Upcoming Classes:

• Knitting 101 - learn to knit
  April 14, 21, 28 & May 5
  

• Knitting 201
  March 3, 10 & 17
  
  
• Fixing Your Knitting - FULL
  February 11 & 18
  
  
• Crochet 101
  Feb. 8, 15 & 22
  
  
• Crochet 102
  March 15, 22 & 29
  
  

• Baby Surprise Jacket DATE CHANGE
  March 4 (Thurs), 19 (Fri.), April 1 (Thurs)

• Introduction to Twined Knitting - FULL
  March 11 & 25
  
  

• Tunisian Crochet Workshop - details coming soon
  April 26
  
  
• Cable Knitting Workshop
  March 31
  
  
• Color Knitting Workshops - take one or all!
  May 12 - Slip Stitch Knitting (Wed.); 6:30-8:30 - $20
  May 19 - Fair Isle (Wed.); 6:30-8:30 - $20
  May 26 - Intarasia (Wed.); 6:30-8:30 - $20

Check back to see when we schedule these other classes:

• Introduction to Lace Knitting
  
• Socks on 2 Circular Needles
• Felted Knitted Bags - new bag design...info to come

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knitting 101 - learn to knit
Instructor: Marina Salume
Four sessions, 2 hours each - $80 (materials not included)
April 14, 21, 28 & May 5 (Wed.); 6:30-8:30

It's time to learn how to knit! This class is a step-by-step introduction to knitting, from casting on, knitting and purling, easy increases and decreases, all the way to the final bind off. Understand the importance of gauge and discover how to "read" your knitting. Find out how to pick up a dropped stitch and fix mistakes. Learn how to read knitting patterns and gain the confidence to launch into your first project.

Materials list:

Required for FIRST class:

• One skein of smooth, bulky wool or wool-blend yarn (recommended: Lamb's Pride Bulky) in a light, solid color - no multicolor, chenille or novelty yarns
• Straight knitting needles: sizes US10.5 (6.5 mm), maximum length 14 inches
• Small scissors
• Stitch gauge or short ruler (for measuring gauge)
• Paper, pencil or pen for taking notes
• Yarn needle for sewing seams and finishing ends of yarn
• Crochet hook (medium size, this is needed for fixing dropped stitches).

Class Description

Day 1: Everyone will learn to cast on and do the knit stitch. The instructor will demonstrate the slip knot, several ways to cast on and two basic ways of knitting, English and Continental. Homework: Make a strip of garter stitch knitting (this can become a scarf).

Day 2: Review of Class 1 and homework. Learn to bind off your garter stitch sample and do the purl stitch. Discover how to "read" your knitting. Homework: Make a sample of stockinette knitting and/or cast on for a ribbed scarf or fingerless gloves.

Day 3: Review of Class 2 and homework. Find out what to do when you run out of yarn or need to change colors. Basic seaming and blocking will also be covered. If you like, start a stockinette hat (knit flat) or dishcloth (you will need cotton yarn for this). Learn several ways to increase and decrease, the importance of gauge, and another way to cast on. Homework: Find a pattern you want to make and bring it to class next week.

Day 4: Show off your projects (finished or not). Look at the patterns you brought and talk about what's involved in choosing the right yarn, etc. Instructor will demonstrate knitting in the round, reading patterns and charts, and you will practice some easy ways to fix mistakes.

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In three sessions, you will learn more stitch patterns and ribbing variations, different ways to increase and decrease, how to knit a hat or fingerless gloves in the round using double-pointed and circular needles, how to do simple colorwork like stripes and fair isle, and how to read patterns. You should already know how to cast on and cast off, knit and purl.

Materials:

• One skein of smooth, worsted weight yarn in a light, solid color. We recommend Lamb's Pride Worsted or Encore Worsted. No multicolor, chenille or novelty yarns.
• A second skein of yarn in a contrasting color
• Straight knitting needles: size US7 or 8 (4.5-5 mm) - 9" to 14" long.
• Set of double-pointed needles in an appropriate size for your yarn.
• 16" long circular needle in an appropriate size for your yarn.
• Small scissors
• Stitch gauge or short ruler (for measuring gauge)
• Paper, pencil or pen for taking notes
• Yarn needle for sewing seams and finishing ends of yarn
• Crochet hook (medium size, this is needed for fixing dropped stitches).

The instructor will provide free hat and fingerless gloves patterns for you to choose from.

