Current Classes

Where: Friends and Fiberworks LYS, Candler, NC (Go way out yonder, turn on to Brooks Cove Road and it’ll be the big building past the 4th cow pasture on the right :)

Knitting your first sweater - November [2 classes)

It is officially Sweater Season, and Lisa and I at Friends and Fiberworks are here to help you knit your first or 57th sweater.   I will provide the instruction and Lisa has the yarn for purchase.  There will be 2 sessions of instruction, Sundays November 9th and 23rd.

For this class you must be an advanced beginner or above.  You must know how to cast on, knit, purl, join in the round, increase and decrease, and bind off.  If you are unsure of your skill level, feel free to ask me prior to the class.

Homework to have completed before Sunday, November 9th:

• Review FREE pattern.  Decide if you want waist shaping or not.  As of this publication, this sweater pattern has over 3000 projects, click through some of those to get ideas on yarn, shaping and fit.
• Ravelry: Brick pattern by Clare Lee
• Sweater quantity of yarn per your size according to the pattern.  This should be a yarn with some elasticity to it to retain shape.  Pick a worsted weight medium to lighter color plied yarn with little to no variegation.  All FFW staff will be happy to help you find the perfect yarn. 
• Gauge swatch resulting in 18 sts per 4 inches.  More on this later.

November 9th 1:00 - 3:00 pm: This session will include ensuring your swatch meets the gauge needed for the project, discuss the basic construction for a top down raglan pullover sweater as well as details for this specific pattern.  You will start at the neck in class and get the raglan shaping pattern down.

Homework between classes:  Knit in the round…a lot.  Rib at the bottom and bind off.

November 23rd 1:00-3:00pm: This session will walk you through picking up the stitches on waste yarn/holders for the arms and how to pick up stitches around the neck and rib.  We will talk about couture finishing so your sweater is stunning.

For class you will need to bring:

• Pattern, either printed or on a tablet.  You will be taking notes.
• Yarn (all required for this project)
• Gauge swatch
• Circular needles according to your gauge swatch and a second set 2 sizes smaller.  (e.g. if you get gauge on size 8US then you will also need a size 6US)
• Stitch markers
• Scissors
• Yarn holders or waste yarn
• Tapestry needle
• Something to measure your gauge swatch with
• Phone camera so you can record anything in class you may need help with later

How to construct a gauge swatch:

• Cast on 22 stitches.  
• Knit in garter for 4 rows
• Row 1 Wrong Side: K2, P to last 2 sts, K2 (K2 on either side will give you a nice edge/border so when you measure on the RS you don’t count these sts, just count between them)
• Row 2 Right Side: Knit to end

Repeat until at least 3 inches long.  Check on the RS, in between your garter edging.  Those 18 sts should be 4” wide.  If they are not, go up or down a needle size and starting on the WS of your current swatch: Knit across (this will give you a delineating purl bump row visible on the RS), then knit across the RS and continue in pattern starting on Row 1 and knit with that new needle for 3 more inches.  Continue in this manner until you get the right needle size for gauge.  If you’re off by 1/2 stitch you will probably be ok, but this is why I want to check your gauge swatch in class.  And no stretching! :)

As with all of my classes the class fee is $20 per session paid to me.  This also gets you 10% off all yarn/notions purchased on the day of the class.  Also included will be help sessions every Sunday in November from 2:30-3:30pm.

Making a sweater is a big deal - you make ‘garments’ now.  I’m looking forward to seeing you later this month to help you take this next big step in your knitting game!

Cowls on the Knitting Machine - December