Why Monhegan Island is perfect for gather2knit.

Monhegan Island holds a special place in my heart — a place with lots of memories from when my sons were little and we'd spend a couple of days out there in the summers. When I was dreaming up gather2knit, Monhegan Island was at the top of my list for a place I wanted to share with knitters.

It was even good enough to visit twice during this first year of gather2knit!

Here are a few of the reasons why this island is so magical... and why gather2knit will definitely be returning to Monhegan in 2026!

Twelve miles out to sea. Yep, this little rock of an island is pretty far out there. The Abenaki word for Monhegan means "out to sea" island. You start to unwind on the hour-long ferry ride — you'll pass rocks with sunning seals, spot lobster buoys like confetti in among the waves, and breathe in that fresh salt air. Regular life, work, family, and the news cycle all fade away as you leave the mainland behind. This quote sums it up, from one of the June participants: "It was so easy to go from 90 mph to 5. And hard to leave at the end."

Just-right challenges. One of the central components of g2k retreats is time to move our bodies — not just our knitting hands)— to explore and enjoy the natural world. Except for the tiny village, Monhegan is primarily a privately maintained preserve with approximately 10-12 miles of trails winding through the forest, along the rocky cliffs, and along the shore. There are some relatively flat trails that lead to beautiful cliffside overlooks, and from there you can choose continue on the steep and dramatic cliff trail or skirt the steep parts by skirting inland. Some folks opted for more gentle strolls around town to find the cozy coffee shop, take the view at the Lighthouse, or explore Lobster Cove. There was time for each Island Knitter to choose their own adventure.

Cozy hospitality. I chose Monhegan House as the home base for g2k for its relaxed charm and warm hospitality. Unlike our trip in June when we spent late afternoons and evenings knitting on the front porch, during our October visit we gathered in the living room area near the gas-powered woodstove. It couldn't have been any cozier, especially with the homemade blueberry pie that Innkeeper (and Baker!) Melanie whipped up for our group as a surprise. For our morning workshop time, we utilized the long tables in the dining room which had great natural light and plenty of space.

Simple, slow, sweet. There's something about an island that helps folks slow down. Time becomes more spacious when we take a moment away from regular life — enjoying connections with new and old friends, listening to birds in the forest and the crashing waves at the cliffs, and hanging out with other knitters who are curious about your project and yarn, nerdy about techniques, and always ready to admire your knitwear! From one of the knitters on this recent trip:

"I experienced a deep sense of peace and joy that I haven't felt in years. I believe it was a combination of being at such a beautiful place which speaks to my soul and having a group of such warm and friendly women to share that experience, as well as my passion for knitting."

This adventure was a heart-warming way to conclude gather2knit's first year. The autumn colors, the crisp mornings, and a quieter energy as the island was winding down from a busy season of hosting seasonal visitors.

It was a truly stellar group of women who gathered for a relaxing weekend in a magical place with knitting in their hands, twelve miles out to sea.