Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/458251
GETAWAYS 14 W E S T W O R L D | S P R I N G 2 0 1 5 dictines were instrumental in encouraging immigration to the area. e village of Muen- ster grew up around the monastery, which still supports an almost self-sufficient community with an abbot and around 20 monks (down from a high of 60). The knitters, ranging from great grand- mothers to a little girl of seven, are enjoying the current knitting mania – some as rank beginners. Among them are Peggy, a nurse practitioner who says she goes into with- drawal if she doesn't have time to knit; Kevin, a computer tech who took up knitting to help quit smoking and then taught his wife, Brenda, to knit; Lianne, from Marysburg, stealing time away from her three young boys to spin and knit; Joanne, knitting a gossamer S pring has come later than usual to the country east of Saskatoon. Fields are in flood, scoured by icy winds from the north, and dirty snow is draped like fleece on northern slopes and hollows. Even the huge flocks of snow geese aren't going anywhere. They've settled in huge drifts, enjoying the frigid weather. Perhaps they think they've already arrived in their Arctic nesting grounds. is is the perfect weekend for a monastic retreat. It's going to be a weekend to remem- ber – and one for remembering. Upstairs in the guest quarters of St. Peter's Abbey in Muenster, it's snug and warm, the cud- dly sofas and chairs happily occupied by some 16 knitters from Saskatchewan and Alberta. Small tables are heaped with bags of yarn and pattern books, and the room is filled with chat- ter as fingers fly and needles click. St. Peter's is an energetically creative retreat, where precious time has been set aside just to knit – away from household interruptions and responsibilities. It's a time to relish the revival of old techniques, swap ideas and patterns and make new friends. It's also a time for contemplation. Outside in the bitter weather, the abbey bells ring the hours. Occasionally, when the noise level is low, you can hear the distant sound of the monks chanting in the church. Somehow the ancient art of knitting seems a perfect fit here in the oldest monastery in Canada, founded by Benedictines from Cluny, Illinois, in 1903. Accompanying the first homesteaders of St. Peter's Colony, the Bene- Joy of Knitting Days of monastic calm – and the heavenly chant of "knit one, purl one . . . " story and photography by Liz Bryan