This means we cannot allow customers into the store unfortunately - but fortunately, you can still shop online, and we are offering free shipping on orders over $50 as well as curbside pickup. Please check our Instagram for the most up to date pick-up times as they fluctuate based on staff availability. (Please understand we are working with minimal staff at this point).
Thank you for supporting local small businesses during this Holiday Shopping time.
]]>As things seem to be settling down, we have decided to open our doors to walk in customers. This requires certain protocols to be in place, so please read below.
]]>As things seem to be settling down, we have decided to open our doors to walk in customers. This requires certain protocols to be in place, so please read below.
🧶We will still be on a slightly reduced schedule, 11-4, Tuesday - Saturday.
🧶Only two customers allowed in the store at a time, to maintain social distancing protocols
🧶 If you see two customers inside, please wait outside and we will let you know when you can enter.
🧶Masks are mandatory. No mask, no entry. And please remember to put it on BEFORE you enter the store.
🧶 Everyone is required to sanitize their hands upon entry. No sanitize, no squishing yarn!
🧶If you already have an appointment scheduled for September, we will honour your time.
🧶If you wish to make special arrangements to shop alone, we are happy to help you out.
🧶Curbside pickup will continue to be available.
I've been working away at home, putting in even more hours than I normally would with the store open! I've been updating the website and fixing some behind-the-scenes stuff. I've been putting together kits, and having virtual meetings with yarn reps and doing webinars on running a small business during the COVID 19 crisis. And of course I've been packing and shipping all your wonderful orders. I want to thank you all again, so much, for every single order, no matter how big or small. You're helping me keep the store open and giving me motivation to work harder to make the store the best it can be. Thank you.
The past couple of weeks I've been working on putting together some kits and getting new samples knit up. I'll be adding even more in the next few days, and hopefully the next few weeks!
Here is a list of the kits I've uploaded so far:
14 is the new 42 Hat
(more) Breathe & Hope Shawls
Crescent Lace Shawlette
Cashmere Cupcake Fingerless Mitts
Earnest Cardigan
Easy Knit Mesh Scarf
Glengrove Cowl
Kelbourne Woolens Year of Gifts (we get a new surprise kit each month!)
Malabrigo Odyssey Shawl
Taylor Blanket
V Neck Boxy
I've got some more kits up my sleeve that I'll be adding today! This includes a new blanket (sneak peek in the attached photo) and a fun three-colour shawl.
]]>I'm excited about all the Breathe & Hope kits that were purchased, and can't wait to see your beautiful versions of this gorgeous shawl! I haven't been able to pick what colours to use yet so haven't been able to get a start on mine! Maybe you can give me suggestions :)
I have made a new addition to the website - if you'd like us to wind/cake your yarn, please add this to your cart - proceeds will be donated to the Toronto Food Bank to help those struggling at this unprecedented time.
I hope you are all well and staying safe. If you are out there working on the front lines - THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. You are all rock stars.
Wishing you good health, and sending my deepest appreciation for your loyalty and support this past weekend.
Carianne
We continue to offer video assistance sessions for those that need help with their projects. Please email, or message us on Facebook or Instagram.
We will host our knit night/stitch night on Thursdays at the regular time (6-8 pm est) via Zoom. You can sign up for an account here. Our meeting link is: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/7582432436
]]>We are happy to make care packages for anyone you may know that needs a little cheer (or yourself)! It can be a surprise, or we can curate it together. Send me an email or message Carianne on Instagram or Facebook with a budget and we will make up something fun!
Additionally, all online orders will be discounted 10% and qualify for free shipping within Canada & the US for the rest of the month of March. No codes needed.
All classes are currently postponed. We also will not be able to offer in-person help with problems, but will schedule FaceTime/Skype etc. appointments for those that need help. Contact us via the methods above to set up an appointment.
This week's hours will be:
Tuesday: 2:00 - 6:00
Wednesday: 10:30 - 3:30
Thursday: Closed (virtual knit night - stay tuned for details)
Friday: 10:30 - 3:30
Saturday: 10:30 - 2:30
This celebration with include snacks, prizes, and a sale! You'll also be able to meet our new owner, Carianne, if you haven't had a chance yet.
We hope to see you there!
