2024 Class Descriptions
Registration opens November 20, 2023
2024 is our biggest year ever for top-notch classes. This year, we have not one, not two, but five nationally-recognized teachers available to share their skills. We have something for everyone! It's time to refine your skills or learn something new!
Please remember to check back for the homework and supply lists for classes you're taking. Being prepared for class provides the best experience for you, your classmates and the instructor. Click the button above to register for classes.
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!
Cancellations & Refunds.
Please note if you need to cancel. We cannot refund your class fees unless we are able to replace your seat with someone from the waiting list. The refund will be less the credit card & registration fees.
Contact kithkc@gmail.com with questions.
Class Times will be posted soon!
Harry Wells
Introduction to Argyle Knitting
Love those cliassic diamond shapes called Argyle, but are mystified about how to accomplish them? In this class, you will learn the classic technique of knitting Argyle flat, along with a seaming method that makes the seam nearly invisible and not bulky. Students will make an Argyle sample swatch, learning how to wrap yarns to prevent holes, how to add in bobbins, and other Argyle tips and tricks. You will also learn the calculations to design your own Argyle diamond patterns for different guages. You'll discover te fun of watching these diamonds grow, but beware, Argyle can become addictive!
MAX CLASS SIZE: 25
CLASS FEE: $70
REQUIRED SKILLS: You should be able to accomplish long tail cast on, basic sts (K, P, SSK, K2tog). Having worked with a chart will be helpful, but a quick overview of that skill will be convered in class as well.
SUPPLIES: Straight needles, US size 5. (you can use a 16" circular, but the cable will interfere a bit with the bobbins.
DK wool yarn in 4 colors: 20gms of main color, 10 gms of CC #1 (for diamond), 10 gms of CC #2 (for diamond), 5 gms of CC #3 (for criss-cross - this color should contrast with all the other colors), highlighter tape or post-it notes, locking stitch markers or knitters'pins, tapestry needle that will work with your yarn. Small knitting bobbins (EZ bobbins recommended, but any will do).
HOMEWORK: Make two stockinette swatches with any worsted wt wool yarn, light to med color: CO 16 sts and work 20 rows. Bind off and block. You will use these swatches to practice the seaming.
The Wooly World of Westknits
Stephen West
In this is a virtual 1 hour presentation with Q & A at the end. Stephen will be joining us from Amsterdam.
There will be a lottery held to be able to attend. (Students may not attend this event virtually.)
Stephen will welcome you into his wooly world of Westknits. He will discuss how he chooses his color pallettes and share secrets for how to make your palettes pop. You will have an up-close look at any of his most popular design samples. He will discuss how to create successful color palettes for marled knitting, faded knitting, and grahic stripes and slip stitches. You will also learn a few of Stephen's color-changing tricks and color planning strategies to gain more confidence with your own knitting projects.
MAX CLASS SIZE: 50
CLASS FEE: $45
REQUIRED SKILLS: Familiar with knitting
SUPPLIES: paper for notes and a pen.
Harry Wells
.jpg)
FINISHING WITH A BANG, NOT A WHIMPER: SEAMING TECHNIQUES
Finishing means many things in knitting, and a beautifully executed seam is essential for an attractive garment outcome. Learn various methods of seaming and weaving, including joing side seams, sleeves, ribbing, garter st to garter st, weaving two bound off edges (e.g. shoulders), vertical to horizontal (e.g. sleeve to armhole), flat seam, and making sloped shoulders with short rows and three needle bindoff.
MAX CLASS SIZE: 30
CLASS FEE: $70
REQUIRED SKILLS: All Skill levels as long as you can complete the skills in the homework.
SUPPLIES: Completed homework in worsted weight wool/wool blend yarn in a light or medium color (no dark colors), size 7 straight needles (or 16" circular) and DPN's (appropriate for worsted weight yarn).
HOMEWORK: Use yarn listed in supply list below for swatches. All swatches are CO 16 sts and work 20 rows. Twelve stockinette swatches - bind off 8 of them. leave live stitches on waste yarn for four of them, with a 3 yard working tail. Two garter stitch swatches. Two 1X1 rib swatches - for these rib swatches, CO 17 sts. Block all swatches.
DISTRACT, DEPLOY, DILUTE
STEPHANIE PEARL-MCPHEE
Do you love handpainted or variegated yarns, but find that too often they are unpredicatable, don't work with the pattern, pool, puddle, flash or end up looking like a rainbows got caught in a blender? Me too. In this fun class, we'll look at strategies to make the most of these compelling yarns and manipulate them so that what you loved in the knitted thing is closer to what you loved in the skein, and reduce the element of surprise.
