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Class Descriptions

In-person classes are designated below as 3,6,or 9 hours.

virtual live versions of the same classes are 2,4,or 6 hours.

iNTRODUCTION TO aRGYLE (3 hours)

Love those classic diamond shapes called Argyle, but are mystified about how to accomplish them?  This class teaches 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 gauges.  Also covered is how to calculate designs of your own Argyle diamonds for different gauges, so you can include Argyle pretty much where ever you want!

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Addictive Argyle (and other Retro Designs): Socks  (9 hours)

Love those classic diamond shapes called Argyle, but are mystified about how to accomplish them?  In this workshop, learn the classic technique of knitting Argyle flat, including tips and tricks for managing the bobbins and twisting the yarns appropriately and a seaming method that makes the seam nearly invisible and not bulky.  Each stage of the construction of an argyle sock will be covered, which is both similar and different to the traditional top down heel flap sock.  Also covered will be how to chart your own Argyle patterns for different gauges, very cool retro and contemporary variations on Argyle, other intarsia retro sock designs, and designing with Argyle patterns in garments and accessories.  You will learn on a pattern for DK wt yarn so the sock will work up rather quickly in learning the technique.

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Colorwork the Easy Way! Mosaic Knitting and Other Slip Stitch Colorwork (3 hours)

With Mosaic Knitting, you knit with only one color per row to achieve intricate looking patterns without stranding or intarsia wrapping.  You simply knit and slip stitches, but the result is stunning!  This workshop will teach you how to do several textural variations of Mosaic Knitting, how color and hues work together (or don’t), how charts are written and read differently for Mosaic Knitting, and practical tips about the best applications for Mosaic Knitting in garments and accessories.  Once you learn the technique, and practice it in a swatch, you will begin a hat pattern designed by the instructor that you can quickly complete at home.  An added bonus:  several other colorwork slip stitch variations of garter st will be overviewed with color samples. You’ll be amazed what well-placed slip sts and color changes do to garter st!

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I’ll put a Hex on you!: Hexagon stitch and knit one below textures (3 hours)

Knitting in the Stitch below is a technique that can create a wide variety of textural interest, checkered patterns, and embossed ribs in a knitted fabric that is thick, soft, and supple. In this class, we will cover all those variations and their characteristics, with participants learning the techniques and practicing them.  One color and two color versions will be covered.  Participants will have the choice of starting a hexagon stitch cowl in the round or a scarf knitted flat using any of the textures learned. 

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vertical stripes with Knit One Below (3 hours)

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 textured yarns can add further interest and pizzazz.  A cast-on and bind-offs for this soft, expanded fabric with be taught, as well as tips for attractive edges. Students will practice both versions of the technique, on a swatch for flat knitting and on a hat project for knitting in the round.

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OOOPS!: Correcting Mistakes and Learning to “Read” Your Knitting (3 hours)

Ever look at your knitting and say, “What happened THERE?”, or panicked as a dropped stitch ran down it, or picked up your knitting project and wondered “Where am I in the pattern?”—how many decreases/increases have I worked,  what row was I on, how many rows since that last decrease, or last cable twist, etc.?  This workshop answers these questions and a lot more! Divided into two sections, “Knowing Where You Are” and “Identifying and Correcting Mistakes”, this workshop teaches participants how  to “read” your knitting--to recognize what one is looking at, where one is, and what to do next, whether that be correcting a problem or moving ahead! People leave this workshop as much more competent knitters.

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Lovely Twists and Turns: Knitting Cables (3 hours)

Cables and Twists make some of the most stunning visual effects in knitting.  Learn the basic cable and twist stitches, which will allow you to create visual effects of twisting, turning, honeycomb, braiding, and the like.   Using over 25 swatch examples in class, this workshop covers different cabling effects, both crosses and twists (to create “running” lines), how to achieve them and combine them, along with practicing several cable and twist stitches in class. How to correct a rope cable lower down in knitted fabric that is twisted in the wrong direction will also be demonstrated.