]]>By 2008 Ravelry was everywhere, including the knitting olympics. With the ease of online posting Ravelry provided, and the organization of a website that already had all the patterns and yarns and groups all in one place it was the logical host for the next knitting olympics. Now there were teams involved, so I competed with my formerly local yarn shop, The Knitting Experience in Brunswick, ME. This store doesn't exist anymore, but it gave me the sense of community that I try to bring to Passionknit. At the time was still my greatest source of knitting camaraderie. I had just moved to Canada from Maine, and only recently joined the knitting group in St. Catharines where I met my husband. I was ambitious, and chose a huge lacey shawl for my second olympic knitting project, arguably my first ravelympics project. I wore this shawl on my first date with my husband not long after the olympics ended, and we have now been happily married for three years. Not sure if the shawl had anything to do with that, but hey it didn't hurt.
The next games were in 2010, and y this time I was in graduate school with less free time on my hands, so I participated in the WIP competition and finished off a few projects that had been in my UFO pile for far too long, so here, here and here are my third Olympic projects. I have no recollection how much of any of these projects had been knit at the start of these games, but I did finish them all before the deadline.
Before 2012 there was a big scandal. Word of this online competition had reached the actual Olympic Committee. There were lawyers and cease and desist letters and a lot of people were upset, and we all know when people on the internet are upset words get said, well typed. At some point the Yarnharlot wrote a very articulate entry on the subject defending the right of the Olympic committee to determine who gets to use the word olympic and any derivative thereof. It was well worded and it seemed to end the discussion completely, and I can not find it in her archives to link, but trust me it was good. Thus the Ravelympics became the Ravellenics, and began to bear little bits of fine print clearly disassociating itself from the official olympics. Otherwise all was the same. Here is my fourth olympic, aka my first Ravellenic project. This was also my first project for Team Passionknit! This year I got so knitting crazed I finished my sweater way ahead of the deadline and unofficially added a second project which I also finished before the deadline. I still don't know how I managed that, I don't think I slept much. Also I did not have a child back then, so I was swimming in knitting time.
In 2014 I competed again with Team Passionknit. This time taking on a Brooklyn Tweed pattern, Channel. And if you have knit almost any Brooklyn Tweed pattern you know this means one thing: tubular cast on. This time I was not just tackling a project, but a whole new technique. If you click over to my project page you can see a picture of me ripping out the sleeve, again because something wasn't right with the cast on. It took me several tries to nail the many steps of this cast on, and eventually I learned to try taking out the waste yarn before I got too far with the sleeve. I managed this PIA cast on after getting it right on both sleeves and the bottom edge, and I can honestly say to you knitters out there: Yes you can totally skip it, just breeze right on by the tubular cast on instructions (easy to do because they are usually 12 pages behind where you need them) and use whatever cast on makes you happy. It has a slightly stretchy edge that looks a little like a hem, but if you really want a hem just do a hem! Way easier to do, and looks more like a hem cause it is a hem.
In 2016 I had just become the owner of Passionknit, I had just returned to work after a year of maternity leave, and somehow the olympics and therefore the Ravellenics came and went without my really noticing. I must have had a few things on my mind for some reason. But here we are now in 2018, with another Olympics, and therefore another Ravellenics on the way. This year I will be competing, and so should you. See my previous post on this blog about how to join in the fun, and come pick your project and yarn. Pro tip: you can roll all your skeins before you start! We will be having a kick off gathering Friday Feb 9th exact tme and place TBD, check the Passionknitters revelry group for details when we have them worked out.
]]>Shopping in person? Just let us know this order is for your Ravellenics project and save 10% immediately (one use per customer)
]]>
Pattern: Dagmar by Handy Kitty
Size: L (107cm chest)
Yarn: Malabrigo Rios in Tranquilo 6 skeins
Needles: 5mm 32" circular, 4.5mm 16" & 32" circulars
Notes: These notes are very detailed, just to make a few things in this pattern a little more straight forward for beginners. Experienced pattern readers and sweater knitters can absolutely just dive in and knit without issue.
I love this sweater! It is comfortable, warm and soft. I love when sweaters are a little longer in the back, which is done here with short rows. The pattern was very simple, but not very detailed. The simple stitch pattern that covers the majority of the sweater often needs to be maintained despite increases or decreases. If you can read your stitches and see if you need a purl or a knit for the next stitch then this is no problem. The stitch pattern is simply knit 1 purl 1 for one row and the next row is either all purl if you are working in the round or all knit if you are working flat. (The sweater is knit in the round for the bottom portion, but switches to flat for arm hole shaping, and the sleeves are knit flat. So you will be working this pattern both flat and in the round.) The cables travel at the bottom of the sweater based on increases on the outside and decreases on the inside of the two cable sections.
