2016 CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

GROK THE SOCK

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Grok is a word from the classic book “Stranger in a Strange Land” that means “to understand something completely. This class is designed to leave the student with a really complete understanding of the construction of socks and (usually) the ability to knit a great sock that truly fits, without any pattern at all.

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Supplies: a small quantity of sock yarn, and needles to match. (Needles can be dpns, or 2 circs. If a student would like to use Magic Loop, they should be experienced in its use.) 

Beginner Level and Up (Note: Interesting for all levels, beginners should be able to cast on and off, knit and purl, increase and decrease and must have experience working in the round.) 
22 Students Max
$65 class fee

BRIOCHE KNITTING

Joanna Shindler

Brioche is a knitting technique that creates a fluffy, reversible fabric that’s great for scarves and other accessories. This versatile stitch can be tricky to learn, but works up quickly and has endless variations. Learn the basics of one­ and two­ color brioche, plus some more advanced tricks that will make you feel clever.

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Supplies:

Worsted weight yarn in two contrasting colors - ­­ not black or near ­black (need to be able to see stitches), size 8 or 9 circular needle. Please bring a second needle in the same or similar size. Second needle will be used for various cast­-on, bind-­off, or stitch­ holding purposes so it doesn’t need to be the exact same size.

Intermediate Level

12 Students Max

$50 class fee

FINISHING TECHNIQUES

Kim Dominic

Clean seams, hidden zippers, decorative finishes. It's the finishing of your project that can mean the difference between something being perceived as home-made and handmade. Learn the techniques behind seaming, finishing, weaving in ends, and adding embellishments in this three-hour, hands-on workshop.

Supplies: Sport, DK, or worsted weight yarn and appropriate needles for yarn selected. Crochet hook, tapestry needle, Safety pin style stitch markers, (other typical knitting notions) 

Homework: Participants should bring four (4) 4"x4" swatches in stockinette stitch from similar weight yarn, leaving last row live, at least a yard of tail,  and placed on holder or waste yarn.  They will need needles, additional yarn, and a tapestry needle.

Intermediate Level
25 Students Max
$50 class fee

ADVANCED CROCHET STITCHES

Nirmal Kaur Khalsa

Advanced Crochet Stitches is a technique class. Catch up with the newest techniques and practice lesser known and lesser used stitches: foundation and extended stitches, bullions and Clones knots, linked stitches, alternative row starts, single crochet variations (reverse, backwards, knit-look), and basic and new color changes. (And even more if time permits.)

Supplies: 2 or 3 colors of plain, smooth size #4 (worsted weight) yarn; H/8, I/9, and J/10 hooks; tapestry needle. 
Homework: None 
Intermediate/Advanced Level 
20 Students Max 
$53 class fee includes handouts

KNITTING FOR SPEED AND EFFICIENCY

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

This interesting class examines the various techniques, attitudes and history of the most productive knitters, and is designed not necessarily to change how you knit (unless you want to) but to help you become the most efficient knitter you can be on your own terms. We’ll look at the various styles of knitting, and have some instruction on “lever knitting” (fixed needle knitting.) We’ll talk about techniques for knitting faster through changing what you do, and the way you think.  

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Supplies: Your regular knitting supplies, smooth worsted weight wool, and your favourite needles to match (Circulars, DPN's, whatever you like best) as well you will need long straight needles (14 inches) of the same size. 

Beginner Level and Up (Note: Interesting for all levels - although beginners should have a good grip on the basics. Cast on and off, knit, purl, increase and decrease.)
22 Students Max
$65 class fee

AMIGURUMI CROCHET - AMI PANDA AND FRIENDS

Debra Lea

Three little teddies and their bunny friend. Designed by the very talented Stephanie Lau (AllAboutAmi on ravelry or on the web at AllAboutAmi.tumbler.com ), these little charmers can be made into ornaments or just kept around for cuddles. We will make the panda in class, but patterns for all three bears and the bunny will be provided to students. We will learn to start with a magic ring, work in spirals, create faces and add ears - all the techniques you’ll need for more detailed amigurumi designs if you decide that you just can’t live without them.   

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Supplies:

2.00 mm crochet hook

Standard tool kit (scissors, tapestry needle, stitch markers, etc.)

Embroidery needle (for face features)

Adventurous Beginner Level (Must know how to read a crochet pattern. Be able to single crochet.)

25 Students Max

$55 class fee includes pattern and kit 

QUICKIE CABLE COWL

Cheryl Murray

If you’re curious about cables or stumped by circular needles, this quick-knit cowl project will show you just how easy it is to do both! Add to your knitting skills by learning to work in the round, understand 2 different ways to decrease and add a simple cable. Even experienced knitters will appreciate how quickly you’ll have a finished project that is ready to wear or gift in a flash!

Homework: Please cast on 64 sts onto circular needle. Do not join. (Long tail CO preferred, but not required)

Supplies: 100 yards of Super Bulky yarn (CYC #6) (Suggested yarn = Heartland Thick & Quick by Lion Brand Yarns), Size 13 (9mm) circular needles - 16” long, Stitch markers to fit needle size (at least three), Cable needle (sized for large needles)

Adventurous Beginner Level  - Participants should already know how to cast on and how to work both knit and purl stitches.

