| Day | Date | Time | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Apr 30 | 5pm – 7pm | Book Signing – WWMdFK? |
| Tuesday | May 1 | 11am – 1pm | Tintern Abbey (Toe-up Socks) |
| Tuesday | May 1 | 4pm – 7pm | Beginning Bead Knitting (with Mrs Beeton) |
| Wednesday | May 2 | 2 – 6pm | Basic Top-Down Raglan (with a Difference) |
| Day | Date | Time | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | May 3 | 6pm – 8pm | A Memorable Yarn |
| Friday | May 4 | 2pm – 6pm | Creative Glove Design |
| Sunday | May 6 | 10am – 1pm | Beginning Bead Knitting (with Mrs Beeton) |
| Sunday | May 6 | 2pm – 5pm | No Math Sherman Toes and Heels (Toe-up Socks) |
| Day | Date | Time | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | May 8 | 6pm – 8pm | A Memorable Yarn |
| Wednesday | May 9 | 9am – noon | No Math Sherman Toes and Heels (Toe-up Socks) |
| Wednesday | May 9 | 1pm – 5 pm | Basic Top-Down Raglan (with a Difference) |
| Day | Date | Time | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | May 12 | 1pm – 5pm | Creative Glove Design |
| Saturday | May 12 | 7pm – 9pm | A Memorable Yarn |
| Sunday | May 13 | 10pm – 6pm | Advanced Top-Down Raglan (with a Difference) |
| Day | Date | Time | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | May 19 | 10am – 1pm | No Math Sherman Toes and Heels (Toe-up Socks) |
| Saturday | May 19 | 2pm – 6pm | Beginning Bead Knitting (with Mrs Beeton) |
| Sunday | May 20 | 10am – 1pm | Mrs Beeton Wristwarmers |
| Sunday | May 20 | 2pm – 5pm | Tintern Abbey (Toe-up Socks) |
| Day | Date | Time | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | May 23 | 6pm – 9pm | No Math Sherman Toes and Heels (Toe-up Socks) |
| Thursday | May 24 | 6pm – 8pm | Book Signing – WWMdFK? |
| Saturday | May 26 | 1pm – 5pm | Basic Top-Down Raglan (with a Difference) |
| Sunday | May 27 | 1pm – 5pm | Creative Glove Design |
| Day | Date | Time | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | May 28 | 7pm – 9pm | A Memorable Yarn |
| Tuesday | May 29 | 10am – 2pm | Basic Top-Down Raglan (with a Difference) |
| Tuesday | May 29 | 3 – 6pm | Beginning Bead Knitting (with Mrs Beeton) |
| Day | Date | Time | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | June 9 | 11:30 – 5:30 | Advanced Top Down Raglan (with a Difference) |
| Sunday | June 10 | 11:30 – 2:30 | No Math Sherman Toes and Heels (Toe-up Socks) |
| Sunday | June 10 | 3:30 – 5:30 | A Memorable Yarn |
| Day | Date | Time | Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | June 16 | 1:00 – 4:00 | No Math Sherman Toes and Heels (Toe-up Socks) | Saturday | June 16 | tba | Book Signing – WWMdFK? |
Classes
Practical, pretty wristwarmers.
First published in knitty.com, Mrs Beeton wrist warmers are the essence of romance with soft ruffles that look utterly charming peeking out from under a jacket sleeve and beads that catch the light and sparkle at your wrists.
Named for Mrs Isabella Beeton, whose 1861 Book of Household Management offered its readers no-nonsense, practical advice on all aspects of housekeeping, Mrs Beeton’s wrist warmers are quick to knit, make great low-cost gifts and, as they cover a pulse point on your wrist, they actually do keep you warm. Practical and pretty. Oh, how Mrs. Beeton smiles at that.
What you’ll learn: Beaded cast on; placing beads in knitting; three needle knit together; picot bind-off.
Experience level: This introductory level class is for those who can knit, purl, increase and decrease, and knit in the round with confidence.
Materials:
Yarn: One skein of DK weight yarn and one skein of lace weight are usually enough yarn for two sets of wrist warmers. Alternatively, this pattern is perfect for using up luxury yarn scraps – from 4 to 18 yards – that are too small for most projects, but too dear to throw away.
