Current Classes

May – Lace knitting: how to read lace charts and fix mistakes.

Home work

Sunday May 5^th I will be teaching a troubleshooting class on lace knitting.  Creating airy and intricate knitting can be challenging at best when everything is working up perfectly, so when things go awry it is enough to throw your project down on the floor and let the cat sleep on it for a couple of days.  This class will help you understand what common mistakes look like and how to fix them.  To know when to intentionally drop stitches (deep breaths!) and knit vertically or when to frog and pick up stitches. Your cat will have to find other sleeping arrangements :)

 

What you will need for the class:

Knitted Swatch

Size 0 (or smaller) circular needle at least 24” long (my recommendation)

OR

Tapestry needle with sock weight waste yarn

Latch Hook Tool – I will have these for use in the class and you can purchase at the shop after class if you want to take it home.

Locking stitch markers

Knitting needles and yarn you used for your swatch

Lumos Lumos Knitting Light (or alternate) for seeing your work when the lights are low

 

 

Homework – Lace normally isn’t knit on worsted weight yarn, but for the class and ease of seeing and fixing the mistakes the larger yarn helps.  The pattern is from Barbara Walker’s A Treasury of Knitting Patterns, Openwork Diamonds (p. 212-213)  I chose a straightforward repeating pattern but please note I have modified the pattern after the first repeat to have mistakes which we will fix in class.  Don’t worry if it looks weird!

 

K- Knit

P-Purl

K2tog – Knit 2 together

SSK – Slip, Slip, Knit

(Sl 1, K2 tog, PSSO) – Slip 1 stich knitwise from left needle to right needle, knit the next 2 sts on your left needle together, pass the slipped stitch over top of the left most stitch on your right needle

YO – yarn over

*to* - indicates a repeat

 

With Size 8 needle and worsted weight yarn, CO 25 sts

 

Set up rows:

Rows 1-4: Knit (this will be in garter st)

 

First repeat – this is the correct pattern.

Row 1 (Wong Side) and all other wrong-side/odd number rows: Purl

Row 2: K1, * k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k2*

Row 4: K1, *k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k1*

Row 6: K2tog, *yo, k5, yo, (Sl 1, K2 tog, PSSO)* end the last repeat ssk instead of sl1, k2tog, psso

Row 8: K1, *yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, k1*

Row 10: K1, *k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2*

Row 12: K1, *k2, yo, (Sl 1, K2 tog, PSSO), yo, k3*

Rows 14 and 16: Knit across

 

If you prefer a chart instead:

 

Second repeat – this one has intentional mistakes so it will not look correct.

Row 1 (Wong Side) and all other wrong-side/odd number rows: Purl

Row 2: K1, * k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k2*

Row 4: K1, *ssk, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k1*

Row 6: K2tog, *yo, k5, yo, (Sl 1, K2 tog, PSSO)* end the last repeat ssk instead of sl1, k2tog, psso

Row 8: K1, *yo, k2tog, k3, k2tog, yo, k1*

Row 10: K1, *P1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2*

Row 12: K1, *k2, yo, (Sl 1, K2 tog, PSSO), k3*

Do not knit any more rows, leave project on needles like this.

If you prefer a chart instead:

 

When you’re done with your swatch steam very lightly, just enough to open up the lacework.

June – Glorious cables: learning how to knit cables and how they affect your garment.

July – Blocking finished pieces to meet measurements.

August – Embellishments: Learning the Latvian Braid and how this embellishment can help you beautifully transition from one color to another.

September – Embellishments: Learning the 2 ways to add beading to your project.

October - It’s getting spicy this Autumn! Beginning Brioche knitting for an extra warm Beetlejuice cowl.

November - Knitting your first raglan sweater: It’s far easier than you think! This class will be understanding the mechanics of a raglan sweater, knitting your swatch and casting on.

December – Free Beginner Continental Knitting class to donate washcloths to The Haven.