Increases: Inc 1 st in Patt 1 (increase 1 stitch in pattern 1, the aforementioned stitch pattern). The first increase in the round is easy, you are already working pattern 1, so you just need to m1 either knit or purl based on what the next stitch in your pattern would be. The second increase comes after the second cable pattern, so you need to look ahead to see what stitch you would be working next, and then increase in the opposite stitch. If you were going to have a knit stitch next you would make 1 purl wise and vice versa. You will need to follow the same rules when you knit the sleeve increases. See which stitch your increase will be next to, and work the opposite sort of increase.
Decreases: Dec 1 st in Patt 1 (decrease 1 stitch in pattern 1, the aforementioned stitch pattern). The first decrease in the round, after the first cable pattern, you will work the decrease the way the second stitch should be worked, so if you are decreasing stitches that would otherwise be worked as knit 1 purl 1 you would work a p2tog (if they were purl 1 knit 1 do a k2tog). The second decrease, just before the second cable pattern, you should work as the first of the two stitches would be worked, so if they would be knit 1 purl 1 you work at k2tog (and if they would b purl 1 knit 1 it is a p2tog). The raglan decreases are exactly the same as the decreases to move the cable, you simply aren't doing the increases to match them. The decreases at the raglan shaping for the sleeve follow the same rules: first decrease as the second stitch would be worked and second decrease as the first stitch.
Patt 2 - The Cable Pattern: The cable on this sweater is very simple, and would be perfect if you want try out cabling for the first time. The biggest thing is keeping track of how many rows you have worked, since it is difficult to know just where to count from in the twist of a cable. A row counter is strongly recommended here, especially for beginner cablers. Make sure your cabling rows line up with your k1 p1 rows in the body of the sweater. When you switch to working flat you will want both cabling and k1 p1 to be on your RS rows.
All this being said, I would absolutely recommend this pattern. It was fun to knit, and I love wearing the result. Happy knitting!
]]>
Most of us regulars knew her story, and one of us, a warm and extremely maternal woman named Mary Ellen, came across the Knitty pattern Tit Bit by Beryl Tsang. Being a wonderfully generous person, Mary Ellen decided to make one for Chesley. She had often complained about the prosthetic she wore being uncomfortable, so Mary Ellen offered up this lovely alternative. I was there when Mary Ellen gave her this beautiful gift completely out of the blue, and to say that Chesley was touched would be an understatement.
Inspired by this gift, Chesley decided that more survivors deserved the handmade alternatives to the uncomfortable and expensive prosthetics. So Chesley decided to host a drive to inspire knitters to donate their time and spare yarn to make more Tit Bits to give away. I still remember the knit night we spent giggling as we tried to come up with a good name for the event. I don't remember which of us coined the term Knitted Knockers, but it has stuck.
News of Chesley's beautiful story soon spread, and many more yarn shops decided to participate. You can now visit the Knitted Knockers website to either volunteer your time, donate a knocker or money to support other knitters or to request a knocker. Much like myself, this phenomenon found its way over the Northern border to Canada, and there is a Knitted Knockers of Canada website as well.
Today I am the LYS owner, and at Knit City last year my booth just happened to be right across from the Knitted Knockers of Canada booth. I was delighted to see how far and how big this idea has become. I am very proud to say that my store is a collection point for Knitted Knockers of Canada. This beautiful charity that now spans two countries and has helped countless women all started with one small gift.
As an American it is a very difficult time right now, and it is very reassuring to remember that one small act of kindness can snowball into a movement. Whatever side of the political fence you sit on, it is important to find positive ways to change the world around us. I hope you will knit a knocker.
]]>
I also managed to find my next project: Crimewave from Pip & Pin. I was walking around and saw Megan wearing hers, and I simply had to stop her and ask about it. Pip & Pin had a charming booth filled with things I wished I had room for in my suitcases. Fortunately I could get the Crimewave pattern on Ravelry at any time. I will be knitting it with Sublime Lola, a new super bulky weight merino wool that I have been dying to knit with. I will be debating colours, I want something bright but not dark but easy to match. I will keep you posted!