MAX CLASS SIZE: 22
CLASS FEE: $70
REQUIRED SKILLS: Interesting for all levels, but students should be able to cast on, cast off, knit purl execute a simple chart and slip a stitch.
SUPPLIES: Your regular knitting supplies, smooth handpainted/variegated yarn (the wilder the better) and cirular needles to match. You can bring any weight of yarn, but please avoid bulky and lace. Fingering, sport, DK and worsted are ideal. You'll also need small balls of two other yarns in the same weight - one a contrasting yarn that is NOT a colour in your handpaint (a neutral works well here, black or white, for example, assuming there's no black or white in your skein) and a yarn the IS in your handpaint. (For eample, if your yarn is pink, bright pink and white, you'll need a yarn that matches one of those three). Please have the yarn wound into balls.
HOMEWORK: Have sample yarn wound into balls.
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.
MAX CLASS SIZE:22
CLASS FEE:$70
REQUIRED SKILLS--basics, plus must have experience working in the round.
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.)
HOMEWORK: NONE
I'LL PUT A HEX ON YOU! HEXAGON ST AND OTHER K1 BELOW TEXTURES
Harry Wells
Knitting in the Stitch below is a stitch that creates a wide variety of textural interest. We will learn and practice the K1 Below technique on a one color Twisted Moss pattern, practice on a two-color check pattern and other 1,2 and 3 color textures, and then move on to the more complex Hexagon stitch, practicing it flat and in the round on a cowl project. Also, a complex 2 needle cast on will be taught appropriate for the Hexagon Stitch, and any other expansive knitted fabric, along with appropriate bind-offs.
MAX CLASS SIZE: 25
CLASS FEE: $70
REQUIRED SKILLS: This is an Intermediate skill class. Participants should be able to accomplish the following without assistance; long tail cast on, basic sts (K, P, SSK, K2tog)
SUPPLIES: Several small balls (20gms each) of worsted weight yarn in different colors to work practice swatches in class, size 6 needles, stitch markers. Also one size 4 needle (straight or DPN).
Hexagon Cowl Supplies: 2 colors (Color A and Color B) worsted weight yarn, (60 gms each), and a size 6 24" Circular Needle, and complete the homework, which is ribbing for the cowl.
HOMEWORK: A pattern worksheet for a Hexagon St cowl will be part of the class packet. The pre-class homework is ribbing and a decrease round for the cowl.
Using US size 6 24"circular needle and worsted weight yarn, CO 196 sts in Color A (see supply list). Join in the round, being sure not to twist st around cord, and place a beginning of the round marker.
Work 4 rounds in (K2P2) to end.
Next round (decrease) - K2tog 4 times, [(K2tog) 3x, k1, (k2tog) 5x, k1] 10x, k2tog 4x (108 stitches)
Next round: Purl all stitches.
Leave Color A attached to needles and bring Color B to class.
Optional: These swatches are for practing bindoffs appropriate for K1B fabrics. The instructor will demonstrate the bindoffs; if students want to practice the bindoffs in class, they should prepare these swatches. Make 5 swatches. For each swatch:
CO 20 stitches, work 10 rows of stockinette stitch. Leaving a 2 yard tail, place live stitches on a stitch holder for easy transfer to working needle in class or place on a spare DPN for easy working in class.
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 and (mostly) 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 favorite to teach.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a lecture class, we will not be knitting.
MAX CLASS SIZE: 70
CLASS FEE: $70
SUPPLIES: None, except note-taking materials, if you’re the type to take notes.
HOMEWORK: None
DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE: BEGINNING SPINNING
Meagan Condon
Are you a passionate knitter ready to deepen your understanding of yarn? Have you woven your way to the end of your stash? In this class, you will learn to make your own yarn using a drop spindle. Create unique yarns you can't buy in the store and become a better knitter as you explore why and how yarn behaves the way it does. Suitable for all ages, geared toward induviduals who have never spun or for those who have tried and failed. A top-whirl spindle and fiber will be provided.
MAX CLASS SIZE: 25
CLASS FEE: $70
MATERIALS FEE: $25 (Covers a top whorl spindle, fiber to spin during the class, and additional fiber to practice with afterward).
REQUIRED SKILLS: None! Beginner, no experience necessary. Just bring curiosity and patience.
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.
MAX CLASS SIZE: 22
CLASS FEE: $70
SUPPLIES: Your regular knitting supplies, smooth worsted weight wool, and your favorite needles to match (circulars, DPNs, whatever you like best) and you will need long straight needles (14 inches) of the same size.
REQUIRED SKILLS: A good grip on the basics: cast on, bind off, knit, purl, increase and decrease.
