Beginner Knitting

Learn To Knit -- 101: The Basics

Tuesdays, May 7 & 14; 7:00-9:00pm --full
Tuesdays, June 11 & 18; 7:00-9:00pm

This class is for the Complete and Utter Beginners! In this two session class (4 hours total) learn the knitting basics of how to cast on, knit, purl, cast off and, of course, how to decode those patterns. Never be afraid of your needles again...you will learn to make them do what you want them to!

Skills required: None at all!

Cost - $49.00*** ALL MATERIALS ARE INCLUDED
Instructor: Rosa

Learn To Knit -- 102 : Taking Shape

Tuesdays, May 21 & 28; 7:00-9:00pm
Tuesdays, June 25 & July 2 ; 7:00-9:00pm

Attention Beginners Plus! Now that you are knitting and purling are you looking for something more adventurous...but not toooo adventurous? Join us for a confidence building, what to do next class! In this two session class (4 hours total): step your knitting up to the next level with increasing and decreasing, and putting stitches together. Get a more in depth understanding of your stitches, decoding the patterns and how to move forward with the projects you aspire to.

Skills required: Basic Knit & Purl, Cast On/Off

--Please bring or buy a worsted weight, smooth yarn and 4.5mm needles

Cost - $39.00***
Instructor: Rosa

Knitting in the Round -- Don't be afraid of those DPNs!

Tuesday, June 4; 7:00-9:00pm

Hats? Mitts? Socks? Anyone? This class is for those of you who can already cast on, knit and purl and are now ready to delve into knitting in the round. In this 2 hours class we'll take the mystery out of knitting on double pointed needles and introduce you to the various ways of knitting in the round!

Get ready for tips and tricks for gaining control over what looks like unwieldy pointy sticks and look forward to a whole new adventure in knitting!

Skills required: Knit, purl, casting on, binding off

--Please bring or buy a worsted weight, smooth yarn and 4-5mm Double Pointed Needle Set

Cost - $29.00***
Instructor: Rosa

Project Help Classes - Ongoing

Tackle a new project with guidance!

Whether you are tackling your first sweater, or are an experienced stitcher tackling a challenge, this class is a fun way to grow your skills! You will get to see what others are asking and probably learn a thing or two from their questions as well. Come prepared with at least one choice of what you would like to tackle and we'll help you with yarn choices, and teach you all the skills you need to create it, from understanding the instructions and checking your gauge, to starting, finishing and putting it together.

Got some questions? Don't need a private class, but need more than a 3 minute quick peek, these sessions are for you too.  We can help you with a particular stitch manouever, instruction or need a quick demo of sewing up or such ...   These help sessions are meant to help you along with your project as issues arise. 

The Fine Print :

• Pre-registration is required for each of these sessions so we can ensure everyone can get personalized attention with an appropriate teacher.
  
  
• We need a minimum of 3 students to run a session and 48 hours notice is required for cancellation.
  
  
• This class is suitable for all levels but please note that this is not a Learn to Knit/Crochet class.  It is assumed you know at least the very basics. This would be perfect for knitter's who have completed Learn To Knit 102 or the equivalent. 
  

Finish Your Current Project with Guidance : One-On-One

Sundays and Thursdays:  By Appointment --  Any Topic

Denny loves to weave in ends and knows that finishing up projects can be a bit daunting.  She is keen to sit down with you to help finish up your projects! Over a nice cuppa, Denny will show the ins and outs of seaming, weaving in ends, picking up stitches...what ever you need to make sure your project is finished up nice! Book a date with her Sundays or Thursdays by calling the shop! 

-- Please bring your projects, and the yarn you are using and your knitting kit!

Cost - $30.00/ hour
Instructor: Denny

Expand your skills

The Perfect Fit:  Size, Fit & Altering Patterns

Wednesday, May 1; 7:00 - 9:00pm

This class will teach you the skills you need to ensure your knitted garments are flattering and well-fitting. We will show you how to decide on size options - and set you well along the way to a successful and flattering sweater project. We will explain how to read sizing tables and schematics. We'll show you how to measure yourself. And most importantly, we'll explain garment fit, including demystifying terms like "negative ease". Come on in to explore how to adapt and alter existing patterns, to obtain the best fit for your shape. We'll discuss what to do to find a pattern for that perfect yarn and how to go about adapting that commercial pattern you love that does not have quite the right size for you.

--Please bring paper, pencil, calculator and a tape measure. If you've got a specific pattern you want to work with, bring that too.