]]>We are starting a Knit-a-long for Fall: Hood Shawl Cardigan by Susanne Sommer. I have pre-knit the pattern to make sure it would be a good one to recommend to knitters at a wide variety of skill levels, which it is. This cardigan is knit top down with a really fun construction. Its made from fingering weight yarn. For the KAL we will be offering a kit for the sweater which includes 5 skeins of Ella Rae Lace Merino Solids and the pattern for $125 in three colours. Colour A(stripes and hem) & C(body) require 2 skeins and colour B(stripes and trim) just requires 1 skein. For locals join us Thursday nights from 6-8pm at knit night to see how all our KALers are progressing. For anyone who wants to join us online, use coupon code HoodieKAL to get the kit price when placing your order online and post your colours on instgram with #passionknit and #hoodieKAL and tag me @Passionknit . Please post progress shots as you go!
I truly love the unique construction of this sweater that starts like a big shawl and morphs into a top down sweater using short rows to fill in the body colour as you go. The pattern is well written, and easy to follow. I can't wait to see lots of different colour combinations knit up!
Modifications I made: I didn't change much as I knit this pattern, just two little alterations. 1. I liked my colour A better than my B, so I knit my sleeves with colour A instead of colour B, and for the cuffs I reversed colours B&A. You need two skeins of B even if you don't knit it this way.
2. I made the sleeves full length instead of 3/4 length. The pattern has you start the cuff as soon as you have completed all the decrease rows. I simply continued knitting straight once the decreases were done until I had the right length, and then I added the cuffs according to the pattern.
Yarn Quantity: 5 skeins of yarn is enough to knit the pattern as written or with both of my modifications for up to size 40" chest. It would be enough for the 42" chest size for colour A sleeves that were 3/4 length or colour C sleeves that were 3/4 or full length. If you want to knit the 42" chest size with long sleeves of either colour A or B I would recommend purchasing an extra skein of the colour you want to use for the sleeves.
]]>
We had a lot of fun at the Kitchener Waterloo Knitter's Fair this weekend!
Here is the pile of samples all packed up to go.
It's always fun to see so many Knitter's all night one place. I love spotting knitwear from patterns I recognize, and seeing new ones I hadn't found yet. And of course I love being able to show off what we have been working on at Passionknit!
Here is our booth; I had to stand really far back to get it all in there!
]]>
]]>
Bring a hand knit sock from Passionknit yarn to be entered for prizes!
There will be snacks, we can discuss our favourite patterns and techniques, and of course knitting!
]]>
Errata: The pattern had one little mistake in it, and now that I have found it you don't need to worry about it. Just after the stripe pattern is established the pattern tells you to knit a further number of rows, however, it definitely means total not further.
I thought my sweater was looking a little bit large (which is to say freaking huge), but Debbie Bliss patterns are often oversized so I didn't think about it too much. It's a bottom up pattern, so I was working on the first sleeve which is almost the end, and I realized I had an extra set of stripes compared to the sweater on the cover. Since I was knitting the smallest size and the directions specified a number of rows not a particular length, it must be that the number of rows was wrong. The nice thing about stripes is that it makes it easy to count your rows. Since fixing the problem by ripping would mean losing most of a sleeve, the front and back from the armholes up and the collar, I decided instead I would do a little surgery. I got as far as I could with the yarn I had left, and the. I needed the extra yarn from the body to finish.
I started by picking up the stitches along the edge where the ribbing should be.Then I pulled out a whole row of knitting one stitch at a time so that I could frog the remaining piece of the extra rows.
Each little ball is from one stripe in the body and then the big one was the ribbing. I could have grafted the ribbing onto the bottom of the sweater, but I like knitting rib more than I like grafting so it made more sense to re-knit the rib.
So after knitting the ribbing and the second sleeve I had just a few ends to weave in...
If I hadn't been knitting this for the store I definitely would have just tied knots and left any that weren't near the end. Fortunately I know one of those people who actually likes weaving ends, I won't name her though so she doesn't get inundated. All in a,k I would definitely recommend this knit. Great yarn and an easy to follow pattern makes for a gorgeous product!
]]>In addition to these there are many yarns that have been marked down as much as 50% for in store sale only. Our sale is all month long, so I hope you will stop by for a visit to see what we have.
To get the discount online just use coupon code JUNE2016 at checkout! Happy shopping & knitting!
]]>
The Knitter's Frolic was my first big show since buying Passionknit, and my plan was for this year to be a little different. Jennifer has always been famous for her 12th hour additions to the kits and samples we bring to the show. The best example is The Missoni Cowl which was still damp from blocking when I saw it for the first time at the Kitchener Waterloo Knitter's Fair.
