Beginner Crochet:

Have a fun class, and learn to crochet. You won’t believe what you can make in this class! Limit of 8 students so you get personal attention. We provide yarn and hooks to learn with, when you decide on 1st project, hooks are returned and yarn & hooks are purchased. Get your name on the list for the next class. currently looking for a teacher 

Beginner Knitting:

Learn to knit with Elena Nodel.  Saturday afternoons for 6 weeks.  Start date Sept. 4th or 11th, Either 1-3PM, or 3:30-5:30PM, depending on other classes running.  For absolute newbies, or a refresher for those who have not picked up needles for a awhile. Have a fun class and learn to knit. You won’t believe what you can make in this class! Limit of 8 students, so you get personal attention. We provide yarn and needles for you to learn with, when you decide on first project, needles are returned and yarn and needles are purchased. Get your name on the list for the next class.

We can also offer beginner knitting with Edita Michalek on Friday nights.  Start date would be Sept. 17th, 7-9PM.  Limit of 8 students, so you get personal attention. We provide yarn and needles for you to learn with, when you decide on first project, needles are returned and yarn and needles are purchased. Get your name on the list for the next class.

(for the following classes yarns must be chosen here before class)

Intermediate Knitting:

With Pat Dyksterhuis. Start date Sept. 18, Saturday mornings, 10:30-12:30PM, or Start date Sept. 4/10, 1-3PM, $85 for 6  weeks. Knit your choice of project. Challenge yourself beyond the basics. Pick a project which you think is above your ability, and grow beyond your wildest dreams! You will learn so much in this class, because you learn from what the others in class are doing as well. Call the store for a current class schedule, or check out our latest newsletter at top of what's new page.

With Edita Michalek.  Start date Sept. 13, Monday afternoons, 12:30 - 2:30PM.  $85 for 6 weeks.  Knit your choice of project.  Challenge yourself beyond the basics.  See info as above. 

Willoughby Scarf Workshop $75 plus HST for 4 weeks.  Auguest 7, 16, Sept. 4 and 11th, 2010.  Call the store for details, 604-275-1239.  This is the wonderful scarf from Jared Flood's Made in Brooklyn booklet.  It makes a perfect 2nd lace scarf project, for those wanting to improve their skills.  We will repeat this class upon demand with a minimum of 4 students. 

Fair Isle Knitting Class, the next step: with Pat Dyksterhuis

10 weeks, $145, 1-3PM, start date to be determined by interested students.  Let us know if you would like to be part of this experience asap, and we can plan it. 

We had a wonderful class with Pat knitting 2 handed fair isle, making the fabulous Jared Flood Beaumont Beanie or Tam from Made In Brooklyn.  Those who have learned the method of 2 handed Fair Isle, or who are confident knitters, wanting to make a garment and learn the construction techniques on a small project will make a teddy bear or small child's fair isle sweater, depending on the students knitting time.  We have lots of 2ply jumper weight shetland wool colours to choose from.  You will need 6 colours, 2 dark, 2 medium, 2 light, and 3mm and 3.25mm needles: a  40cm circular and double points.  You will learn two handed fair isle technique, reading a chart pattern, corrugated ribbing: Make and cut steeks for front opening, sleeves and neck shaping; and how to block your sweater. 

CAT BORDHI's workshop last month was a fabulous success, according to the students we heard from.  If you could not make these ones, please make sure you let us know which of the workshops you would like to attend for the next time we bring her up.  Get your name on the calling list so you don't miss out next time.  Choose from the workshops she offers below, and call us to get your name on the list for the most fun and exciting knitting workshop teacher you will ever meet.

Cat Bordhi Workshop Information 2009-2010

Cat Bordhi’s mission, according to Stephanie Pearl McPhee, “is to make you a more creative, freethinking knitter who problem-solves and experiments with vigor and fearlessness. The best part?  She can.” Cat teaches and inspires more than a 1,000 knitters a year in her classes and retreats all over North America. Her Youtube knitting tutorials reach many 1,000’s more, and her innovative books, Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles, A Treasury of Magical Knitting, A Second Treasury of Magical Knitting , and New Pathways For Sock Knitters have reached well over 100,000 knitters.She is also the author of a Napra Nautilus award-winning novel, Treasure Forest. Her newest book, Personal Footprints for Insouciant Sock Knitters,  is now in stock. For more information, visit www.catbordhi.com.  We have all her books, by the way.