Cost - $29.00***
Instructor: Kate Atherley

WTF!?! What's The Fault-- Your Fixing Mistakes Guide

Saturday, May 11; 10am-12:00pm

Oh no! Something's wrong with your knitting? What's the fault?! This 2 hour session will teach you how to spot and fix mistakes in your knitting, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned knitter. We will share tips for safely ripping out stitches and rows, for fixing mistakes without ripping out, and for deciding when you don't need to bother fixing at all.

Participants are encouraged to bring their "mistakes" with!

--Please bring your needles, a crochet hook (3mm is a good size to have on hand) and any questions and mishaps you might like advice on

Cost - $29.00***
Instructor – Kate Atherley

Painless Finishing

Wednesday, May 22; 7:00 - 9:00pm

You've completed the knitting for your project, but too intimidated to finish it up?  This 2 hour session will teach you everything you need to know to quickly and easily finish up and assemble your knitting projects.  We'll cover seaming of all kinds, picking up stitches, weaving in ends and buttonholes -- and provide clever tips and techniques for reducing the finishing work, or at least to make it more fun.

Bring in your projects in need of finishing and learn the techniques to make your seams look seamless! Or if you just want to learn the techniques ...Bring in a few swatches to learn basics instead!

Skills required: Knit & Purl, Cast On/Off

--Please bring swatches and / or projects along with corresponding needles and wool needle

Cost - $29.00***
Instructor: Kate Atherley

Crochet For Knitters

Saturday, June 1; 10:00am - 12:00pm

Crochet is an incredibly useful skill for the knitter.  This 2 hour session teaches you how to bring the power of the crochet hook to your knitting -- to pick up dropped stitches and fix mistakes, for painless seaming, for creating decorative edgings and joins, and for the mysterious and wonderful provisional cast-on.

Skills required: Knit & Purl, Cast On/Off

--HOMEWORK: Please bring: two 6" squares of stocking stitch worked with 4 or 5mm needles and worsted weight yarn, some scrap yarn of the same weight in a contrasting colour and a 4.5mm crochet hook.

Cost - $29.00***
Instructor: Kate Atherley

Reading Knitting Patterns

Wednesday, May 29; 7:00 - 9:00pm

This 2 hour session will help illuminate the mysteries of the knitting pattern.  We'll focus on helping you translate written instructions and charts into something you can actually do with yarn and needles.  Topics covered will include common abbreviations, reading charts, frequently-used conventions and shortcuts.  We'll also discuss how to analyze a pattern to learn more about the garment before you start knitting it.  And last but not least, we'll discuss common pitfalls when working a pattern and how to avoid them.

--Please Bring: paper and pencil, and any patterns that are causing you trouble

Cost - $29.00***
Instructor: Kate Atherley

Knit Faster... Continental Knitting

Saturday, May 18; 10:00am - 12:00pm

Continental knitting is arguably a faster method of knitting as it minimizes the number of motions in creating a stitch. It is also a handy skill to be comfortable with in order to make colour work stranded / Fair Isle knitting a bit speedier with a more even tension.  But maybe even more exciting is to give your hands a bit of a different motion to help ward off repetitive strain.  We will look at the differences between picking and throwing your yarn, and how to maneuver the yarn overs and increases and decreases.

Skills required: you must already know how to knit & purl for this class ... this class will focus on teaching you a new style or two to get you stitching faster but assumes you already can successfully work the basic stitches

--Please bring or buy a worsted weight yarn and 4.50mm needles.

Cost - $29.00***
Instructor: Kate Atherley

Socks

Knit Socks 101-Top Down

Saturday, May 11; 1:00-4:00pm

Learn the finer points of sock anatomy and create a small trainer sock to ensure you have the techniques down pat, and then you will cast on for a pair of cozy worsted weight socks for yourself to keep your toes warm on those chilly days... plus they knit up pretty quickly... a great way to learn.  

Cost - $49.00***
Class materials included: yarn & pattern

Instructor –Kate Atherley

Skills required: Must be comfortable knitting in the round on DPNs ... no sock knitting experience needed!

Please bring or buy: 4.0mm DPNs

Knit Socks from the Toe Up

Sunday, May 26; 1:00-4:00pm

Working your socks toe-up has several advantages

• You can try them on as you knit for fit
• You can use up all your precious yarn
• You can stop at any height ... willy nilly
• you can even store your working yarn inside the toe making for a really convenient project bag...cool

We expect you to have made at least one pair of top down socks before delving into this class... but it is great to give this a try to determine your favourite method! You will learn a really useful new cast on, and stretchy bind off,

Skills required: Must be comfortable knitting in the round on DPNs, and must have knit at least one pair of top down socks

Cost - $49.00***
Class materials included: yarn & pattern

--please bring 4.0mm DPNs

SOCKS ARE GREAT SUMMER KNITTING! 