This year was going to be different, the last addition I was making to our kit line up was The Bradway Shawl by Shannon Cook in some new colours of Malabrigo Rios. One of our regular customers came in wearing it in four colours, and I needed to make one instantly! The shawl was a great knit, I loved working with the colours, and the pattern is simple without being boring. I knit it up quick, and got it done with plenty of time before the show. I set it out to block at home, and went to bed.
The following morning I was running around with my daughter, and she had wondered into my room and started crying when I would not let her eat the loose change that was on my dresser. As I was taking her away from my dresser, my eyes fell on my blocking shawl and my heart stopped. This is what I saw:
For anyone who does not know my family life, I live with my husband, daughter and two cats. I have blocked many items in my home without issue of any kind. The worst thing that had happened to a finished piece of knitting is an excess of cat hair from being used as a bed. This was a first, and how helpful for them to choose the last item that I had finally finished with time to spare before a big show, my first big show as owner, to EAT MY $#@%ING KNITTING!?!? WTF, cats?
Fortunately my husband was home, so no harm came to the cats. He rushed in, took our daughter off my hands so that I could properly melt down as the situation warranted. And then came the process of fixing. I started with the possibility of frogging most of the shawl up to the un-eated portion, but that was way too devastating to consider. Clearly the garter section in the aqua (Rios in colour 83 Water Green) would need to be reknit. So I cut the stitches at the first row of aqua, and put them on the needle and began to work the garter stitch portion again. In the remaining portion of the shawl I trimmed out the chewed area, and placed a clean row of stitched on a separate needle. When I had reknit the garter stitch section, I used the Kitchener stitch to join the two pieces of the shawl. That was definitively the longest portion of Kitchener stitch I have ever done, including joining the Missoni Cowl. That left only the smaller chunk out of the teal section (Malabrigo Rios colour 412 Teal Feather). I considered knitting that section again as well, but the mere thought of an even longer stretch of grafting made me tired. So I tried as bit of surgery that was part darning, part grafting, and part improvisation. Here is the result:
It wasn't perfect, but I could live with it. And by live with it I mean tuck it under a fold and hope nobody notices. (Always helps to post close up photos on the Internet, that's how you ensure nobody sees it, right?) Then I blocked it. I blocked it at the store, cause I'm no fool. And this time nobody ate it while I was sleeping. We brought it to the Frolic, and lots of people loved it and bought the kits and all was well.
]]>
Materials:
300g (6x 50g skeins) of Koigu Painter’s Pallete Premium Merino (KPPPM) 100% merino wool in at least 6 different colours
3.0 mm / US 3 24” circular needle
stitch marker, waste yarn for provisional cast on
darning needle
Glossary:
Kfb – knit into the front and back of one stitch increasing 1 stitch
Psso – pass slip stitch over
K2tog – knit 2 together decreasing 1 stitch
Technique instructions thanks to Knitty!:
Provisional cast on - http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall05/FEATfall05TT.html
Kitchener stitch – http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer04/FEATtheresasum04.html
Method:
You are knitting a long tube in the round (like a sleeve) and then twisting the tube once and joining into a complete circle that will slip over your head. All colour joining ends are hidden inside the tube!
Directions:
Using the provisional method, cast on 208 stitches (or a multiple of 13 for wider or narrower cowl). Place a marker and join for working in the round being careful not to twist your stitches.
Round 1: (kfb, knit 4, slip 1, k2tog, psso, knit 4, kfb) repeat to end of round
Round 2: knit all stitches
Repeat these two rounds in stripe pattern described below until work measures 32”, or desired length. Twist the cowl once, and then use kitchener stitch to graft the two ends together.
Stripe Pattern:
I used a “Missoni like” pattern with three yarns at a time in the following sequence 6 rows of colour A, 4 rows of colour B, 2 rows of colour C, 4 rows of colour B, and 6 rows of colour A.
# rows and colour: 6A – 4B – 2C - 4B – 6A
At the end of the sequence choose three new colours and repeat.
You can modify the stripe sequence any way you like to add your own personal touch!
]]>
EDITTED: Email is back online as usual!
