Welcome to 2012 at KnitWit Yarn Shop.
Starting off January is Judy’s Northman mitten class for those of you ready to make a super warm mitten. In Portland, this winter has been a bit balmy, next winter might not be, so have a pair on hand for next year. Judy will also teach her toe-up, Fleegle Heel sock in March.
Leanne will be teaching two crochet classes on Granny Squares for those of you (and me) who are anxious to try crocheting. If you are intrigued by crochet and wondering how to read the patterns, increase/decrease, as well as how to add edgings to your knitting, join us for Granny Squares I and II. You don’t have to take Granny Squares I to be able to take the second class, but you do have to be able to crochet.
Karen will be teaching a class on a reversible headband done in double knitting (the technique, not yarn weight). The headband is designed to keep your ears warm and not muss up your hair. Be prepared to watch a mirror image of your knitting appear on the wrong side of your work – totally fun! Later in the spring Karen will also be teaching a beginning socks class. Watch for details about the sock class in the next newsletter.
| Date(s) | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 28 | 10AM – 12PM | “Northman Mittens” class with Judy Warde |
| Feb 11 | 10AM – 12PM | |
| Feb 7 | 6-8PM | “Northman Mittens” class with Judy Warde |
| Feb 28 | 6-8PM | |
| Feb 18 | 10AM – 12PM | “Granny Squares I” workshop with Leanne Walker |
| Mar 3 | 10AM – 12PM | “Fleegle Heel Socks” class with Judy Warde |
| Mar 17 | 10AM – 12PM | |
| Mar 10 | 10AM -12PM | “Reversible Headband” class with Karen Schilling |
| Mar 31 | 10AM -12PM | “Granny Squares II” workshop with Leanne Walker |
Please note, the “usual” KnitWit Shop Class Policies apply — you need to sign up and prepay for the class. You will receive a 15% discount on supplies for your classes.
Northman Mittens with Judy Warde
The Northman Mittens designed by David Schulz of Southern Cross Fibre are the perfect mid-winter project. The mittens are worked in a stranded snowflake pattern making them doubly warm and they are lined, which makes them three times as warm for getting through a Maine winter. The mittens begin with a long tail cast on and participants should know how to knit and purl. The pattern can be worked on double pointed needles, magic loop or on two circulars. Ideally participants would have some experience knitting mittens or socks. Skills that will be practiced or learned over the two classes: braided edging, stranded color work in the round, reading a color chart, knitting a lining.
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- Materials:
- 2 skeins Berocco Ultra Alpaca in contrasting colors for outer mittens
- 2 skeins Alpaca with a Twist Baby Twist for linings
- double points, long circular, or two short circular needles in size US 3, 4 or 5 depending on mitten size (adult s, m, or l)
- scissors
- stitch markers
- tapestry needle
- Dates:
- Mittens session I, Sat. Jan 28th and Feb 11th from 10AM – 12PM
- Mittens session II, Tues. Feb 7th and Feb 28th, from 6 – 8PM
- Fee: $45.00 per session (includes instruction and pattern)
Granny Squares workshops I and II with Leanne Walker
Grannies are so much fun, and so easy to learn. You can make so many things out of them, and they’re beautiful when done in the right yarn. Knitters, add these basic crochet stitches to your repertoire, and you might just get hooked!
After you learn to make a Granny Square, then what? In Grannies II we will learn some additional stitches as well as how to increase and decrease. We will also learn to read written crochet instructions and charts and will practice some edgings that can be used to finish off a knitted garment or accessory. If you have a knitted item you would like to add an edge to, please bring it. Also, if you have specific questions/issues you would like to learn about in the class, please tell us when you sign up. We will try to cover it!
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- Materials: Crochet hook, size H, small quantities of worsted weight yarn
- Dates:
- Granny Squares I, Sat. Feb 18th, 10AM – 12PM
- Granny Squares II, Sat. Mar 31st, 10AM – 12PM
- Fee: $25 per class (includes instruction and pattern)
Toe Up, Fleegle Heel Socks with Judy Warde
“My toe looks messy.”
“I hate picking up those double wraps in short row heels.”
“The cuff is too tight and I can’t get the sock on my foot.”
Sound familiar? Solve the most frequent complaints of toe-up sock knitters in a two class workshop with Judy Warde’s Magic Cast On, the Fleegle Heel, and Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind off. These three techniques enable you to cast on and begin knitting, create a gusseted heel without any wraps or picking up stitches, and then finish with a bound off cuff that you can actually get over your foot. It’s easy, fun and will add new skills to your sock knitting arsenal.
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- Materials:
- Yarn (fingering or heavier, if you like)
- Two 24” circular needles in size needed for gauge
- A couple of stitch markers
- Note: The cast on we will be using is most easily done using two circular needles. The entire sock can be knit on those needles or you can switch to double points or Magic Loop if you wish.
- Dates: Sat. Mar 3rd and Mar 17th from 10AM – 12PM
- Fee: $45.00 (includes instruction and pattern)
Reversible Headband with Karen Schilling
Sometimes you just don’t need a full hat or you want to keep your hair nice. A headband is a great option. Not a wimpy little single layer one that lets the wind through, but a double thick, reversible, colorful one. Come learn how to use double knitting technique to create this fun and versatile headband. You will learn how to do a two color cast on, work with two colors, and double knit for reversibility. This class is suitable to anyone who can knit and purl. Knowing the long-tail cast-on (with one color) will be important – be sure to refresh your memory with knittinghelp.com or a YouTube video. This would be a great first color work project.
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- Materials: 2 skeins Berroco’s Ultra Alpaca, in contrasting colors, 16# circular needle in size to get gauge.
- Date: Sat. Mar 10th, 10AM -12PM
- Fee: $25.00 (includes instruction and pattern)
