Tips and Tricks
| Instructor: Lily Chin | Class Capacity: 25 | |||
| Class Level: All Levels |
Description ~ Tips and Tricks
Learn Lily's secrets to make your knitting life easier: join a cast-on for circular knitting without adding twist, start a new skein of yarn or a new color without losing the first stitch, attach knit pieces as you work, work a circular bind-off on the neck where the beginning and end are imperceptible, and weave in ends that are too short for a darning needle. Leave class with lots of small 'fix-its' and a new eye for knitting details.
Bias Knitting Without Prejudice
| Instructor: Lily Chin | Class Capacity: 25 | |||
| Class Level: Advanced Beginner |
Description ~ Bias Knitting Without Prejudice
Knitting on the bias means the pieces are not "straight." This leads to many non-standard shapings and color/textural lines and possibilities. Learn this diverse method of knitting that creates different, dynamic, directional lines easily and its applications. Get the angle on your pieces, try various colors and textures for head-turning work. Mix and match several effects simultaneously. Ideas for trims, accents, and even whole garments will be discussed. Go from easy panels to larger projects. You head will be spinning with new ideas, all without a pattern.
A Basic Understanding & Upsizing Up Japanese Patterns
| Instructor: Lily Chin | Class Capacity: 25 | |||
| Class Level: Advanced-Intermediate |
Description ~ A Basic Understanding & Upsizing Up Japanese Patterns
The Japanese put out very creative and innovative patterns. There are many books and magazines that are now more accessible than ever. Yet a majority of the major ones only present one size and assume you can figure out how to size it for yourself. The size presented tends to be on the small side so almost all of us have to upsize it.
Learn the Basics of reading a typical Japanese pattern. See the symbols and terminology in their language. Then find out the ways it can be sized for YOU.
Join as You Go
| Instructor: Lily Chin | Class Capacity: 25 | |||
| Class Level: Intermediate |
Description ~ Join as You Go
Most knitters avoid seaming like the plague. When working garment pieces or different colored strips, sewing seams daunting. Learn how to join as you go for many situations, including edgings. Join a new piece to the left of an existing piece, to the right of an existing piece, or to the top or bottom of an existing piece.
Join a new piece to the right, left, top & bottom edges of an old piece. Add a horizontal band to a neckline without sewing. Learn the math for non-matching gauges. Use a new way to gain stitches for the join that adds no bulk.
Mock Cable Join
| Instructor: Lily Chin | Class Capacity: 25 | |||
| Class Level: Intermediate |
Description ~ Mock Cable Join
Instead of seaming, try join-as-you-go. Not only is there no sewing, this method gives you a mock cable effect! Whether working garment pieces or different colored strips for an afghan or even a pillow, rug or handbag, add this easy, decorative bit and infuse some glorious color. This is one of those “why didn’t I think of this” type of techniques. It looks way more complicated than it really is. Bang for your buck is when something looks complex but is simple to do. Join a new piece to the left of an existing piece and to the right of an existing piece. Join shaped pieces and see how easy shaping can be incorporated in the cabled join.
Giving You the Slip
| Instructor: Lily Chin | Class Capacity: 25 | |||
| Class Level: Intermediate |
Description ~ Giving You the Slip
Most of the time, we think of slipped stitches in color, forming patterns know as Mosaic Knitting. Yet slipped stitches can also yield effects in texture as well. Explore single color slip stitching for raised surface interest. Slipped stitches can also neaten the side edges of the knitting. See how versatile this little action is. Sample several swatches and see the slipped stitch in action.
Ins and Outs of I-Cord
| Instructor: Lily Chin | Class Capacity: 25 | |||
| Class Level: Advanced Beginner |
Description ~ Ins and Outs of I-Cord
I-cord is a circular tube of stockinette stitch, usually comprised of 4 stitches. It is the same result as the knitting Nancy or knitting spool but uses two double-pointed needles. Learn how to make this simple and useful strand and its applications. More importantly, see how easy it is to trim knitting with it as a fun and functional trim or border. Try some of the manipulations like using it to bind off pieces or even to seam pieces together. Look at a few other uses for this versatile bit of knitting. I-cord stands for Idiot-Cord, but Elizabeth Zimmerman said it really should be Ingenious-Cord.
Knit Weaving
| Instructor: Lily Chin | Class Capacity: 25 | |||
| Class Level: Intermediate |
Description ~ Knit Weaving
Sometimes referred to as Swedish Weaving or Inlay, learn this technique of applying a separate strand of yarn to your work without actually knitting it. Instead, this “weaving yarn” goes through the knit fabric and sits on either surface (either in front or in back). This means an added layer of warmth. This also entails a fresh and easy way of getting color patterning without having to learn Fair Isle Knitting. The bonus is that this imparts a texture that mimics weaving. Use up scrap yarns, find a use for that “problem” yarn, deal with scratchy yarns. Get to chart up your own patterns in the process.
The NEWS Sweater
| Instructor: Lily Chin | Class Capacity: 25 | |||
| Class Level: Intermediate |
Description ~ The NEWS Sweater
NEWS stands for North, East, West, South. This multi-directional garment is formulaic and requires no particular pattern. Each section builds on the previous one. Start with a front and back panel, pick up to build the sides up sideways. Work until it is wide enough. Try it on every step of the way to ensure fit. Continue with sleeves, if desired. Work the sleeves until they are long enough. Do different patterned stitches in each section without worrying about matching gauges.
On the Edge
| Instructor: Lily Chin | Class Capacity: 25 | |||
| Class Level: Intermediate |
Description ~ On the Edge
Borders and edgings differ from trims in that they are very often worked separately, usually in a different direction. The main knitting is then picked up from this border or edging and worked upwards. This separation means more possibilities for variations of materials, gauge, stitch, etc. Then there's the problem of how to join the same border or edging along vertical sides, curved edges, and garment tops. Get to know more possibilities for adding interest to knit garments or even "dressing up" store bought items with bits of knitting. Also included are novelty add-ons.
Designing and Charting your own Original Cables
| Instructor: Lily Chin | Class Capacity: 25 | |||
| Class Level: Intermediate |
Description ~ Designing and Charting your own Original Cables
You’ve done many cables before and want to get into more complex cable patterns. Maybe you want to design your own cables. Learn how cable patterns are actually formed, what are the basic traits and characteristics and manipulations? When you get a better understanding of how cable patterns work, not only can you follow the directions a whole lot better, fewer mistakes are made. You may even look at a cable pattern and figure out how to work it even without verbal directions!