]]>Apr 1st at 6:30pm, OR May 17th at 6:30pm, OR June 6th at 1pm, OR June 8th at 6:30pm (Two hours total)
If you have never knit before and want to get started, this is the class for you! We will learn the basics – the knit stitch, the purl stitch and how to cast on and off – and talk about different ways of knitting and terminology. A light coloured worsted or Aran weight yarn in is recommended, plus needles to match – come by for suggestions! $40
NEXT STEPS: KNITTING 102
Apr 18th at 10am, OR Apr 20th at 6:30pm, OR May 25th at 6:30pm, OR May 30th at 1pm, OR June 6th at 10am, OR June 24th at 6:30pm (Two hours total)
Have you learned the basics of knitting and purling but are stumped by how to read a pattern? Do you find yourself asking questions such as what is an ssk? A kfb? How do I pick up stitches? This is the class designed for a beginner who is ready to start working with patterns and learn about how knitting is shaped through increases and decreases. Please bring to class any questions you have about patterns, patterns you might like to try, as well as some worsted or Aran weight yarn with appropriate size needles for a practice swatch. $40
INTRODUCTION TO CABLES
May 16th at 1pm, OR June 13th at 1pm, OR June 27th at 1pm (Two hours total)
Are you intimidated by cables? In this class we will reveal a knitter’s secret... cables are easy! Perfect for knitters who can knit, purl, cast on, and off, we will learn the basics of cables and get you started on a mug cozy. You will need worsted weight yarn, 5.0 mm needles and a cable needle. $40
TWO AT A TIME MAGIC LOOP SOCKS: TOE UP
This class is two sessions of two hours each
Apr 11th at 10am AND Apr 25th at 10am or
May 2nd at 10am AND May 16th at 10am
In this class we’ll work through the basics of knitting a toe up sock using the magic loop technique! In the first class we will learn how to do the magic loop, learn a seamless cast on for the toe, how to increase for the toe and how to place waste yarn for the heel. In class two we will troubleshoot any problems and talk about how do a stretchy bind off for the cuff and how to knit the afterthought heel. Materials: 2.5 mm 32” circular needle, sock weight yarn. $80 includes patterns; other materials sold separately.
TOP DOWN SOCKS
Apr 27th at 6:30pm AND May 11th at 6:30pm (Four hours total, two classes)
Learn to make socks one at a time from the cuff down, a great introduction to sock knitting. In the first class you will knit the cuff and gusset. In the second, learn how to turn a heel and shape the toes. Students must be comfortable knitting, purling, and knitting in the round, as well as have experience with increasing and decreasing stitches. Supplies: worsted weight yarn and 3.25 and 4mm double pointed needles.
$80
INTRODUCTION TO FAIR ISLE
Apr 4th at 10am, OR May 9th at 1pm, OR June 27th at 10am (Two hours total)
Fair isle or stranded colourwork is a technique in which two yarns are used at once to develop patterns in your knitting. This class will help you get on your way to discovering how fun working with two or more colours can be! We will make a cup cozy. Materials: fingering weight yarn in 2-3 colours, a total of 55 yards. 3 mm needles for working in the round. Students must know how to knit in the round with dpns or the magic loop technique. $40
BUNNY NUGGETS: LEARN THE MAGIC LOOP
Apr 4th at 1pm, OR Apr 18th at 1pm, OR May 30th at 10am, OR June 20th at 10am (Two hours total)
In this fun class learn the magic loop technique for knitting in the round while making an adorable bunny nugget! This pattern for a toy bunny is a perfect way to learn how to use a long circular needle to knit in the round. These finished toys would make a great gift, or you can string a few together to make a mobile, or a give them to your favourite cat for hours of play. You will need 30-40 yards of worsted weight yarn in your main colour and a 32” 4.0 mm circular needle. $40
INTRODUCTION TO SHORT ROWS: SPECTRA SCARF
Apr 25th at 1pm, OR May 9th at 10am, OR June 13th at 10am (Two hours total)
In this class we will be making the beautiful Spectra Scarf by Stephen West while learning three different techniques to create short rows. Then you can finish the scarf using your favourite or a combination for practice. Skills required for this class include knit, purl, casting on and binding off. Materials needed: Spectra pattern, two 100g skeins of fingering weight yarn: one in a solid colour and one self striping (eg Noro), and 3.75mm needles. $40
INTRODUCTION TO ENTRELAC
Apr 11th at 1pm, OR May 2nd at 1pm, OR June 20th at 1pm (Two hours total)
