Class Schedule: February -- April 2008
We are what we teach. Plan your schedules around our upcoming lessons, lectures, seminars and events.
Beginning Socks! - Join Obsessed Sock Knitter (OSK) Andrea Bozzino for an absolute beginner's class in sock knitting. Learn all the techniques to knit a classic, cuff-down sock. You will master turning a heel and the not-so-scary gusset. The class will be taught with a worsted weight, washable yarn to make this faster and easier for the beginner. Once your skills improve you can move on to finer weight yarns. Don't miss this wonderful class on the Most-Portable-Knitting.
Materials needed - Double pointed needles size #8, a tapestry needle and scissors.
Knitting skills needed - proficiency knitting on double pointed needles.
Cost - $40, includes 3 skeins Mission Falls yarn in the color of your choice and a written pattern.
Date - Saturday, February 9, 2008, 10-5pm, with a 45 minute lunch break and a 15 minute afternoon coffee break. (Coffee provided).
Shetland Knitting! - This is one of those amazing-but-true facts: Orono is home to a Shetland knitter! Joyce Lovely lived in the Shetland Islands and learned to knit using a traditional Shetland knitting belt. She is eager to pass on her skills to other knitters and invites you to join her. Shetland knitters wear a special belt around their waist. The belt has a small oval area that is padded and has several holes on its' surface. Using 12-14 inch double pointed needles (called "pins" by the islanders) they insert one end in a hole on their belt and use the other to knit at amazing speeds.
Materials needed - you'll need to purchase a knitting belt, which will be custom fit to your size. Local craftsman Tom Kellogg will hand make them to order for $35. You will also need to buy 12 inch double pointed knitting needles. We will be stocking them shortly.
Knitting skills needed - cast on, knit and bind-off are all the techniques you'll absolutely need.
Cost - Joyce has waived her teaching fee to make this class affordable to a wider audience, so the cost will be limited to the materials.
Date - Saturday, February 16, 2008, 10-2pm.
Knitting Math or How-to Tinker - Have you ever chosen the perfect pattern only to find your size isn't listed? Join Cheryl for a painless lesson on the math of knitting. We will simply count and play with yarn and gauge and see how easy it is to make size adjustments without re-writing (or giving up!) a pattern.
Pre-work! - You will need three six-inch swatches knitted in three different yarns with three different size needles. Suggested needle sizes - 5, 7 and 9. Don't panic if you have a 6, 8 and 10. The needle size isn't critical. Just be sure to have a nice range.
Materials needed - a variety of different weight yarns and needles from your stash, a calculator, t-pins, scissors, ruler, paper and pencil.
Knitting skills needed - cast on, knit, purl, bind-off. Very basic.
Cost - $20.
Date - Friday, February 22, 2008, 1-4pm.
No Pattern, No Gauge Swatch Earflap Hat! - If you've met Michele you know she rarely sticks to a pattern (ADD) and loathes "wasting" time making a gauge swatch (ADD, again). Combine these tendencies with a bald husband and voila! A patternless, swatchless earflap hat! Learn the basics and you'll be on your way to making hats for everyone out of whatever-yarn-you-have. Michele is waiving her class fee, but including two skeins of Pemaquid, a baby alpaca/merino/soya blend from Maine's own The Fibre Company.
Materials needed - a #10 16 inch circular needle, a tapestry needle, scissors and the circumference of the head that will be wearing the hat. If this is you we can measure you in class.
Knitting skills needed - cast on, knit, purl, increase, bind off. Wicked basic.
Cost - , which will include two skeins of The Fibre Co. "Pemaquid" in the color of your choice and a written pattern.
Date - Saturday, February 23, 2008, 10-4pm, with a 45 minute lunch break.
Felted Baby Booties - If you've seen Lynn's cream colored baby booties on our counter you will want to make them. Using clever short row shaping construct a shoe-like bootie for your favorite babe.
Materials needed - # double pointed needles, a tapestry needle and scissors.
Knitting skills needed - basic knitting skills, plus proficiency using double pointed needles
Cost - $35, which will include one skein of Punto del Este yarn in the color of your choice.