HOMEWORK: NONE
VERTICAL STRIPES WITH KNIT ONE BELOW: HAT PROJECT
Harry Wells
Knitting in the Stitch below can produce a variety of effects, including creating stunning vertical stripes with a thick, soft, supple fabric while knitting with only one color per row or round. In this class, we will cover and practice the K1B technique to create the column stitch with both flat knitting and knitting in the round. The column stitch becomes vertical stripes when using two colors. Experimentation with variegated colors and tetured yarns can add further interest and pizzazz. Suitable cast ons and bind offs for this soft, expanded fabric will be taught, as well as tips for attractive edges. Students will practice both versions of technique, on a swatch for flat knitting and on a hat project for knitting in the round.
MAX CLASS SIZE: 25
CLASS FEE: $70
REQUIRED SKILLS: This is an intermediate skills class. Participants myst be able to accomplish basic long tail cast on and work knit, purl, K2tog, and SSK without assistance, and be able to work in the round.
SUPPLIES:
Required: Two balls (25 gms each) of worsted weight wool yarn in contrasting colors. One may be variegated if desired, with the contrasting color being totally different from any colors in the variegated yarn. DPN' in 4mm/US size 6 (7" or 8" are best) or 16" circular to practice the technique in class. Bring another ball of worsted weight yarn (10gms) and 4mm/US size 6 needles to practice cast ons. Also one US size 4 needle is needed.
For hat: Two balls (50gms each) of worsted weight wool yarn in contrasting colors. One US size 6 -16"circular needle and One US size 5 - 16" circular.
Optional: A fingering weight yarn, a textured yarn/novelty yarn, a flat yarn, a yarn with metallic element - to experiment in stripes.
HOMEWORK:
1) REQUIRED: This is ribbing for the hat project. The hat requires two colors of worsted weight wool or wool blend yarn.
With the main color (MC), CO 114 sts with US size 6, 16" circular. Join in the round and work 1x1 ribbing for 1 1/2".
Next row (a decrease row): K1, K2tog 9x, (k2tog, K1) 25x, K2tog 10x, (70 stitches).
Knit 1 round
Leave live stitches on needle with working yarn (MC) attached, and bring the Size 5 - 16" circular needle to class.
MITTENS OF NORWAY
Cheryl Murray
With their disctinctive snowflake motifs, unique construction techniques and shaping, mittens from the Selbu region are the style most closely assiciated with Norway. In this class, you'll create a mini mitten which includes all these elements in a stranded colorwork design. You'll also learn about the history of the Selbu mittens & Norwegian knitting traditions.
MAX CLASS SIZE: 25
CLASS FEE: $70
REQUIRED SKILLS: Cast on, knit, purl, comfortable with DPNs or other small circumference circular technique, previous stranded colorwork experience recommended, but not required.
SUPPLIES- Worsted weight yarn in 2 highly contrasting colors, 50 yards of each color (traditional colors: black/white, red/white)
Size 6 DPNs (set of 5) or other small circumference technique of choice
Scrap yarn in contrasting color
Stitch markers, Tapestry needle
Sticky notes, magnet board or highlighter tape
Row Couonter (optional)
Homework:
The mittens made in class will be toddler size. A pattern will be provided for larger sizes at the class.
With Main Color*, CO 32 sts. Divide evenly on DPNs (or other small crcular knitting method of choice, e.g. 2- circulars, Magic Loop, FlexiFlips, 9" circular). Place marker for beginning of round & join, being careful not to twist.
Work 1/1 rib for 10 rows.
*Note: Main Color will be used for cuff & design motif. Pattern is written with the Main Color being the darker of the two colors in the design. Lighter color (Contrast Color) will be used for the background.
LADDERBACK JACQUARD: CLIMB TO COLORWORK SUCCESSS
Cheryl Murray
Step up your stranded colorwork skills with Ladderback Jacquard, a different method for managing long color floats in stranded knitting. LBJ is a quick & easy technique that eliminates tension issues and peak-through problems. You'll learn how to create LBJ stitches, where to place them & how to remove them when they are no longer needed. You'll be amazed by the difference this simple technique can make in your colorwork projects!
MAX CLASS SIZE: 25
CLASS FEE: $70
REQUIRED SKILLS: Knitting in the round, knitting with 2 colors, reading a chart.
SUPPLIES-- Worsted weight yarn, in 2 solid contrasting colors, approx 100 yards each
Size 7 needles for small circumference knitting (e.g. DPNs, 9" circular, FlexiFlips, 2 circ (same size, at least 24") or Magic Loop.
Stitch markers - a few
Homework:
Coming soon.