Entrelac is a technique that creates a finished product that looks like strips of knitting that have been woven together, but the fabric is actually created all in one piece. Using knit, purl, m1, kfb, p2tog and k2tog you can create this lovely textured fabric to make beautiful scarves, blankets and more! $40
SLOUCHY SPRING HAT
Apr 12th at 6:30pm, OR May 11th at 6:30pm (Two hours total)
Learn to knit in the round while making a lovely slouchy spring hat. The Maui hat is made from a cotton yarn, perfect for spring mornings. You will learn to knit in the round with circular needles and DPN’s as well as be introduced to a simple lace pattern. Students must be comfortable knitting and purling as well as have experience with increasing and decreasing stitches. Supplies: two balls of Sublime Evie yarn, 4mm 16” circular needle, 4.5 mm 16” circular needle, and 4.5mm DPN needle. $40
KNIT YOUR OWN ADVENTURE
Apr 8th, Apr 29th, AND June 3rd at 6:30pm (Six hours total, 3 classes)
Have a project you would love to tackle, but don’t know where to start? In this three session class each student brings in a pattern and the teacher gets them started with supplies and gauge help, then there is two more classes of project support. This is a great class if you want to knit your first sweater or a larger project. $120
CONTINENTAL KNITTING
Apr 15th at 6:30pm, OR May 31st at 6:30pm, OR June 29th at 6:30pm (Two hours total)
Learn a new way to knit! With continental knitting the working yarn is held in the left hand and stitches are picked not thrown. Continental knitting reduces hand fatigue as it lessen the number of movements needed to create a stitch and is a great skill to use with colour work projects. In this class you will learn the difference between picking and throwing stitches, as well as how to work yarn overs and increases and decreases. This class is not for beginners, it assumes you are comfortable with the knit and purl stitches. Please bring or buy worsted weight yarn and 4.5mm needles to the class. $40
FINISHING TECHNIQUES
Apr 22nd at 6:30pm, OR May 27th at 6:30pm, OR June 14th at 6:30pm (Two hours total)
This is a hands-on workshop to teach practical finishing skills for all your knitted items. We’ll try different seaming methods and discuss how and where to use them. We’ll practice two key skills that are essential for knitters of all experience levels: grafting (Kitchener stitch) and picking up. We’ll also discuss blocking, how to weave in your ends and how to use simple crochet stitches to polish a knit item. Supplies: Either bring in an item that you are working on to apply the techniques directly to OR knit up 2-3 swatches in st st, in DK or Worsted weight yarn, 4”x 4”. Also, please bring knitting needles in the size to match your yarn and/or project and a darning needle, for seaming. $40
INTRODUCTION TO LACE
Apr 26th at 6:30pm, OR May 3rd at 6:30pm, OR June 22nd at 6:30pm (Two hours total)
Join us for this class and knit a beautiful lace cowl. We will discuss all of the common stitches used in lace knitting, and talk about how to 'read' your knitting to make sure you are following the pattern correctly. We'll also look at what a lifeline is, how to put one in your work and why it is an invaluable part of any lace project. Supplies: Lace Edged Cowl pattern and 1 ball of Debbie Bliss Rialto Lace yarn. You will also need a pair of 4mm knitting needles and a stitch marker. $40
CROCHET 101
Apr 5th at 6:30pm, OR May 18th at 6:30pm, OR June 7th at 6:30pm (Two hours total)
If you have never crocheted before or if you want a refresher, this class is for you. We will learn all the basic crochet stitches and work up a swatch by practicing all of them, while learning crochet terminology. A light coloured worsted or Aran yarn is recommended and a 5 mm hook. $40
CROCHET 102
Apr 13th at 6:30pm, OR May 10th at 6:30pm, OR June 15th at 6:30pm (Two hours total)
Know the basics of crochet and want to expand your knowledge? In this class we will learn how to follow crochet patterns, learn shaping techniques and go over the differences in terminology. Will we also practice basic Tunisian crochet stitches. A light coloured worsted or Aran yarn is recommended and a 5 mm hook. $40
Granny Squares and more!
Apr 19th at 6:30pm, OR May 24th at 6:30pm, OR June 21st at 6:30pm (Two hours total)
Learn how to make granny squares, flowers and other pretty motifs, using the skills you have learned in Crochet 101 and 102. We will work up a few pretty samples and go over joining techniques and shaping so you can use your creations as stand alone pieces or combine them to create a larger piece, such as a bag, pillow or blanket. Do you also knit? We will learn how to use crochet to give a polished finish to your knitting project. Two light colours of worsted or Aran yarn is recommended and a 5 mm hook. $40
]]>