New Pathways for Sock Knitters (intermediate to advanced)

Note: I can also offer a more advanced version of this class.

Description: This class takes you “backstage” to see and understand how the new sock architectures in my book, NEW PATHWAYS FOR SOCK KNITTERS, work. In fact, my goal for the class is that you won’t need my book, unless you want to follow a particular pattern. So if you’ve been hankering to create your own original designs, or maybe just add stitch patterns with confidence, this class will empower you to be a sock designer and a better all-around knitter. You’ll knit one very small sock to gain a fluent understanding of the elements underlying all the architectures. Then you’ll be ready to design within any of the architectures,even to create new ones! We’ll explore ways to integrate stitch patterns, texture, elasticity, durability, and color to help you create beautiful, well-fitted, and original sock designs. Our day together will be chock full of sock-knitting “ahah!” moments and deeper and deeper understanding of how to cover the foot with a continuous strand of yarn in charming and clever ways.

Class supplies and homework: In addition to the usual knitting supplies: excellent quality (absolutely no acrylics please – it is the least cooperative of all yarn), light-colored (so you can clearly see your stitches) sport to worsted weight wool for the exploratory baby socks, with appropriate sized needles; and several choices of sock yarn for making full-size socks, with appropriate sized needles. Needles may be dpn’s, 2 circs, or 1 long circ; bring a variety of sizes so you can swatch to get a gauge that makes good sock fabric. Please watch Cat’s Youtube tutorials on wrapping and turning stitches, and then concealing the wraps, as well as her tutorial on Judy’s Magic Cast-On, and practice the techniques before coming to class.

Personal Footprints for Insouciant Sock Knitters

(confident beginner to advanced; prerequisite skills include knit, purl, kfb, k2tog, plus fluency and confidence knitting in the round using your choice of dpns, 1 long circ, or 2 circs. A cast-on and elastic bind-off will be taught.)

Description: In 2008 I set myself the challenge of developing a sock knitting process that would be as simple as humanly possible without sacrificing fit or design possibilities, and I believe I’ve met my goal. Insouciant describes “that cheerful feeling you have when nothing is troubling you,” and this method really will make you an insouciant sock knitter.  During class your feet will guide you to create a portable Personal Footprint which will carry all the information you need to knit yourself perfectly fitting socks anywhere you go. There are no short rows, no stitches to pick up, no gauge calculations, no gussets, no heel flaps, and no grafting. The method is described in detail in my new book, Personal Footprints for Insouciant Sock Knitters which also includes about 25 original designs. In class I’ll also show you how easy it is to integrate designs into your Personal Footprints socks, and for those who arrive in class already versed in working with their Personal Footprint, I will teach more advanced design approaches.

Class supplies and homework: For learning the toe start: About 5 yards of worsted weight, excellent quality wool and your choice of dpns, 1 long circ, or 2 circs in a size that makes it easy to work with your yarn.  For your first Personal Footprint sock: Pencil and eraser. A piece of cardboard large enough to trace your foot on (like the back of a cereal box), and scissors for cutting it out. Excellent quality sock yarn in a weight you expect to use often, with needles in a size that give you good sock fabric (dense yet elastic). Beware: the suggested gauge on ball bands is usually too loose for socks. Bring several sizes of needles (dpns, 1 long circ, or 2 circs ) so you can adjust if necessary. If using dpns, you will also need one 24” or longer circular needle for trying the sock on and opening the leg; it can be the same size or smaller than your dpns.

