a list of upcoming knitspot classes and events, updated as we add.
please contact the host venue for more information or to make reservations to attend. see you there!

2013

Windy City Knitting Guild  Chicago, IL

Yarn Voyage  June 1  9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Ever wonder why, when you achieved exact gauge, your finished object looks nothing like the original in a different yarn? Much more than a discussion about yarn weights, this explorative class for knitters and handspinners of all levels covers myriad yarn characteristics and their effect on knitted fabric. Participants will learn how yarn type relates to gauge, needle size, texture, and fabric integrity, and how to use that information to make better choices and/or substitutions in their projects. Students will test knitting yarns of various fibers, twist ratios, and dye applications to make comparisons and learn to assess final fabrics. Even the most experienced knitters and spinners will go away with new insight on the fibers and yarns they thought they knew.

Discussion will include: choosing appropriate yarns and making the best use of yarn types, swatching for better results, considerations for choosing (or inventing) sock-worthy motifs, changes in gauge, choosing appropriate ribbings/edgings, making the numbers fit, and solving the fiddly bits (how to fudge it when you need to).

Lace Start to Finish  June 2  9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

An intermediate/advanced class which explores various shawl starts and finishes. Included are center start in the round for a square shawl, provisional cast-on and pickup for a center-start rectangle, stretchy cast-ons, and picking up from a knitted edge strip. Finishes include applied edging (knitted on), stretchy bind-offs, and grafting.

Bittersweet Vines Project Class  June 2  1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Focusing on the Bittersweet Vines neckwarmer and mitts design, this is a great class for intermediate knitters who would like to expand their lace knitting skills. The project incorporates a variety of lace features, including a knitted lace edging, simple right-side and wrong side lace work, provisional cast-on, pickup from a lace edge, eyelet patterns, knitting lace in the round, and finishing work for lace pieces. The project makes use of DK or light worsted yarn and larger needles; the simple lace patterns are easy to learn and memorize. The resulting finished pieces are beautiful and practical winter accessories to keep or give away.

June 8

1:30 p.m.

Anne Hanson speaks about how a variety of animals inspired a yarn. She was searching for the perfect yarn and couldn’t find it, so she created her own!

2:30 p.m.

Anne Hanson explains how she gets from an alpaca to a hat; what it’s like to design a yarn and in turn design a finished knitted piece.

5 – 8 p.m.

Shop Bare Naked Wools booth! See all our artisan yarns in person, plus all the sample garments showcasing the beauty of natural fibers, and Anne and Erica will help you pick out your next BNW project.

Shall We Knit  Waterloo, ON, Canada

Welcome to the Chart Side  June 27  6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Explore the practical application of charted knitting patterns, how to read them, and how to use them for speed and efficiency in creating knitted fabric. Various charting systems are reviewed and practice time provided in using charts for both knitting flat fabric and pieces worked in the round.

Blocking  June 29  10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

An in-depth foray into wet and steam blocking using various blocking tools and pattern schematics; participants will do some hands on work. Focus will be on working with wool, but other fibers will be discussed. Other topics of discussion: choosing a blocking method, choosing tools, why blocking is important, blocking and fiber, effects of blocking on a finished piece.

Lace Start to Finish  June 29  2 – 5 p.m.

An intermediate/advanced class which explores various shawl starts and finishes. Included are center start in the round for a square shawl, provisional cast-on and pickup for a center-start rectangle, stretchy cast-ons, and picking up from a knitted edge strip. Finishes include applied edging (knitted on), stretchy bind-offs, and grafting.

Pea Vines Shawl Project Class  June 30  10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

A class focused on the Knitspot shawl design Pea Vines, it will be a review and swatching of all the stitches and techniques required to knit the shawl design, with tips and tricks for navigating the pattern.

Finger Lakes Fiber Tour and Knitters Retreat Watkins Glen, New York

Yarn Voyage  July 25  4 – 7 p.m.

Ever wonder why, when you achieved exact gauge, your finished object looks nothing like the original in a different yarn? Much more than a discussion about yarn weights, this explorative class for knitters and handspinners of all levels covers myriad yarn characteristics and their effect on knitted fabric. Participants will learn how yarn type relates to gauge, needle size, texture, and fabric integrity, and how to use that information to make better choices and/or substitutions in their projects. Students will test knitting yarns of various fibers, twist ratios, and dye applications to make comparisons and learn to assess final fabrics. Even the most experienced knitters and spinners will go away with new insight on the fibers and yarns they thought they knew.

Beginning Lace Knitting  July 26  3 – 6 p.m.

This class covers types of lace motifs, getting organized for lace knitting, lace yarns, tools and techniques for successful lace knitting, terminology, simple architectural and pictorial shapes in lace. Students will work through a lace sampler as a class project to practice different types of lace motifs.

Trunk Show  July 26  6 – 7 p.m.

A showing of Knitspot shawl/scarf/sweater samples with a brief discussion of inspiration and design process.

Lace Scarf Project Class  July 27  1 – 6 p.m.

A beginning lace class focused on a specific Knitspot lace scarf  design (TBD). Students will cover chart reading, working with incorporated edgings, and fielding specific lace knitting questions from students.

The Tinsmith’s Wife  Comfort, TX

Trunk Show and Lecture  October 4  6 – 8 p.m.

A showing of Knitspot shawl/scarf/sweater samples with slide show and discussion of inspiration and design process.

Yarn Voyage  October 5  10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Ever wonder why, when you achieved exact gauge, your finished object looks nothing like the original in a different yarn? Much more than a discussion about yarn weights, this explorative class for knitters and handspinners of all levels covers myriad yarn characteristics and their effect on knitted fabric. Participants will learn how yarn type relates to gauge, needle size, texture, and fabric integrity, and how to use that information to make better choices and/or substitutions in their projects. Students will test knitting yarns of various fibers, twist ratios, and dye applications to make comparisons and learn to assess final fabrics. Even the most experienced knitters and spinners will go away with new insight on the fibers and yarns they thought they knew.

Beginning Lace  October 5  2 – 5 p.m.

This class covers types of lace motifs, getting organized for lace knitting, lace yarns, tools and techniques for successful lace knitting, terminology, simple architectural and pictorial shapes in lace. Students will work through a lace sampler as a class project to practice different types of lace motifs.

Shawl Project Class  October 6  10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

This class focuses on one specific shawl design and will be a review and swatching of all the stitches and techniques required to knit one specific Knitspot stole or shawl, with tips and tricks for navigating the pattern.