Sally Melville Workshop Info 5/13-14 & 16

After nearly 7 years, we're thrilled to be offering workshops with world-class designer and author, Sally Melville!! 

Sally, whose engaging style will re-fuel your passion, will be teaching workshops Thursday (morning and/or afternoon), Friday (all day) & Sunday (afternoon only).  See schedule and descriptions taken from Sally's site below.

In addition to early bird pricing, we are also excited to offer a F-R-E-E  short  presentation, "WHY WE KNIT", on Thursday evening ONLY to the first 30 people who register for one of Sally's classes!

Please read the "fine print" at the bottom of the page!

EARLY BIRD discount:  $15 off EACH class paid in full in person on or before Wednesday, April 14.

Multi-Class discount:  $10 off EACH class when paying in full for more than one class (regardless of length of class)

Maximum discount is $25 per class available if taking 2 or more classes AND paid in full in person before Wednesday, April 14.

Thursday 5/13, 10a-1p:  Knit To Flatter and Fit  $75

A knitter who spends the time and energy to make her own clothes should be rewarded with a result that makes her happy and proud. It should fit, it should flatter, and there should be no mystery as to how this happened. But sadly, and too often, this is not the result. Why? Because the knitter chooses the wrong pattern OR chooses the right pattern but follows the directions without questioning them OR makes the right garment but wears it with the wrong thing.

There are a few simple rules to follow for successful knitting: start with styles that flatter, knit with appropriate decisions for a personalized fit, and then wear it with something that makes it look wonderful! This workshop covers all these decisions and puts the power for successful results into your competent hands. Yay!

SKILL LEVEL anyone

SUPPLIES TO BRING light-weight, light-colored paper (that you can trace your outline through); scissors; measuring tape; pencil; eraser

HOMEWORK It is essential that this exercise be completed. You will be disappointed if you don't do this! And please read this carefully, including the NOTE at the bottom.

1. Dress in something close fitting. (We need to see your real silhoutte. You may wear only lingerie, or you may add a bodysuit, a leotard, or tights. But do wear supportive lingerie.)
2. Standing straight, with arms  slightly away from your side and feet together, have someone take a straight-on, full body (head-to-toe) photo of you. (Have the photo fill the screen as much as possible.)
3. Print the photo onto plain paper (enlarging it to more than 8" tall).
4. Trace your outline only with a heavy black pen. Bring your outline to class.

NOTE TO PARTICIPANTS Common homework and supplies errors are the following: arms too far from sides, feet not together, head not included, paper not light-weight (so you can see your silhouette through it), silhouette not outlined heavily enough.

Thursday 5/13, 2:30p-5:30p:  First Choices, Basic Shapes  $75

No matter how advanced or experienced we are, we run the risk of making a garment that looks awful. Why? We make decisions in the first 20 minutes that have everything to do with the success or failure of a project. What are those decisions? Yarn, color, stitch pattern, silhouette.

This workshop gives diagnostic skills to look at these decisions. And it then follows with basic pattern drafting. So even if you never design your own knitting, you'll have the tools to alter what you do knit to produce the best possible result.

NOTE This class is wonderfully combined with KNIT TO FLATTER AND FIT.

NOTE The basic pattern drafting can be either the drop shoulder or the set-in sleeve: you choose!

SKILL LEVEL anyone

Thursday 5/13, 7:30p:  "Why We Knit" (free to first 30 paid registrants of other classes ONLY, with RSVP. More spots may  become available.)

Friday 5/14, 10a-5:30p:  Essential Skills for the Self-Taught Knitter  $125  (lunch break from 1-2:30)

Most of us are self-taught. And no matter how advanced and accomplished we are, there are holes in our experience. Perhaps we rely upon the same cast-on, the same increase, the same decrease. Perhaps we are not confident of our seaming or are confounded by the instruction to pick up and knit 101 stitches around the neck edge . . .  evenly!’

This workshop explores the best methods that we should all have in our repertoire. We'll talk about which choices are best suited to each situation and why. And then this workshop provides hands-on experience for each. 

SKILL LEVEL beginner intermediate and beyond: participants should have made a garment

SUPPLIES TO BRING yarn, needles, blunt tapestry needle, crochet hook

HOMEWORK Use plain, light-colored yarn throughout.  Worsted weight works best. Block both swatches.

1. Work a 3” square swatch in stockinette. 
2. Cast on 24 stitches: work in stockinette until the piece measures 3" in length.  DO EXACTLY AS WRITTEN: do not slip stitches and do not work short rows.  (You are shaping a round neck, in case you wonder what is going on.) At the beginning of the next RS row, bind off 6 stitches.  At the beginning of the next RS row, bind off 3 stitches.  At the beginning of the next RS row, bind off 2 stitches.  At the beginning of the next 3 RS rows, bind off 1 stitch. Work 8 rows straight.  Bind off all stitches. 

Sunday 5/16, 2:30p-5:30p:  Emergency Measures  $75

Sometimes the most insight comes from the struggle one faces when something goes REALLY wrong.  But there are remedies for most any kind of 'disaster' in knitting.  Using these can turn a problem into a wearable garment while teaching us to be more intuitive and more confident knitters!

This workshop will discuss the problems that confront most knitters plus what to do if the garment is too wide, too short, too long, too narrow, too outdated in style, if a bad colour choice was made, if the edgings are not holding well, if the knitter has run out of yarn or forgot to make pockets, or if the garment has suffered a laundering disaster.

SKILL LEVEL beginner intermediate and beyond

SUPPLIES TO BRING yarn (same weight as homework piece, below)

HOMEWORK  Use non-textured, light-coloured yarns. Worsted weight is best. Block swatch well.

1. Work a 4" wide swatch in Stockinette until the piece measures 3" in length: work 1 row in a 2X2 color pattern (2 stitches in MC then 2 stitches CC, carrying the alternate color behind, for 1 row only): cut CC: with MC only and work in stockinette for 1”: finish with 1" k1p1 rib on 2-sizes smaller needles, then bind off all stitches with needles MUCH TOO LARGE.

FINE PRINT:  Class pricing is $75 for 3-hour classes and $125 for Friday's 6-hour class.  Take advantage of our discount pricing available for early birds and those taking multiple classes (or both!).  Spots will be held with a credit card over the phone, however early bird pricing requires payment in person or via check postmarked on or before Wednesday, April 14.  As always, classes are non-refundable and non-changeable.  If unable to attend, students are welcome to send someone else with advance notice. In such cases, the STUDENT is responsible for all arrangements (including contacting us in advance).