• Basic stitches : ch, sc, hdc, dc, tr, slip st
• Flat crochet: working in rows, turning chains, end stitches
• Increasing & decreasing
• Advanced stitches:
  • Double triple (dtr)
  • Triple triple (ttr)
  • Decorative stitches:
    • "V" stitch
    • Shell stitch
• Simple color changes
  
  Materials:
  Required for class:
  • Worsted or Bulky-weight yarn (recommended: Lamb's Pride or Encore)
    
    • Yarn should be "plain" - no chenille or novelty yarns.
    • Smooth and medium to light solid color (to see stitches more easily).
    • Two colors: 1-2 ounces (20-50 yards) of each color
    • Wool or synthetic or blend (cotton okay, but can sometimes be a little difficult for beginners).
  • Three crochet hooks: sizes I/9 (5.5mm), J/10 (6mm) and K/10.5 (6.5mm)
    • NOTE: best hook styles for learning are those without rubber/silicone finger grips on shaft of hook.
      
      
  Optional: yarn and hook(s) for projects, if desired (see below)
  
  Projects:
  • In-class:
    
    • Sample stitch swatches
    • Hot mats and/or coasters as optional between-class practice
      
  • Optional projects (each student can select any project. Yarn can be purchased night of, or after, first class):
    • One of two scarves:
      • Lengthwise Scarf - approx. 60 inches long (pattern from Ada)
        suggested yarns:
        • Araucania Quellon yarn (or equivalent weight)
          • 2 skeins (362 yds total)
          • L/11 (7mm) crochet hook
        • Muench Touch Me yarn (or equivalent weight of any yarn) (pattern from Fengari)
          • 52" scarf: 3 balls (183 yds)
          • 65" scarf: 5 balls (305 yds)
          • J/10 (6mm) and L/11 (7mm) crochet hooks
            • Worsted-weight yarn, one or more colors, total about 200-300 yards (may need more or less depending on number of colors used and addition of fringe)
            • Any type of fiber (wool, cotton, silk, etc. may be used, but it should all have same type of care requirements). Novelty yarns not recommended.
      • Horizontal (widthwise) scarf (pattern from Ada)
        • Worsted-weight yarn, one or more colors, total about 200-300 yards (may need more or less depending on number of colors used and addition of fringe)
        • Any type of fiber (wool, cotton, siolk, etc. may be used, but it should all have same type of care requirements.
        • Hooks: same as required for class

       

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crochet 102
Instructor: Ada Lai of Great Knit Designs

Three sessions, 2 hours each - $65 (materials not included)
March 15, 22 & 29 (Mon.); 6:30-8:30

Scope of Class - expand on "beginner" skills (as taught in Crochet 101):

• Repetitive stitch patterns
• Reading a crochet pattern (review and look at more complex patterns)
• Japanese crochet "charts" - how to read them
• Flat crochet - advanced technique:
  • Alternativ row-turning method
  • Crocheted borders
• Crocheting in the round:
  • Sprial crochet
  • "True round crochet
    • Conventional and alternative methods

Pre-requisites:

• Completion of "Intro to Crochet" or "Crochet 101" or equivalent knowledge
• Knowledge of the following crochet stitches:
  • Chain
  • Single crochet
  • Half double crochet
  • Double crochet
  • Triple crochet
  • Slip stitch
  • Principles of flat crochet (turning chain, starting st, and end st)

Materials:

• Required for class:
  • Worsted weight yarn (recommended: Lamb's Pride or Encore)
    • Yarn should be smooth - no chenille or novelty yarns
    • Medium to light solid color (to see stitches more easily)
    • Two or more colors: 1-2 ounces (20-50 yards) of each color (have fun!!)
    • Wool or synthetic or blend (cotton okay, but can sometimes be a little difficult)
  • Three crochet hooks - sizes I/9 (5.5mm), J/10 (6mm) and K/10.5 (6.5mm)
• Optional:
  • Yarn and hooks for projects, if desired (discussed during first class)
  • Recommended/requested: Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet: the Happy Hooker by Debbie Stoller - one of the best reference (and teaching) books for crochet. This book also has many fun and contemporary projects.
    • Book is used for project scarves and Japanese chart lesson

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Fixing Your Knitting - sorry, this class is full.
Instructor: Ada Lai of Great Knit Designs

Two sessions, 2 hours each - $40 (materials not included)
Feb. 11 & 18 (Thurs.); 6:30-8:30

Learn how to recognize, fix, and even prevent knitting problems. This fun class will give you more control over your knitting, and greater confidence in trying new skills or projects.

