Classes this November and December at The Knitting Garage

Class Schedule At The Knitting Garage November and December

                                                                                                                               

I am starting new classes after the Sheep and Wool Festival.  Now you have bought all these pretty yarns, get some help to knit them up into something fabulous for yourself or a loved one (the holidays are not that far off!)

This year the theme is HATS.  In my opinion hats make the perfect gift.  They are quick to knit up and who does not need a hat?!

Whether you have never knitted a hat or you want to learn a new technique, there should be something for everyone.  

 Individual Projects:

       These classes are held on Wednesday mornings 10am to 12noon and then on the following Saturday from 10am to 12noon (dates are indicated below). 

       The cost of $45 per class includes the pattern unless otherwise indicated and any additional help you need to finish the project. 

       All classes are for a maximum of three students per class to insure individual attention.

       Prior sign-up is necessary for all classes. 

       Discounts: * 10% discount if you sign up for two or more classes.

                    * 10% family discount.

November 4^th and 7^th                     The simplest hat (Basic knitting skills required)

This hat is knitted flat, and then seamed.  This is a good first hat done up on US#10 needles and a bulky weight yarn (Cascade 128). You will learn decreases and seaming.

     

November 11^th and 14^th      Boyfriend Hat by Churchmouse (basic knitting skills required)

This hat is knitted in the round on US#7 and 8 needles in a heavy worsted weight yarn.  Tosh Merino or SimpliWorsted are two good choices. You will learn two techniques of knitting in the round. An additional charge of $5 for the pattern will be applied.

    

November 18^th and 21^st      Block Island Gansey Hat (For the Intermediate Knitter)

We are so lucky to have these kits at The Knitting Garage. The North Light Fibers Mill has been featured in both the “Vogue Knitting” and the “Cast On” magazines. The hat is knitted up on US#7 needles in the round. You will learn how to knit following a chart. You will need to purchase the SCI kit which includes the pattern and yarn for $35.

November 25^th and 28^th     Fair Isle knitting (For the advanced knitter who is new to color work))

The hat is knit on US#4 needles in two colors.  I used Cascade Sport weight yarn. You will learn how to keep good tension when working with multiple colors. You will need to purchase the booklet “Scandinavian Caps for Guys” by Cottage Creations ($7).

December 2^nd and 5^th               Men’s Crochet Beanie (For the beginning crocheter)

This is a basic beanie, crochet top down in worsted weight yarn and a crochet hook size H. You will learn to single crochet and how to read and count your stitches There is an additional charge of $9 for the pattern by Bobbi Intveld.

December 9^th and 12^th        Big Chunky Comfy Hat (For the beginner knitter with basic knitting skills)

This can be your last minute gift as it knits up quickly on US#11 needles.  I made a few of these last year in Madeline Tosh ASAP (1 skein per hat is enough). You will learn how to knit in the round.

Private Lessons are also offered at $40 per hour at your convenience.

What's on my needles (week 71)

Knitting Lesson # ? : Persistence helps you reach your Goal. 

Jim calls this his non-smoker's smoking jacket

 Jim in his finished cardigan

Although it is a little too warm to wear right now, it was the perfect timing for Jim to receive the cardigan.  One of them to congratulate him on new ventures in his business E A Content Services.

Have you ever had a project you did not feel too inspired to do, but felt compelled to do anyway and were glad you did?  Here is my story on just such a project.





I have to go back in time to start this story.
Do you remember when my friend Marie passed away two summers ago and all her yarns were donated to two of the local libraries (Red Hook and Tivoli)?
Some yarn was immediately used to make Chemo Blankets. You can read about this in a post from October 2013: http://knitwithdoris.blogspot.com/2013/10/chemo-blankets.html 

One year later the Tivoli Library decided to sell some of the yarns to make monetary donations to the Cancer Center. This is when I received the yarn and pattern in a kit for a Shawl which I call "Gift from Heaven". There are several blog posts about this incredible story... Here is the one which features the finished shawl;  http://knitwithdoris.blogspot.com/2014/09/whats-on-my-needles-week-33.html 
And my notes on ravelry:  http://ravel.me/Strickliese/ss2  

Now forward to a few months after that which brings us to Fall 2014. Hildegard and Bonny, again from the Tivoli Library, approached me with a half finished cardigan which was in Marie's stash. Obviously she had started to knit a cardigan for her husband Jim. The back was done, and so was the right front. The left front was partially done. There was enough yarn to finish the project and the pattern was there. Of course I volunteered to finish this.

The pattern came in two photocopied pages; possibly from a book.  Unfortunately I was not able to find the source of the pattern

          

 

Hildegard, Bonnie and I with the finished sweater at the Tivoli Library

It took me a while to get started. After all, this was not just something Marie had bought, but never started, but this was something she had actually worked on. Aside from feeling rather emotional about this (but some times in a good way as in feeling connected), I had to also try and match her gauge and figure out some changes she had made to the right front. After all the two fronts needed to match.
Beginning of this year I decided that this would be one of the projects I wanted to finish. There were a few other things I had promised to work on, but in March I started to work on the cardigan. I decided that on the days I was home I would not knit anything else until after I spent one hour on this project. Then I was disciplined enough to stick to this and 35 hours later I was sewing on the last button!
The lesson I learned is that you can finish anything if you just do a little each day consistently.

Both fronts and both sleeves are done

 

Seaming in progress

Some light blocking

I found the perfect buttons at AL Stickle in Rhinebeck:

Leaving a little space for the double thickness of the button holes

The smaller buttons on the inside help that the garment does not get pulled