Hi!
I’m Dorothy Broomall, owner and facilitator at Wandering Fern Retreats.
Our retreats feature nourishing food, gentle itineraries, thoughtful reflection, creative activities, and cozy cabin vibes.
Come steep yourself in the good energy of beautiful places and let us take care of you. You’ll leave rested, connected, and inspired.
See you soon!
Dorothy
Featured Retreats
Thursday, 9/10 - Monday, 9/14, 2026 (4 nights)12 spaces
Pack your favorite knitwear and head North for our 5th annual fall knitters retreat!
Cozy Vibe
This intimate weekend is facilitated by Dorothy Broomall, knitter, coach, and facilitator. Dorothy will hold the same warm space you’ve come to know at Dappled Fern yarn shop...it’s just you don’t have to go home at the end of the day. We've added a 4th night this year so you have enough time to really settle into the experience!
Lake-Side Cabins
We'll stay at Golden Eagle Lodge, located half-way up the Gunflint Trail, about 45 minutes from Grand Marais, MN. The cozy, private lake-side cabins are nestled on the south-facing shore of Flour Lake, which is a Boundary Waters Wilderness access point. Each cabin has single and shared rooms, living area, bathroom, kitchen, and private dock access. We'll gather outdoors as much as we can to enjoy the changing seasons and cozy up inside one of the larger cabins when we need to!
Watch this video to get to know Golden Eagle Lodge and the beautiful Boundary Waters landscape!
Gentle Itinerary
Our gentle itinerary includes morning knitting circles, campfires, simple breakfasts, picnic lunches, and home-cooked suppers... with ample time to rest, explore, knit, and nap in between. We'll have at least 1 free day to choose-your-own adventure. Consider renting a canoe from the lodge and exploring the lake or even getting a day permit for the BWCAW!
I'm thrilled about the new location and excited for this annual opportunity to spend time together with you! I know we'll leave this intimate retreat steeped in the good energy of the North Woods and inspired by dear fiber friends.
What's included:
4 nights and 3 full days at camp!
Gentle facilitated itinerary
Daily fiber circles
Camp craft or activity
Yummy meals made with love!
Single Room (Full or Queen) 4 spaces) or,
Shared Room (2 Twins) (6 spaces), plus
A little swag bag of goodies.
What's not included:
Alcohol - you are welcome to BYO!
Any add-ons we decide to offer.
Places to check out on the free day:
Magnetic Rock Hike
Loons Nest Coffee
Poplar Haus
Trail Center
Early Bird Registration: September 22-26nd, 2025
Participants who attended Fall 2025 Knit Camp will have first dibs on spots for 2026!
General Registration: March 14, 2026 at 7pm (Central Time).
Any remaining spots open to the general public. If you don’t get in, email me at dorothy@dappledfernfibers.com to join the waitlist. The waitlist gets first dibs if a spot opens, which has happened most years we've offered this retreat.
THE FINE PRINT:
50% of cost due at registration, 50% due March 1, 2026.
If you need to cancel, a partial refund (minus $100 admin fee) may be available if we are able to fill your spot.
Checkin is between 4-6pm on the first day. Except in unforeseen circumstances, we request that you stick to this check in time to help us facilitate a smooth flow of the retreat and give people time to connect, which is so important for the experience of knit camp!
No pets.
No non-registered visitors during the retreat.
Please share the love, not the bugs. That goes for Covid and colds. We will send home anyone who appears to be sick to protect others in attendance and no refund will be given.
Pssssstttt…..Folks who attend this year will get first dibs on a spot if we host Fall Knit Camp at Golden Eagle again next year!
Please email Dorothy at dorothy@dappledfernfibers.com at time of registration with info about allergies and dietary restrictions so we can accommodate them in our yummy menu!
Overview
Join us for a color-infused retreat featuring four of my favorite artists here on the North Shore! Explore color theory through creative play. Learn how featured artists approach color in their work and try your hand at their crafts in fun, entry-level workshops. Gain confidence choosing and combining colors in your own mediums! Our active itinerary provides time to rest, integrate what you’ve learned, and explore the North Shore during free time. This retreat is perfect for folks craving color during the long Minnesota winters and looking for a cozy, all-inclusive experience with kindred spirits Up North.
Sunday, April 18 - Thursday, April 22, 2027
10 spots
We loved it so much….we’re going back! Join me for a 4-night all-inclusive knitting retreat in Sedona, Arizona to knit, hike, thaw out, and recharge at a gorgeous house with panoramic red rock views. Each day begins with a continental breakfast on the patio, features a guided excursion, workshop, or free day with brown-bag lunch, and ends with southwest-inspired dinner, hot tubbing, knitting, and star gazing.