Small, Portable, and mostly mindless...

until those heels and toes at least!

Skill Level: comfortable knitting socks

Please Bring : your sock knitting questions and problems!

Sox-pertise

Wednesday, May 8; 7:00 - 9:00pm

For knitters who’ve made a few pairs of socks, and are ready to learn more, Sox-pertise will expand your repertoire and fine tune your sock knitting skills.

We’ll talk about top-down and toe-up, and discuss the pros and cons of each. We’ll talk about how to fix common problems: holes at the tops of the heels, ugly gussets, funny toes. We’ll show you how to reinforce socks for longer wear, and how to choose the best yarn for your feet. We’ll talk about cast ons and cast offs, and we’ll demo the magic loop and 2 circulars methods.

Bring on the questions!

Cost - $29.00***
Instructor –Kate Atherley

2 Socks on 2 Circs

Wednesday, June 5; 7:00 - 9:00pm

This class teaches how to knit two socks – at the same time, on two circular needles.  A nice addition to the sock knitter’s toolkit, this technique helps banish Second Sock Syndrome, and ensures that your pair matches exactly.  We’ll work a sample pair of mini socks to allow you to quickly learn and fully understand the method.  We’ll discuss both top-down and toe-up methods.

Note: Students must have knitted at least one pair of socks, but need not have experience working with two circulars.

Please bring or buy

• 2 contrasting colours of scrap worsted weight yarn
• and two 16 inch 4.5mm circular needles

Cost - $29.00***
Instructor –Kate Atherley

Techniques

Skills required: Knit & Purl, Cast On/Off

Please bring or buy: 4.5mm needles

Intro into Lace Knitting

Saturday, June 1; 1:00-4:00pm

Are you a newer knitter ready for a challenge? Are you looking to learn a new skill? Yarn overs, symmetrical decreases, and lifelines..oh my... This introduction to lace will get you started on a straightforward lace pattern to build up confidence. We'll teach you the basics of lace knitting - including working from charts and written instructions, and build your skills with swatches. We'll also provide tips for making lace easier and more fun.

Skills required:  This class is suitable for students with Learn to Knit 102 level skills...you must be comfortable with: Knit & Purl, Cast On & Off, Increase & decrease

Cost - $49.00 *** yarn included
Instructor: Kate Atherley

Please bring:

• 4.5mm or 5mm needles.

Please bring:

Advance Lace Techniques

Saturday, June 29; 1:00-4:00pm

For knitters who have successfully worked at least one or two lace patterns, this class focuses on building lace knitting confidence and skills. We'll talk about more advanced stitchwork like double yarnovers, faggoting stitches, and knitted-on borders. We'll work a small sampler in the class,  and we'll share tips on preventing mistakes, and demonstrate how to fix them without unravelling! We will also provide an overview of different shawl shapings and constructions.

Skill level: intermediate; knitters should have some lace experience

Cost - $39.00***
Instructor: Kate Atherley

Fixing Lace

Saturday, June 29; 10:00am-12:00pm

The scariest thing about knitting lace is what to do when you make a mistake! This class will provide you with key skills for identifying, fixing and preventing mistakes in your lace. We'll cover the use of the lifeline, how to add missing and remove unwanted yarnovers, how to fix an incorrect decrease and how to ensure you stay on track. We'll also give you tips to help you know when you can safely ignore mistakes!  We'll also spend time on diagnosing and handling larger mistakes, including undoing sections of your lace without unravelling!

Skill level: This class is a great follow-up to Lace 101

Please bring:
4.5mm needles - straight or short circular
worsted weight scrap yarn in a light colour

Cost - $29.00***
Instructor – Kate Atherley

Lace Herringbone Shawl or Scarf

Saturday, May 18; 1:00-4:00pm

This pattern has two variations... a rectangular scarf and a great semi circular shawl.

You will learn about reading your stitches, double decreases, stretchy bind-offs and more! This pattern really shines great in striping yarns of any gauge.

Skills required:  This class is suitable for intermediate students that are comfortable with: Knit & Purl, Cast On & Off, Increases & decreases

Cost - $39.00
Instructor: Kate Atherley

Noro Ayatori (colour 11)

Noro Sekku

Please bring:

• your chosen stripey yarn. Suggestions... Noro: Ayatori, Taiyo Sock, Silk garden, Taiyo Lace, Kureyon ;
  Turtle Purl: Striped Turtle Toes
  
• needles to match your yarn choice ... we can help guide you.