Topics will include:

• Learning to create a gauge swatch and calculating gauge
• "Reading" your knitting:
  • how to tell a knit from a purl
  • seeing when a stitch is "backwards"
• Picking up dropped stitches
• "Tinking" (unknitting)
• "Frogging" (ripping out rows)
• How to use a lifeline
• Fixing "extra" stitches (inadvertent yarnovers and extra edge stitches)
• How to do a long-tail cast-on without worrying about the length of the "tail"
• Weaving in ends
• Attaching a new yarn
• (Optional - if time):
  • How to fix too-tight or too-loose bind-offs.
  • Different decrease and increase methods - when to use what
  • Different cast-on and bind-off methods - when to use what
  • Matching your yarn and needles to get best results
  • "Taming" your circular needles

Required Skills:

• Basic knitting skills are required, namely: Casting on, knit and purl stitches, and binding off.
• You should have completed at least one simple knitting project (e.g., scarf or hat)

Yarn

• Various amounts of worsted-weight or bulky yarn - wound and ready to knit from (at least 3 or 4 balls of yarn):
  • Yarn should be be somewhat light-colored (i.e., not black or dark blues or greens) and smooth.
  • Solid colors will be easier to work with, but not required
  • Cotton not recommended
• Optional: A small amount of thinner-weight yarn in a contrasting color

Supplies:

• At least 2 pairs of needles in sizes appropriate for the working yarn - straight, circular, or double points (dpns) are okay - whatever you are comfortable working with.
• One needle (preferably straight or dpn) that is at least 2 or 3 sizes smaller than your working needles.
• Crochet hook - 2 or 3 sizes smaller than your working needles
• Dental floss - 1 dispenser (plain and cheap is good)
• Scissors
• Yarn needle
• Ruler - (6-inch recommended)
• Stitch markers:
  • Locking markers (look like plastic safety pins) - small size
  • Split-ring markers
• Optional: Stitch holders - the straight kind with "rubber band" end protectors - not the old "safety-pin" style.
• Optional: Reading glasses for close-up work.

Homework:

Before first class, create the following:

• Swatch #1: Use any yarn with appropriate needles. Cast on 30 sts. Work 40 rows in stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl one row). Leave on needles or place on stitch holder, spare needle, or length of waste (scrap) yarn. (Do not bind off).
• Swatch #2: Use any yarn with appropriate needles, but this is best done with solid-colored in light- to medium-color. Cast on 16 sts. Work 5 rows of 1x1 ribbing (Every row: *k1, p1; rep from the *to end of row). Leave on needles or place on stitch holder, spare needle, or waste yarn. (Do not bind off).
• Swatch #3 (optional): Use any yarn with appropriate needles. Cast on 16 sts. Work 10-12 rows of stockinette stitch. Leave on needles or place on stitch holder, spare needle, or waste yarn. (Do not bind off). [This extra swatch will give you a smaller practice piece for some of the techniques - will be faster to work with than
  swatch #1.]

Recommended Book: Fearless Knitting by Jennifer E. Seiffert

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Learn to Knit Cables: Workshop
Instructor: Marina Salume
One session, 2 hours - $25 (materials not included)
March 31 (Wed.): 6:30-8:30pm

Cables may look really complicated, but they are really easy, once you know how they work. In this workshop, you will learn to make different kinds of cables, and also how to decode those scary knitting patterns that say cryptic things like "C4F" or "C3B". You'll even discover how to work cables without a cable needle. (But bring a cable needle anyway, because we'll start with that).

Materials:

• Smooth, worsted weight yarn in a solid, light or medium-color
• Knitting needles appropriate for your yarn
• Cable needle
• Scissors
• Sewing needle
• Crochet hook
• Tape measure
  

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Introduction to Twined Knitting - sorry, this class is full.
Instructor: Ada Lai of Great Knit Designs
2 session, 2 hours each - $45 (materials not included)
March 11 & 25 (Thurs.); 6:30-8:30


Skill level: Confident beginner - Intermediate


Front sides shown on the left, back sides on the right of each example.

Class Descriptions

Twined knitting is a traditional Swedish technique that creates gorgeous knitted pieces - often multicolored - in an easy method of using two strands of yarn. Also known as "two-ended" or "twisted" knitting (not to be confused with Fair Isle or "stranded" knitting). this technique is easy enough for a confident beginner, creating gorgeous colorwork that looks much more complicated than it is.

