For out-of Towner’s (call ahead to pre-schedule as you plan a trip to Humboldt County), and locals. You must have confident, knit-purl skills and be able to maintain a consistent gauge to attend these classes.
INSTRUCTION FEE: $30 per session
DATES & HOURS: one 2 to 3 hour session. By appointment only.
ENTRELAC: Start with a base of triangles, add a row of individual rectangles to get from one end of the row to another. Work a turning triangle & build another row of rectangles on top of the first. Complete with another turning triangle. Repeat to build lovely flat fabrics. This is a very challenging technique to learn, but once mastered a scarf pattern can easily be adapted to make afghans, sweaters & vests. This is a great structure to use yarns that have long color repeats and/or a variety of textured yarns.
MITERED SQUARES: Create squares that inter-connect as you knit, the shaping is acquired by working decreases at specific points. You’ll learn to pick up & knit with this technique. Imagine building squares one block at a time to create one of a kind jackets. Mitered squares are a great way to use up yarn stash, using various textures & colors.
SHORT ROWS: Ever have a sweater that pulls up across the front or back? When used at well placed areas of a sweater (bust, belly, and/or upper back), short rows result in the waistband hanging straight across rather than pulling up. Learn to knit short rows as decorative diagonal wedges as you begin to create an original Boll Weaver Design.
TWISTED STITCHES: Ever run across a pattern telling you to knit into the back, or knit into the second stitch BEFORE knitting into the first stitch? New knitters are usually stopped dead in their project, however, these are actually very simple ways to manipulate a basic knit stitch.
INTARSIA: This is what I call “Picture Knitting”. Learn to follow a chart and control your yarns as you change colors to create a simple picture. Tips & Tricks for avoiding the hazards of Intarsia will be shared. Discover the beauty of combining different yarn textures to emphasize your design.
MOSAIC PATTERNS: A simple approach to color knitting where you work a single yarn at a time. Create “Fair Isle” like color patterns, however when using the “Slip Stitch’’ technique it is easier for a novice to master because it doesn’t require as careful regulation of tension as in Fair Isle. Nor does it require two yarns of the same weight & thickness. Exciting effects can be obtained by combining not only different colors, but also different textures of yarn.
CABLES: The technique of crossing stitches creates beautifully textured fabric as seen in Aran Knit Sweaters. Cable symbols and charts help you learn to read these very logical “paper pictures” of what your fabric will look like. Row by row written directions will also be included so you can build confidence in learning to knit cables from either written or charted directions.
SPIRALS: A variation on short rows creates this very fun scarf. While it is a really cool scarf, it can also be applied as a collar to necklines & cuffs, or add as a edge to waistbands & bags for a ruffled accent. Spirals can be fancied up by using a textured yarn or kept simple (but never plain!) by using a smooth yarn. You get to choose the yarn you want in this class.
FINISHING TECHNIQUES: Most commonly asked for finishing techniques requested are: seaming, 3 ndl BO, blocking sweaters, blocking lace, pick up & knit, and adding bands. Other techniques can also be offered as you need. Bring in a project at the stage where you need to learn something new and I’ll help you accomplish your goal!
ERGONOMIC KNITTING: Learn how to manage your knitting to lessen or eliminate pain in the hands, arms, shoulders & back. Some info is plain common sense, other info is tips I’ve gleaned from conversations with physical and massage therapists, and knitting customers.
HAVE A KNIT METHOD NOT LISTED ABOVE YOU WANT TO LEARN?
Let me know and we’ll schedule a one on one session. With almost 40 years of knitting, and over 30 years of teaching, if I don’t know it I’ll learn it before we meet.