Our itinerary
Day 1: Arrive and Welcome Dinner
Day 2: Knitting Workshop details coming soon.
Day 3: Guided Excursion: Hike
Day 4: Free Day
Day 5: Goodbyes…until next time!
What’s included:
This retreat is all inclusive! We provide all meals and supplies. Guided excursions are included and there are no surprise add-on costs to enjoy the full experience of this retreat.
Daily knitting circles
4 nights
4 South-west inspired dinners.
3 lunches (brown bag)
4 breakfasts (continental)
Guided Hike
Knitting workshop, pattern, supplies
First dibs on a spot if we host this retreat next year!
What’s NOT included:
Airfare
Transportation from airport in Phoenix to retreat (~2hr drive)
Transportation to Guided Excursions
Transportation on Free Days
Alcohol (feel free to bring your own!)
Red Rock House
This retreat is hosted at Red Rock House, a beautiful home with panoramic views of Sedona’s iconic red rocks! The property includes 6 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms between the main house and a casita. Beloved destinations like Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock are just a short drive.
Venue Detail
Great views from kitchen and living space.
Spacious deck with panoramic red rock views.
Outdoor seating and BBQ Grill at the main floor patio
Hot tub at downstairs backyard with great red rock views.
EV Charger. Please bring your own charger line.
Stargazing
Beautiful views of both the sunrise and sunset
Spacious living space with Living room in both main floor and downstairs
Washer and dryer
Guided Excursion
You’ll have the opportunity to participate in a guided excursions in the area:
A guided half day hike through the red rock desert.
You can participate (no extra cost!) or do your own thing instead! You will need to drive yourself or find a friend to carpool with if you would like to participate. Please note that the destinations for these excursions may change depending on weather and guide availability.
Free Day
On the Free Day planned during the retreat, we’ll begin and end with our usual meals and knitting circles and set you free to do whatever you’d like in between. I'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 at the resort to curl up and knit to your hearts content! We’ll reconnect as a group at the end of the day to share stories of our adventures.
How to get to Sedona:
Fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). Rent a car or take a shuttle (~2h)
Road trip! Make this retreat part of a Southwest road trip and visit places like Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Arches National Park, The Grand Canyon, or Mesa Verde along the way!
A note about transportation
You will need to bring or rent a vehicle if you would like to participate in guided excursions. Dappled Fern is not able to provide transportation to retreat participants at this time per our insurance policy.
Payment Plan
$1000 deposit due at registration. Final installment due December 1st, 2026.
Cancellation policy:
Clear cancelation policies are important so everyone knows what to expect!
The initial $1000 deposit is nonrefundable. The final installment is also nonrefundable unless we are able to fill your spot. If we are able to fill your spot, we will refund your final installment minus a 3% transaction fee within 90 days of the retreat.
If you do not pay the remainder due by December 1, 2026 your spot will go to someone on the waiting list and no refund will be given for your deposit.
Refunds cannot be issued for last minute events that causes you to miss the retreat (emergencies, travel delays, missed flights, etc). We do encourage you to look into travel insurance on your own in case this might offer peace of mind.
Exceptions to this policy cannot be made. We are a small business counting on registration costs to prepay the venue and guides.
This trip needs a minimum of 8 participants registered by December 1, 2026 in order to make it happen! If we do not have the minimum by then, deposits will be refunded or credited towards another 2027 Dappled Fern retreat of your choice. However, we expect the retreat to fill up quickly!
We hope the option spread out payment over time makes it easier to budget for the experience and minimizes your losses should you need to cancel, and having a clear cancellation policy helps you know what to expect when you register.
Why Sedona?
Sedona is one of my very favorite places in the world! There's nothing like 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 2hr south of the Grand Canyon and the Navajo Nation. The average highs in April are in the 70s and the average lows are in the 40s. That’s basically summer weather in Grand Marais, Minnesota!
I grew up visiting my grandparents 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.
Sedona is 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!
Testimonials
-
![]()
You created a wonderful community and safe haven - thank you!
Nancy
-
![]()
I returned again this year for the sense of community and belonging.
Tannie
-
![]()
Warm, cozy retreat where everyone is encouraging and fun - such a wonderful time!
Alyssa
-
![]()
Thank you for an amazing knit camp experience - I came home truly rejuvenated.
Chelsea
