinations for these excursions may change depending on guide availability. 

Free Days

On the two Free Days planned during the retreat, we’ll begin and end with our usual knitting circles and set you free to do whatever you’d like in between. We’ll share a list of some favorite hikes, shops, restaurants, and historical sites in case you want to adventure beyond the resort. You could book a massage or energy work. Or find a lovely spot in your chalet or the courtyard to curl up and knit to your hearts content! We’ll reconnect as a group at the end of the day to share stories and compare notes.

What’s included:

• Daily knitting circles
• 6 nights at The Red Agave
• 5 dinners (home cooked and / or restaurant)
• All lunches (brown bag)
• All breakfasts (continental in your chalet)
• Transportation to/from 2 Guided Excursions
• Tsekoh Cowl Workshop and supplies 
• Access to camp store
• Knitting support throughout the retreat (just ask!)
• First dibs on a spot if we host this retreat next year!
  

What’s NOT included:

• Airfare
• Transportation from airport in Phoenix to Sedona
• Transportation on Free Days or other times.
• Alcohol (feel free to bring your own!)

How to get to Sedona:

1. Fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). Rent a car or take a shuttle (~2h) to The Red Agave.
2. Road trip! Make this retreat part of a Southwest road trip and visit place like Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Arches National Park, The Grand Canyon, or Mesa Verde along the way!

A note about transportation 

Dappled Fern will organize transportation to and from the Jeep Tour and Guided Hike excursions. You will need to bring or rent a vehicle if you would like to venture beyond the resort and surrounding trails at any other point. Dappled Fern is not able to provide transportation to retreat participants at this time per our insurance policy. 

Risk-minimizing Payment Plan

• $1000 deposit due when registration opens March 1, 2025 
  (non refundable, goes towards final cost).
• Remainder due October 1, 2025 (nonrefundable).

If Dappled Fern needs to cancel the retreat:

This trip needs a minimum of 9 participants registered by October 1, 2025 in order to make it happen! If we do not have the minimum by October 1, 2025 you will receive a refund of your $1000 deposit or a credit in the same amount towards another Dappled Fern retreat in 2026.

If you need to cancel your reservation:

It can be nerve wracking signing up for something when we don’t know what might come up. It’s important to have a clear cancelation policy so everyone knows what to expect in the event of cancelation.

Registration cost is divided into a non-refundable $1000 deposit due when you reserve your spot, and a remainder due 6 months before the retreat. This remainder may be refunded if you notify Dappled Fern in writing more than 60 days before the start of the retreat. Cancellations made within 60 days of the retreat start date are not refundable. 

We hope spreading out payment over time makes it easier to budget for the trip and minimize your losses should you need to cancel. 

Why Sedona?

Sedona is one of my very favorite places in the world! The red dirt, big skies, petroglyphs, cliff dwellings, agave, manzanita, creosote bushes, desert rain, smooth sandstone rock formations, and dusty desert colors.

Sedona is located in North Central Arizona, 2hr drive North of Phoenix, AZ and about 1hr south of the Navajo Nation. The average highs in April are in the 70’s and the average lows are in the 40’s. That’s basically summer weather in Grand Marais, Mn!

I grew up visiting my grand parents in Sedona, hiking places like Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, and Cathedral Rock, and exploring spots that my grandfather stumbled upon during his daily rambles or learned of from local birding society, Friends of the Forest, and museums: Schnebly Hill,  Back’O Beyond, Thompson’s Ladder.

Years later, my husband and I would drive up for holiday weekends and Brian actually proposed to me on Bell Rock!

Sedona has become a beloved destination to many and yet I find it doesn’t take much to get off the beaten path. I return every chance I get and it’s been a dream of mine to host a knitting retreat there to share this special place with you!

About The Red Agave Resort

The Red Agave Adventure Resort is located in Village of Oak Creek, 7 miles south of Sedona. While technically a Sedona address, this area is a little quieter, more walkable, and has easy access trails. Follow the link above for slideshow tour!

The Red Agave offers an intimate setting of two story Chalets and Studios with incredible views of Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte, two of Sedona’s iconic red rock formations. Each chalet has 1 single room (queen) on the main floor and 1 shared loft (1 queen, 1 twin) accessible from the living room / kitchen by spiral staircase.

Hiking and biking trails lead out into the desert from the landscaped courtyard leading into the Coconino National Forest making this a perfect place for days full of adventure and nights of peaceful relaxation around the camp fire.