Notions:
108 Japanese seed beads, size 11/0
18 Czech glass beads, size 8/0
Needles:
1 set US 7/4.5mm double-point needles
1 set US 6/4mm double-point needles
Note-taking materials: Note paper and pencils.
Beautiful. Durable. Friendly.
In this class you’ll learn Brenda’s amazing toe-up sock recipe, which features the best-looking, absolutely easiest, short-row method for toes and heels ever invented. (Brenda would know; she’s tried them all.)
Socks feature a provisional cast-on, short-row toe, gusset combined with short row-heel, and a stretchy bind-off. Best of all, there are absolutely no complicated formulas and positively no need for math. This easy-to-memorize pattern is adaptable to cables, lace, and color work, but is also just fine and dandy as is, a simple sock.
What you’ll learn: The Sherman Method for toes and heels, via a Learning Sock that will serve as reference point for full-sized socks in the future.
Experience level: This introductory class is for those who can knit, purl, increase, decrease, knit in the round, and work Judy’s Magic Cast On with confidence.
Materials:
Yarn: You’ll need between 360 and 400 yards of sock yarn sock yarn, and a small amount of sport or worsted weight for the learning sock.
Needles: Bring an assortment of sock-sized needles in sizes US 0 – US 3/2mm – 3.25 mm. The provisional cast-on requires one small circular needle and one double pointed needle held together, plus one working dpn in the size appropriate for your yarn. You’ll also need one set of straight, circular, or 2 dpns in a size appropriate to the yarn for your learning sock.
Socks can be knit on either dpns or circs, but there are a few places in the pattern where dpns make the job easier, so please bring both.
Note-taking materials: Note paper and pencils.
Wonderfully well-fitting socks.
In this class you’ll use Brenda’s popular Tintern Abbey pattern to learn an amazing toe-up sock recipe, which features the best-looking, absolutely easiest, short-row method for toes and heels ever invented. (Brenda would know; she’s tried them all.)
Socks feature a provisional cast-on, short-row toe, gusset combined with short row-heel, a wide rib on instep and ankle, finished with gothic Lace and a stretchy bind-off. Best of all, there are absolutely no complicated formulas and positively no need for math.
What you’ll learn: The Sherman Method for toes and heels, via a Learning Sock that will serve as reference point for full-sized socks in the future.
Experience level: This introductory class is for those who can knit, purl, increase, decrease, knit in the round, and work Judy’s Magic Cast On with confidence.
Materials:
Yarn: You’ll need between 360 and 400 yards of sock yarn sock yarn, and a small amount of sport or worsted weight for the learning sock.
Needles: Bring an assortment of sock-sized needles in sizes US 0 – US 3/2mm – 3.25 mm. The provisional cast-on requires one small circular needle and one double pointed needle held together, plus one working dpn in the size appropriate for your yarn. You’ll also need one set of straight, circular, or 2 dpns in a size appropriate to the yarn for your learning sock.
Socks can be knit on either dpns or circs, but there are a few places in the pattern where dpns make the job easier, so please bring both.
Note-taking materials: Note paper and pencils.
Fitting the hand from wrist to fingertip.
Using Driving Miss Daisy fingerless glove pattern as a jumping off point, you’ll learn the secrets of designing and knitting gloves to fit. We’ll look first at the anatomy of a hand and then move to measuring and recording project details on a comprehensive worksheet designed for this class.
Once gauge has been determined and individual schematics completed, we’ll discuss the range of design decisions specific to gloves. Participants will leave the class with their design schematics completed, and their project cast on.
What you’ll learn: Fitting specifics for cuffs, hands, and fingers, and design from the bottom-up, the top-down and from the wrist in both directions.
Experience level: This introductory design class is for those who can knit, purl, increase, decrease and knit in the round with confidence. Previous design experience is not required.
Materials:
Yarn: Approximately 200 yards fingering weight.
Bring an assortment of sock-sized dpn and circular needles in sizes US 0 – US 3/2mm – 3.25 mm. Gloves and mitts can be knit to knuckle length on either dpns or circs, however, dpns are essential for knitting glove fingers. Please bring both.
Note-taking materials: Note paper and pencils.
(With a Difference)
In this class you’ll learn the secrets of knitting a top-down raglan sweater that fits perfectly the first time and every time, no matter what. Comprehensive worksheets make it a snap to plan a raglan sweater, regardless of size or gauge. You’ll leave class with your worksheet completed, and your garment cast on, or ready to cast on when you get home.
