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Workshop Descriptions
Toe-Up Socks1 day
Most knitters learn to knit socks from the cuff down to the toe, but they can also be knitted in the opposite direction—from toe up to the cuff, eliminating the need to pick up stitches for the gusset or work the dreaded Kitchener stitch. Learn to knit socks from the toe up using an Eastern cast-on, short-row heel, and flexible sewn bind-off. You will make a baby-size sock to learn all of the skills in one day and leave ready to knit socks in a variety of sizes and yarn weights. INTERMEDIATE KNITTING SKILLS AND
EXPERIENCE ON DOUBLE-POINTED NEEDLES REQUIRED.
Materials: Sportweight wool yarn (you'll use just part of a ball); size US 2 or US 3 (your choice) double-pointed needles; Summer 2007 issue of Interweave Knits.
Top-Down Socks
1 day
Following the techniques outlined in Ann Budd'ss book, Getting Started Knitting Socks, learn the basic formula for knitting socks from cuff to toe using a flexible Norwegian cast-on, standard heel with gusset, and finishing with the Kitchener stitch. You will make a baby-size sock to learn all of the skills in one day, including how to add stitch patterns, and leave ready to knit socks in a variety of sizes and yarn weights. You will also learn how to follow any of the patterns in Getting Started Knitting Socks.
ADVANCED-BEGINNING KNITTING SKILLS AND
EXPERIENCE ON DOUBLE-POINTED NEEDLES REQUIRED.
Materials: Sportweight wool yarn (you'll use just part of a ball); size US 2 or US 3 (your choice) double-pointed needles; Getting Started Knitting Socksby Ann Budd (optional).
Mitten Basics
1 day
Following the techniques outlined in Ann Budd'sbook, The Knitter'ss Handy Book of Patterns, learn to knit a mitten using a flexible Norwegian cast-on, side-seam thumb gusset (so the mitten fits equally well on either hand), and spiral top. You will make a miniature mitten to learn all of the skills in one day and leave ready to knit mittens in a variety of sizes and yarn weights. You will also be prepared to follow any of the patterns in The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns and The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns.
ADVANCED-BEGINNING KNITTING SKILLS AND
EXPERIENCE ON DOUBLE-POINTED NEEDLES REQUIRED.
Materials: Sportweight wool yarn; size US 3 double-pointed needles;
The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns by Ann Budd (optional).
Cast-on and Bind-Off Techniques
1 day
There are a variety of ways to cast-on and bind-off stitches, each with its own advantages. In the morning half of this one-day workshop you'll learn at least five different cast-ons and when to use them to provide strength, elasticity, invisibility, or decoration. In the afternoon you'll learn at least five different bind-offs and when to use them. You will use each technique in a separate swatch that you'll keep for reference. Cast-on methods will include Long-Tail, Old Norwegian, Tubular, Provisional, Channel Island, and more if time permits. Bind-off methods will include Suspended, I-Cord, Three-Needle, Sewn, Decrease, and more if time permits.
BASIC KNITTING SKILLS REQUIRED.
Materials: 1 ball of worsted-weight wool and three size US 8 needles.
Sweater Basics and Finishing
2 days
In this two-day workshop, we'll make a pullover for a toddler following the pullover instructions in The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns by Ann Budd. The sweater will be worked in four pieces—one back, one front, and two sleeves. To minimize the amount of knitting, all students will work a small sweater in worsted-weight yarn. To prepare for the class, students will knit the four pieces to the armholes and choose between drop-shoulder, modified drop-shoulder, and set-in sleeve shaping, and between round and V-neck shaping. You will learn:
- determining the correct garment size
- measuring a gauge swatch
- calculating even spacing of increases or decreases
- centering a pattern stitch
- working selvedge stitches
- paired increases and decreases
- picking up stitches around a neckline
- an elastic bind-off appropriate for ribbed necklines
- seaming
- blocking
- tips and tricks along the way
BASIC KNITTING SKILLS REQUIRED
Materials: The Knitter's Handy Guide to Sweater Patterns (or make arrangements to share with a friend); The Knitter's Companion or other technique reference book (optional but helpful); 2 skeins of worsted weight yarn such as Cascade 220 (you may need only 1 skein but you want to be sure not to run out); size US 7 or US 8 straight needles plus a set of double-pointed one size smaller for neckband; tape measure; calculator; tapestry needle; stitch holders; round stitch markers and removable stitch markers.