Date/Time
Date(s) - 20/11/2023
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location
Home
Category: Knitting for Improvers
FLORA KAL (knit-along) COURSE
Week 1 OCT 2nd 9.30 – 12.30pm (extended session)
Week 2 OCT 30th 10 – 12pm
Week 3 NOV 20th 10 – 12pm
Week 4 DEC 11th 10 – 12pm
Fair Isle, is a wonderful way of adding colour into your knitting. If you are comfortable using knit and purl stitches, you will be ready to explore this traditional colour-work technique.
For this KAL course, we will be knitting Flora, a pattern I designed a couple of years ago which combines pretty bands of Fair Isle patterns using traditional stranding techniques to create a contemporary boxy sleeveless pullover with a classic retro feel.
Flora is worked from the bottom rib up, knitting the complete colour-work pattern in-the-round, before dividing and knitting back and forth for the armhole and neck shapings. The neckline and armholes ribbings are then knitted in the round to complete.
Over a series of 4 sessions (9 hours of tuition) I will take you step by step through all the different techniques needed for knitting Flora.
Each session is carefully structured for the different abilities in the class and supported with worksheets and additional video tutorials to help with any new techniques.
This course is not for beginner knitters and although you may not have knitted a garment before, you must be able to knit, purl and rib. If you are not sure if this course will be the right level for you, then please email or call and I will be happy to talk over the project with you.
NB I have spaced out the workshops so that after the first session you will have more time to knit the fair-isle section without feeling rushed.
WORKSHOPS
WEEK 1 – Getting Gauge (tension) and Fair isle techniques
- Knitting a tension square in-the-round for getting accurate tension (gauge) for making a garment that fits!
Fair Isle is traditionally knitted in the round with the right-side of your work always facing you. This not only makes it easier to follow the chart but at the same time you can enjoy seeing the patterns emerge as you knit each round.
- Reading from a chart
- Introducing Colour-work techniques and ways to hold 2 yarns.
- Casting on using Longtail cast on.
WEEK 2 – Shaping the Back and Front
- Dividing stitches for front and back
- Decreasing for shaping back and sleeves
- Look at pattern for shaping front and sleeves
WEEK 3 – Picking up stitches
- Picking up stitches for neckline and sleeves
- Rejoining in-the-round for knitting ribbings
- Blocking and finishing techniques
- Recap and refresh on any of the techniques worked on over the KAL course.
FLORA KAL COURSE
YARN
Flora has been knitted in Rowan Felted Tweed Dk, a soft wool & alpaca yarn which comes in a range of beautiful tweedy shades.
NB Yarns are not included in the course fee.
FLORA Yarn Kit:
KIT A £56
Kit A: Size 1 36″ bust Size 2 38″ bust (final garment size)
KIT B £64
KIT B: Size 3 40″ bust (final garment size)
The pattern recommends 2″ of positive ease which describes the fit of the final jumper in relation to the size of the body wearing it. E.g. if you have a 34” bust and you knit a sweater with 2″ ease, the final garment will measure 36″ at the bust.
Therefore for Flora, if you have a 34″ bust choose Size 1 giving you the final garment measurement of 36″= 2″ positive ease.
OTHER MATERIALS YOU WILL NEED
I am sure you will have your own preferred needles to work with, but please email me if you would like advice for purchasing circular needles for knitting in the round. Below are the suggested needle sizes given with the Flora pattern.
1 pair of 3.25mm (below gauge-size) circular needles for working with the Magic Loop Method for neckline and sleeve ribbing.
1 pair of 3.75mm (gauge size) circular needles.
The needle sizes are just suggestions and it may be necessary to adjust needle size to achieve correct tension (gauge)
NOTIONS
- Stitch holders or waste yarn,
- Stitch markers
- Tapestry needle
- Blocking tools.
If the class is showing fully booked please email me so I can add you to the waiting list and let you know when the next class will be taking place.
Bookings
This class is fully booked.