New Classes at The Knitting Garage in Rhinebeck

UPDATE:  Any private lessons based on these classes will be 10% off until October 12. 
From Sand to Socks

As the summer is winding down and the “barefoot in the sand” moments become memories, you may want to think about how to spoil your feet this winter.

I am offering three different sock knitting classes starting end of August. By starting early you can have your socks ready to wear and show off during this year’s Sheep & Wool Festival.

A.    Traditional Cuff down with heel flap, gusset and finished at the toe with the Kitchener stitch

B.     2-at-a-time toe-up with FLK heel. This is my personal favorite, easy to remember and great fit.  I held this class last Spring and here are some of the comments: “Doris made sure we understood all the instructions, even helping us by drawing little sketches” (Elyse);”All the little extra tips were wonderful and I look forward to knitting more socks” (Betty);”…explicit in your lessons.  Each lesson was broken down to the right amount of time and information.  I loved the class and look forward to additional classes.  Thank you” (Dale);” Your patience in explaining and demonstrating things was phenomenal.   I would recommend your classes to everyone!” (Anne)

C.     For the more experienced sock knitter who wants to try something fun and new:

Two-at-a-time one inside the other. This is the method referred to in the classic “War and Peace”. 

We will be doing a sample sock in worsted weight yarn just to get the idea of how this is done.  Of course you may start a pair in sock yarn if you feel confident enough.

Materials needed

For A.  Yarn:  For fingering weight version: about 350 -400 yards of fingering weight yarn

                        For Dk/Sport weight version: about 275 yards of dk or sport weight yarn

            Needles:  For fingering weight version:

Set of four double-point needles US 1 ½- 2 ½  (for a gauge of 32 sts=4”)

 For Dk/ Sport weight version:

Set of four double-point needles US 3  (for a gauge of 24 sts=4”)

For B.  Yarn:  You will need two equal amounts of yarn  If you are purchasing one skein and

                         want to give it to me prior to the first class, I can divide the skein into two balls

                        for you.  The total yardage should be 350-400 yards depending on foot size and cuff length.

            Please note:  If you prefer to knit your socks one at the time you may do so. 

                        You will still learn many new techniques in this class.

            Needles: You will need two circular needles of the same size;

US 1 ½- 2 ½ (for a gauge of 32 sts=4”)

It is best if the two needles look different.  I suggest one 16" cable and

                        one 24" cable or cables of different colors.

For C.  Yarn: For training version: about 110 yards each of two different colors of Worsted weight yarn.

                       For actual socks:  about 400 yards of sock/ fingering weight yarn.

            Needles: For training version: US# 7 needles DPN’s or two circulars or one long circular

                                    Plus one additional needle of the same size (DPN or short circular)

                                    Plus one cable needle (for working the decreases). For a gauge of 20sts=4”

                           For actual socks: US# 1-2 ½ needles DPN’s or two circulars or one long circular

                                    Plus one additional needle of the same size (DPN or short circular)

                                    Plus one cable needle (for working the decreases). For a gauge of 30sts=4”

Sessions

For A. 1. Thursday 8.18. 11am-1pm stretchy cast on

            2. Thursday 9.1.  11am-1pm heel flap, heel turn

            3. Thursday 9.8.  11am-1pm gussets

            4. Thursday 9.22.11am-1pm toe, Kitchener stitch

For B.  1. Wednesday 8.24. 11am-1pm Judy’s magic cast-on

            2. Wednesday 9.7.   11am-1pm check gauge and determine width, make template

            3. Wednesday 9.21. 11am-1pm FLK heel

            4. Wednesday 10.5. 11am-1pm Jenny’s stretchy bind off

For C.  1. Monday 8.22.  11am-1pm cuff set up, start ribbing

            2. Monday 8.29.  11am-1pm check work, leg, heel flap

            3. Monday 9.5.    12 noon-1pm heel turn

            4. Monday 9.26.  11am-1pm gusset, foot

            5. Monday 10.3.  11am-1pm toe

Cost

All classes are held with a maximum of three attendees. 

With any more I would not be able to give you the one-on-one time I like to bestow on my students.

The cost for classes A. and B. is $ 125 and includes patterns and hand-outs.

The cost for class C. is $140 and includes pattern and hand-outs.

Please note, too, that I am flexible in regard to when and where to meet.  If you are interested in a particular class, but cannot make it to the times posted here, I am happy to hold the class at a different time more convenient to you preferably with a minimum of two attendees.

                       

To sign up e-mail me at formbyd8@gmail.com

 

 

Summer Socks (post #113)

 

Tony's summer socks

Summer Socks in CoBaSi                  

I finally understand why Tony likes to wear the hand knitted socks other than for the fact that I made them.  With a size 11 foot the 9-11 socks you can buy are too small and the 11-12 socks are too big... He  has a total of eight (!) pairs of hand knitted socks, but even the craziest Englishman (as in the song "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" by Noel Coward) stops wearing woolly socks when it is 90+ degree out there.

So I did some research looking for a cotton blend sock yarn and found the HiKoo CoBaSi by Skacel  which is a Cotton, Bamboo, Silk and Nylon blend, perfect for summer!! The skeins are 220 yards each (a steal at $9.50), so you don't have to divide a bigger skein for your 2-at-a-time sock knitting. The yarn feels awesome! So soft and squishy :)
But it gets better:  My LYS, The Knitting Garage, in Rhinebeck just started to carry this yarn <3 <3
For those of you who don't want to knit socks:  This is the yarn called for in the very popular 14 Carat Poncho by Michelle Hunter (as in Knit Purl Hunter). This pattern is a free ravelry download! (click on the link).
And you can use it for all sorts of your summer knitting (shawls, tank tops etc.) which calls for a fingering weight yarn (you get the picture).  On ravelry you can find three pages of patterns which specifically use the CoBaSi yarn; many of the patterns are free.  Click this link or put in "CoBaSi" in your pattern search:  Patterns using CoBaSi.
I knitted the socks in a simple 1x1 ribbing toe-up and two-at-a-time in just 16 days.  I used the methods which I had just taught in a class in Spring. An easy to remember method which lets you integrate all sort of patterns if you want.  If you are interested and missed that class, you may be happy to hear that I will offer the class again this Fall as well as two other Sock knitting classes.

So many pretty colors