This class introduces the basic concepts and techniques of twined knitting, creating a beautiful, plush scarf for the class project.

Topics to be covered:

• Two-strand long-tail cast-on
• Twined knit (TK) stitch
• Twined purl (TP) stitch
• Twined edge stitches
• Untwisting the yarn
• Fixing mistakes

Required Skills: Casting on (preferably long-tail method), Knit stitch, Purl Stitch, and Binding off.

Note: This technique may be a bit more challenging for Continental knitters ("picking" yarn with the left hand), but easy for "English" knitters ("throwing" yarn with right hand).

Class Project

• Zigzag STriped Scarf: Subtly-zigzagged vertical stripes on one side, horizontal hierringboned pattern on reverse side. Pattern provided by the instructor during the first class.

Materials:

• Yarn
  • Worsted weight yarn recommended: wool or wool blend (no angora or mohair), at least 150 yards of each color (more for a longer scarf)
    • NOTE: Can also be worked in a bulky yarn - may want to have at least 200 yards of each color.
  • Main color (MC): any solid color
  • Contrasting color (CC): any solid or multicolor yarn with no colors matching MC. The more distinct the contrast between MC & CC, the better.
• Other supplies
  • US 10.5 (6.5mm) needles (or size US 11 (8mm) if using bulky weight yarn.
    Recommended: short, straight, single-pointed needles
  • Yarn needle
• Recommended Book: New Twists on Twined Knitting, by Laura Farson

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Introduction to Lace Knitting
Instructor: Marina Salume
Two sessions, 2 hours each - $45 (materials not included)
TBA (Wed.); 6:30-8:30


photo of scarf as shown on knitty.com

Skill level: advanced beginner - must know how to cast on, knit and purl, and bind off.

Class Description:

Day 1: You will be given a pattern for a narrow lace scarf that includes written directions as well as a chart. You will learn the basics of lace knitting: yarnovers, increases and decreases, using markers to keep track of the pattern, and how to read a lace chart.

Day 2: Continue working on your scarf and discuss any issues so far. The teacher will bring samples of other lace projects and discuss the techniques used in them. You will also learn how to put in a lifeline to avoid ripping out stitches when you make a mistake, and how to pick up dropped stitches. Blocking your finished scarf will also be discussed.

Materials list:
Required for FIRST class:

• Print pattern from this link (for copyright reasons you must print your own copy). If you don't have access to a computer, please see one of us at the shop.
  
  http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring05/PATTbranchingout.html
  
  
• One 100-gram skein or two 50-gram skeins of sock weight yarn in a medium to light color. Do not choose fuzzy or textured yarn for this first lace project-smooth yarn is best.
• Straight knitting needles or circular needle, size 5 or 6. Make sure the cord of your circular needle is very relaxed (dip it in hot water to straighten it)
• Small scissors
• Row counter or pencil/paper for keeping track of your rows
• Paper, pencil or pen for taking notes
• Yarn needle for sewing seams, finishing ends of yarn, and making a lifeline
• Crochet hook (small size, this is needed for fixing dropped stitches)
• Stitch markers-the kind that can be put on in the middle of the needle (split-ring) are best. You can also use short pieces of contrasting color yarn for this purpose.
• Waste yarn in a contrasting color for making lifelines

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Color Knitting Workshops - take one or all!
Instructor: Marina Salume
1 session each - 2 hours (materials not included)
May 12 - Slip Stitch Knitting (Wed.); 6:30-8:30 - $20
May 19 - Fair Isle (Wed.); 6:30-8:30 - $20
May 26 - Intarasia (Wed.); 6:30-8:30 - $20

Skill level: intermediate


Techniques shown above (from left to right): Slip Stitch, Fair Isle, Intarsia

Class Descriptions

Learn about 1 or all 3 of these major color knitting techniques: Slip Stitch (hard to describe, but you'll see - it's fun!), Fair Isle (stranded color-knitting, such as you'd see in a Scandinavian sweater), and Intarsia ("picture" knitting). In each class, you'll learn a technique and be given a pattern to put it into practice.

Materials list for all 3 workshops:

• 2 colors of smooth, worsted weight yarn in a light or medium-color
• Knitting needles appropriate for your yarn
• scissors
• sewing needle
• crochet hook
• tape measure