What you’ll learn: Calculating the all-important Difference. Using the Difference to calculate the number of stitches needed to cast on in order to arrive at a given bust size while increasing every other row. (This is actually a whole lot easier than it sounds.)
Experience level: This introductory design class is for those who can knit, purl, increase, decrease and knit in the round with confidence. Previous design experience is not required.
Materials:
Yarn: Techniques are adaptable to whatever yarn weight participants choose to work in.
Suggested yardage requirements:
Light fingering weight:1800 – 2400
Sport: 1970- 2950
DK: 100 – 1800
Worsted/Aran: 900 – 1500
Bulky/Chunky: 540 – 850
Needles: A range of sizes appropriate to the chosen yarn.
Stitch markers: At least eight; the more the better.
Note-taking materials: Note paper, pencil and calculator.
(With a Difference)
You’ll spend the morning session of this class learning the secrets of knitting a top down raglan sweater that fits perfectly, regardless of size or gauge. By lunchtime you’ll have completed your worksheet and recorded your design decisions during the morning session of the class.
After lunch, we’ll continue with the design process, exploring how to add color, texture, or lace stitch patterns to enhance top down designs. Those wishing to begin immediately will be ready to cast on a top-down raglan garment after lunch, and design on-the-fly as they knit.
What you’ll learn: Calculating the all important Difference. Using the Difference for perfect fit. Design decisions – necklines, seams, body, and sleeves.
Experience level: Previous design experience is not required. Participants wishing to explore color work or stitch patterns during the design process will need to be familiar with those techniques.
Materials:
Yarn: Techniques are adaptable to whatever yarn weight participants choose to work in.
Suggested yardage requirements:
Light fingering weight:1800 – 2400
Sport: 1970- 2950
DK: 100 – 1800
Worsted/Aran: 900 – 1500
Bulky/Chunky: 540 – 850
Needles: A range of sizes appropriate to the chosen yarn.
Stitch markers: At least eight; the more the better.
Note-taking materials: Note paper, pencil and calculator.
Stitch dictionaries! Your favorite, or as many as you can carry.
Events
What is a memory? It is a set of encoded neural connections in the brain. It is also our ability to encode, store, retain and subsequently recall information and past experiences. Neurons firing in our brain are why we can knit, but it’s our memories of where we’ve been and what we’ve learned that make us knitters.
Join Brenda Dayne on a journey through synapses, brain wrinkles, actions, words, needles, and yarn as she explores these primal human connections in A Memorable Yarn. A collaborative, investigative storytelling and gallery event, A Memorable Yarn brings knitters, their work, and their memories into the spotlight.
Your participation is simple. Donate a few yards of a yarn that holds a certain memory – perhaps leftover from a meaningful project, a yarn personally hand-dyed or hand spun, or a souvenir yarn from a foreign adventure – and an hour or two of your time to knit a small Memory Bag as a physical recollection of that special yarn or project.
This small but intentional act will, in turn, create a new memory for you, as the knitter, and for Brenda, as the artist who will join these invisible strands and tangible objects into a single, powerful collection of personal history. Together, the Memory Bags will form a literal representation of hundreds of hours of labor, and create memory connections between knitters beyond their local social circles, bypassing age, gender, skill level, and socioeconomic status.
To take part in the Memorable Yarn Project, download the pdf, which contains directions for knitting your own Memory Bag, as well as a form for recording your memories. follow the instructions to knit your Memory Bag, then bring it and your recorded memories to the Memorable Yarn event nearest you.
Meet Lysistrata!
A marriage of great literature and knitting, What Would Madame Defarge Knit? is twenty-one patterns full of knit and crochet patterns inspired by characters from classic literature. From “Jane’s Ubiquitous Shawl” to the “Cthulhu Waits” tentacle-wrapped sock, the patterns, project recipes and accompanying essays contain a little something for everyone; four crocheted patterns, detailed directions for two types of dyeing, and even directions for light-up pattern pieces using e-textiles.
Meet Brenda with her fellow designer Heather Ordover at fibre space, in Alexandria VA; and with designers Dawn Ellerd and Gretchen Funk at the The Yarnery, in Minneapolis MN.