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VERSATILE BEGINNings: CAST-ONS For Various needs  (3 hours)

We knitters all have our “go to” cast-on, the one which is automatic in our head and hands, and flows quickly. However, as our experience grows, we begin to recognize that different projects require different types of cast-ons.  Some projects need stretchy cast-ons, others need a cast-on that allows knitting in two directions, and some projects gain sophistication and pizzazz by having a decorative edge cast-on.  This class covers thirteen cast-ons, including German Twisted, Crochet,  Provisional, Channel Island, Tubular, I-cord, Braided Two Color, Frilled, Picot,  Rolled Edge, Sophisticated Two Needle (with a twist), and Judy’s Magic Cast-on, .  Come discover a new versatility in beginning projects!

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Ending WEll: A Wealth of bind-offs  (3 hours)

How one finishes the edge of a project can either make or break it.  Ever bind off a cowl only to find the edge way tighter than the cast on?  Or wish there was a bind off that would match your cast on?  How about decorating that edge with a rolled tube look, or adding picots to it?  This workshop will cover a wide range of bind offs that achieve a variety of bind off goals. Bind offs covered are: Russian, Yarn Over, Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy, Tubular, I-cord, Sewn,  Picot, Cable, Braided Rib, Icelandic, 3-needle, and Sewn (and others as time allows!).

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Ending With a Bang! Not a Whimper: Seaming and Grafting  (3 hours)

Many people simply guess at how to seam together their sweater or graft together a cowl or other accessory.  And it shows! (Unfortunately!)  Learn the best ways to seam and graft, including vertical sides of garments, ribbing, bound off edges, vertical edges to horizontal edges, and vertical sides of garter stitch.  Also covered will be Kitchener stitch, 3 needle bind off, and 3 needle bind off with I-Cord edging.

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short Row Magic! (3 hours)

Inserting short rows can create angles and curves, making amazing shaped knitted shawls, angles on garments, and additional shaped ease in areas like busts.  In this class, you will learn and practice three methods of short rows: Wrap and Turn, Japanese, and German.  Applications including shoulder shaping, how to work short row sleeve caps, and adding additional area in the bust area will be covered.

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crisscrossing the rainbow: color cables  (3 hours)

One can spend a knitting lifetime exploring the various lovely twists and turns that make up regular cable combinations.  Now add color to the mix!  One color cable patterns against a different background color, different color cable strands meandering all over and among each other, striped cables, and bi-color rope cables are some of the combinations covered.  How to convert a cable chart into a color cable schematic, utilizing graph paper and/or a charting program will be covered, so bring your colored pencils for some creative color fun and then knit up your creation!

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flipside awesomeness: reversible cables  (3 hours)

We all love cables, but bemoan the backside being ugly. Learn how to make reversible cabled fabric! We will cover two methods of making cables reversible.  Many examples of cables—rope, lozenge, celtic braid, horn, and more—are covered, using step-by-step exercises to convert them from their regular form into reversible form.  What can and cannot be made reversible is discussed.   Participants will be given several reversible sample stitch patterns to knit up, or participants can peruse cable reference books and set up their own reversible cables.

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twists on twists: reversible, Color, and textured cables  (6 hours)

This six hour workshop covers the above two classes (reversible and color cables), and throws in textured cables at the end for even more fun cabling options!

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Stylish Hands: Design your own Fingerless Mitts  (12-15 hours)

Many different design choices go into making fingerless mitts and gloves, but once you master the conceptual framework of those design choices, you can create a wide array of looks to keep your hands warm!  I have prepared some (pretty amazing!) templates and schematics that have the stitch counts and math all worked out for four different gusset choices for 7 hand sizes with five stitch gauges. Step by step design choices at each transition point—cuff, hand, gusset, edgings—will be covered, including how to make the design process easy at these transition points, while still accomplishing a design that has a sense of flow and purpose in its overall statement of fashion.  Also covered is how to plan ease of design for multiple sizes, or knowing when not to do multiple sizes. Participants will work on a design in class, plan its over all construction, and bring it to life on the needles.  This multi-day class gives plenty of “hands on” time of browsing reference books for ideas, sketching designs, swatching stitch patterns, group review and feedback as one progresses, and one-on-one problem solving with the instructor. Given the longer time in class, participants learn the ins and outs of designing with hands-on trial, including testing out possibilities, finding what works and when to “think again”. Using the templates with one’s chosen gauge, size, stitch pattern, and edging, etc., participants create their own unique fingerless mitt!