Date - Saturday, February 23, 2008, 10-2pm.
Learn-to-Knit Afghan - Barbara Walker was a contemporary of Elizabeth Zimmerman and author of many classic books, including Treasury of Knitting Patterns #1-4, Knitting from the Top Down and the Learn-to-Knit Afghan Book. We will use this last book to guide us through all the wondrous techniques available to us in knitting and make a lovely (and much needed) afghan. This class is valuable for the beginner as well as the more experienced knitter and will cover techniques such as: Knit-Purl combinations, Mosaic Patterns, Slip Stitch Patterns, Twist Stitch Patterns, Cables, Increase-Decrease Patterns and Lace.
Materials needed - we suggest a washable yarn in a worsted weight. We'll be using Mission Falls. You'll be able to use up your stash or buy 1-2 skein a month of Mission Falls. It's up to you.
Knitting skills needed - cast on, knit, purl, bind-off. We'll learn everything else.
Cost - $5/session.
Date - Last Thursdays of every month beginning February 28th, 11:30 - 12:30pm. This class will replace the Lunchtime Lectures.
*Please note! It's not critical that you come to every class each month. If you miss a square you can make it up at another time.
Mittens with a Twist - Warm the hands you love with this wonderful class. Cheryl will guide you through the construction techniques needed to make classic mittens. You will cable the cuff (cabling beginners - have no fear!) and pick up stitches (again, don't worry if this is new to you). Cheryl will show you different thumb styles and fingertip decreases. Easy!
Materials needed - Double pointed needles in the #4, #5 or #6 range (any of these will work with the yarn provided), a tapestry needle and scissors.
Knitting skills needed - proficiency knitting on double pointed needles.
Cost - $35, which will include Lamb's Pride worsted yarn and a written pattern.
Date - Saturday, March 8, 2008, 10-5pm, with a 45 minute lunch break. (This is our first time offering this class, so we've padded the time a bit. You may be finished by 4pm).
Beginning Lace - Denise Slazas has graciously agreed to offer her popular and comprehensive Beginning Lace class again. Join her for an all day exploration of knitted lace, while making a lovely sachet.
Materials needed - tapestry needle, scissors, 12 inch ruler, a pencil and either a pair of single pointed needles at least 7 inches long in a size 3, 4 or 5 or a 16 inch circular needle, also in a size 3, 4 or 5. Denise recommends a size 3 if you knit loosely, a 4 if you're about average and a 5 if you knit tightly. A skein of Blue Sky Alpacas in the color of your choice is included in the price of your class.
Knitting skills needed - cast on, knit, purl, bind off.
Cost - $35, which will include one skein of Blue Sky Alpacas Sportweight yarn in the color of your choice and a written pattern.
Date - Saturday, March 15, 2008, 10-4pm, with a 45 minute lunch break.
Felted Bowls and Vessels! - Virginia is back with one of our most popular classes. Learn the finer points of felting and learn how to control the process. If you've seen her felted bowls and vases all over the shop then you know how liberating and fun felting can be.
Materials needed - #11 double pointed needles, a tapestry needle and scissors.
Knitting skills needed - cast on, knit, bind-off and proficiency using double pointed needles.
Cost - $35, which will include Lamb's Pride yarn to complete at least two bowls.
Date - Saturday, March 22, 2008, 10-4pm.
Darn those Holey socks! - Michele has been quite verbal in expressing her bewilderment at the sock making frenzy. However, her embroidered past has given her a skill that has translated quite nicely into the Sock Knitting Universe - darning! Darning new heels into socks can be done by simply weaving in an obvious patch or by using a tapestry needle to create new knitted loops. Bring your forlorn socks and learn both techniques.
Materials needed - holey or almost-worn-through socks, extra yarn to make the repair and a darning egg.
Knitting skills needed - Believe it or not, you don't need any.
Cost - $25, which includes the cost of a darning egg. If you already have an egg, you will pay $15.
Date - Saturday, April 12, 10-4pm, with a 45 minute lunch break.