25 Students Max

$50 class fee

SILK HANKIE KNITTING

Johanna Conroy and Lynn Haffner

Learn to knit with silk hankies. Learn how to draft unspun silk hankies into yarn and knit the resulting yarn into a basic lace cowl.

Supplies: About 1 oz silk hankies, US 7 to 9  16” circ
Note: Silk hankies will be available for purchase in the vendor market (you can also find them at select yarn shops and websites)
Intermediate Level - no spinning required
25 Students Max
$50 class fee

THE FIX IS IN

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

This class explores options and solutions for when bad things happen to good knitters. We’ll explore dropped stitches, missed yarn overs, mis-crossed cables, selvedge stitches (and when not to have one) and how to fix (mostly) damage to knits like pulls, holes and runs.  

Supplies & Homework: You’ll need a small swatch of knitting, about 20 stitches, knit to a square. Please use smooth, light coloured worsted weight yarn, and needles you feel are appropriate. Do not cast off - bring the work still on the needles.  
You’ll also need: A small quantity of smooth worsted weight yarn, similar to the one you worked the swatch with- but in a contrasting colour, a darning needle, a crochet hook appropriate for the yarn, two DPNs a size or two smaller than the ones you’re using for the swatch, and a pair of scissors or snips.

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Intermediate Level (Note: advanced beginners will do fine if they can read their knitting (identify knit and purl on the needle) execute a simple chart, and understand a simple cable. )
22 Students Max
$65 class fee

BACK TO THE DRAFT

Jacey Boggs Faulkner

Whether you are a new spinner, a worsted spinner, a woolen spinner, or a not-sure-what-I-do spinner, this class is for you.  A pain-free journey from the tidy and controlled worsted draft to the fuzzy, light woolen draft, you’ll be comfortable with both (and all the semi-worsteds and semi-woolens in between) by the time this class is through. 

The more ways you can comfortably draft, the more varied yarns you can create, and the better your chances are for finding joy in those yarns. If you have just about given up on spinning woolen or worsted, make this class woolen's (or worsted's) last chance!  

Adventurous Beginner (should be able to spin a continuous strand)
20 Students Max
$70 class fee includes all fiber needed for class 

CASTING ON FOR LACE

Mary Mortensen

Lace patterns often call for a special cast-on. We will learn techniques for casting on with a garter tab, in the middle of a circle, and to make a stretchy edge. We will discuss variations of the techniques and when to use them. We will also practice bind-offs to make a stretchy edge.

Yarn: worsted-weight, around 50 yards. Choose a smooth yarn in a light or medium solid color. Leftovers are fine. Also bring about 3 yards of smooth yarn in a contrasting color.

Needles: size 8 (circular or single-point) PLUS a set of double-pointed needles, also in size 8

Crochet hook: size H (5 mm)

Other: scissors, row counter, tapestry needle, stitch markers

Advanced Level

25 Students Max

$50 class fee

FAIR ISLE

Carol Eddington

Fair Isle, or stranded knitting, is a technique using two or more colors of yarn in a single row to create a geometric pattern. While making a coffee cozy, you'll learn how to knit from a charted pattern, how to carry the yarn strands and how to properly tension the yarn. We will also be steeking, or cutting through the knitting, to create an opening; a technique often used in Fair Isle knitting.

Supplies:

#5 needles (set of dpns, 2 circular, or 1 long circular for magic loop technique).

Size F crochet hook.

Two contrasting colors of worsted weight wool (not synthetic or superwash).

Tapestry needle, stitch markers, and a pair of sharp scissors.

Homework:

Cast on 49 sts. Work flat (do not join into round). 

Row 1 - k2, (p1, k1) to last st, k1. 

Row 2 - p2, (k1, p1) to last st, p1. 

Work Rows 1 and 2 once more, then Row 1 once more. Leave sts on needles.

Intermediate level - must know how to knit in the round.
20 Students Max
$50 class fee

KNIT SMART

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

This lecture style class (that means mostly talking, like at University) deals with best practices in knitting, and talks about how to (usually) prevent knitting mistakes (mostly) and fix them. Out of the myriad techniques, ideas, yarns, patterns and tools available to knitters, how can you be sure that the ones you choose will give you the results you want? This class looks at how to predict how knitting is going to work, very clever ways to solve knitting problems, and how to streamline knitting so that you’re doing less work, and creating better stuff. This class is useful to knitters at all levels, and is my very favourite to teach. 

Supplies: None, except note-taking materials, if you are the type to take notes. Students may bring failed projects, or those with mistakes - we will try to have a look.
All Levels
70 Students Max
$50 class fee

Regarding Homework and Supplies
We are continuing to update the site with the homework and supplies needed for each class as we receive them. We will send an email to all registered students once all information has been updated. Thanks for your patience!