Tentative Schedule of classes at iKnit London over the next month or so.

[kniteracy]

26 April:

11:00am -- Beginning Knitting. Always wanted to learn? In about four hours, we'll cover casting on, knitting, purling, and casting off. And we'll talk about first projects. I'll even stick around to help you choose materials for your project.

4:30pm -- Hermetic Secrets of the Norwegian Purl Stitch. Learn how to make a purl stitch that doesn't require you to move the yarn to the front of your work. Seriously! We'll figure it out in about 90 minutes.

8 May:

6:30pm (I think!) Different Knitting. Are you an English knitter? Continental? Combination? Would you like to know how to knit differently? Faster? We'll cover various styles of knitting, figure out when one is better than another, and learn how to combine styles to our best advantage

That's all we've got slated so far; we agreed to come back together sometime in April and make a plan for some more beginning classes, depeding on how well the April one sells. Because summer is coming, the store owners are unsure about scheduling, as knitting often drops in popularity in the summer.



Possible classes for the future:
I've said I'll teach a beginning lace class if they're comfortable with having the teacher be only a few steps ahead of the students.

I've said I'll teach Fair Isle/ stranded knitting, but we didn't get that one onto the schedule.

Cabling without a cable needle (thanks, dyddgu, for reminding me!)

Classes that may not happen:
Magic Loop -- their current sock teacher wants to teach a magic loop class, so mine would be redundant, even though I've been teaching it for years now.

Grok Socks -- Store owner wants to run this class by their current sock teacher to see if she'd consider it inappropriate, since she is teaching sock knitting.


Classes that probably will not happen:

Any sock class. They already have a sock teacher and do not want to make her feel pushed out. If you want to learn how to knit socks from me, we'll have to get together to do it elsewhere. I promise it'll be worth it, if you want to learn it. I do love teaching socks. I guess every other knitting teacher loves teaching socks, too. :-(

Intarsia. Sorry, I don't like intarsia, or no project using it has excited me enough to make it worth the hassle.

Brioche. Don't like it.

Can you think of any other classes I could offer that would thrill you? Even if you don't live in or near London, I could use suggestions! This will need to be a real income supplement very soon, as my job goes back to part time in May.

Comments

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Well, jumping way, way, ahead here, remind me when we start asking for programme ideas for Odyssey that a sock workshop might go down well. There seem to be a lot of fans knitting these days and I remember a stiching session went down well at Year of the Teledu.

I'm toying with taking up knitting again, but have to clear my embroidery backlog first...

[dyddgu.livejournal.com]

Was it you who mentioned "cabling without cable needles", or did I imagine it? If you did, mind, many thanks, I've ditched the cable needle on my 1x1 cable sweater, and am far happier.

/toys with the idea of coming to London on the 26th for a day out if knirirr is in the Netherlands then

[silme.livejournal.com]

Eek! The end of the month is always tricky money-wise for me... but if I pay for the class now and then put aside money for train fare, lunch, etc. on the 26th, it might work. May we sign up yet on-line?

[telynor.livejournal.com]

I'd be fine with doing that, although most people could not knit a full-size sock in a weekend. People would have to be willing to knit miniatures, or baby bootees, or some such.

[telynor.livejournal.com]

Ah! Yes, I did mention that one. I should re-add it to the list. He chose the Norwegian Purl one over that because it seemed exotic enough to draw a lot of people.

[telynor.livejournal.com]

Alas, it is not. But if you ring the store and say you've heard about the class, they'll register you for it. I think it'll be £55 for the day.

[dyddgu.livejournal.com]

Aaaaaaaaaand antarra and I have bought tickets to your class! 1x English and 1x Continental knitter. I hope you don't mind. What stuff do we need to bring?

[dyddgu.livejournal.com]

Er, the Purl stitch one, I should add :$

[silme.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'll give them a ring tomorrow. (Today was busy. :) I assume they'll take a credit/debit card number over the phone, right?

Be warned: I am totally a beginner with no coordination and no brain. I can sew, so I can learn textile crafts, but I'm a real dummy about knitting.

[telynor.livejournal.com]

Gah, I suck. I should have replied to this, um, a month ago! I searched back for it today because I suddenly remembered I hadn't given you an answer.

What I've advised is this: straight or circular needles, whichever you prefer, of a size you're comfortable knitting aran weight wool. It is better to learn this technique with wooden or bamboo needles, but don't buy them special if you prefer knitting on metal; you'll just have some stitch slippage at the beginning. Go ahead and start a swatch with 20-30 stitches cast on (you could really do it on the train/in the car). It just needs to be straight stocking stitch with maybe some garter stitch on the sides for straightening. The shop provides wool and needles for the beginning class, but they're not great quality, so bring needles and wool you're comfortable with.

See you on Saturday!

[telynor.livejournal.com]

Just for the record, the Norwegian purl is pretty much done Continental style. Now, there are some modifications we can talk about, but I've not ever seen anybody do it English. I'll try to work out a method for you (or your friend, whichever one is the English knitter), but learning to knit Continental will help you with lots of other skills (like stranding!), so don't be afraid to branch out!

[dyddgu.livejournal.com]

That's ok, I know how busy you are :-)
Now all I have to do is dig through my stash for some aran-weight that isn't nearly pitch black...!