Magical Moebius Knitting (advanced beginner to expert) 

Description: Learn Cat’s Moebius Cast-On and the tricks of knitting along the ”Moebius highway”, and then the thrill ride begins! For utterly carefree knitting you may make a scarf, or if you’re feeling adventurous, decide how and where you’d like to open up this single-surfaced, single-edged stream of knitted grace. Your opening can give birth to a basket (a great first project) or a bag. Other possibilities you’ll be encouraged to imagine and design for yourself are a sweater, a skirt, or even an evening wrap with sleeves ending in gloves! Moebius knitting is unlike any other kind of knitting because of its innocence, grace, simplicity, peace, beauty, and willingness to head in a sophisticated and complex direction if that pleases you.

Class supplies and homework: In addition to the usual knitting supplies: bring good quality, cooperative dk or heavier weight yarn (absolutely no acrylics please – it is the least cooperative of all yarn) suitable for a scarf, or for a basket, about 135 yards of a worsted-weight felting yarn and a few yards of a smooth yarn in a contrasting color to your project yarn. You’ll need either an interchangeable needle kit with a long cord (for a needle that measures between about 44” to 55” tip to tip) or a 47” needle in a size suitable for the yarn(s) you will be using. Needle size should give you a nice drapey fabric if you are making a scarf, or a very loose fabric if planning a felted project like a basket. You’ll also need one conspicuous marker, as well as a supply of plain markers if you choose to make a scarf with a lace repeat. Please refer to either of my Treasuries of Magical Knitting for more information or to choose a project. Please watch my Youtube video on Moebius knitting and practice the caston:

http://tinyurl.com/lxsc4o

Engineering New Stitch Patterns – 6-hour class, 24 student limit

(confident intermediate to advanced knitters)

Description: Are you a stitch dictionary junkie? Can you imagine owning a book of entirely

fresh, unknown stitches? If you’re an adventurous soul, join us to synergistically and individually

birth new stitch patterns by recombining the basic structural elements of knitting,

by using images as inspiration for knitterly reinterpretation, and by following generative

pathways Cat will map out. We’ll also choose a few stitch patterns to turn into a family of

related stitch patterns, perfect for combining on one garment. You’ll leave class knowing

how to generate original stitches suitable for any kind of knitted garment or accessory, and

This class will keep your brain cells lively and bright, and we will have a great deal of fun.

Class supplies Needles (any sk ianndd y hooum liekwe,o erxkc: ept for circulars with unyielding cables; I recommend Addi

Turbo Lace) and high quality yarn (absolutely no acrylics please – it is the least cooperative

of all yarn) for swatching your ideas. Yarn should have excellent stitch definition, be a light

or bright color so it can be seen well indoors, and in a weight (dk or heavier) that lets you

see stitch pathways with ease (consider Lorna’s Laces “Cat Bordhi Ahah!” yarn, which Beth

Casey and I developed to make investigating and deeply understanding new techniques

clear and easy—causing you to happily exclaim “Ahah! Now I get it!”). I recommend one

multicolor (can be the Ahah! yarn) and one single-color or shaded-solid colorway. Please

also bring a variety of stitch markers, scissors, a darning needle, graph paper, a set of colored

pencils, a mechanical pencil, an art-gum eraser, and a stitch dictionary you are fond

of, as well as any or all of the following: a clear photo of an intriguing and mysterious

stitch element on a knitted garment cut out of a magazine or catalogue (see someone in a

crowd with a great sweater? Pull out your camera phone and sneak up behind them to take

a photo!); a knitted garment with an unfamiliar stitch pattern, clippings/ photos/ sketches

of beautiful patterns found in architecture, tilework, wallpaper, fences, anywhere you see

something that might become a stitch pattern . . . you get the idea. If we reverse engineer

stitches from garments you bring in, we will not copy them, rather use them as creative

springboards. If you photograph stitches, if possible, also photograph the inside as this may

give important clues. Please come well-rested and with a happy brain, ready for delightful

adventures.

Finding the Fountain of Fresh Knitting Ideas– 3 to 6 hours, limit 24 students

(advanced beginner on up, must have a sense of adventure and curiosity)

Description: This workshop is child’s play — yet generates startling and stunning designs

which your well-behaved brain would never lead you to otherwise. Are you an aspiring designer

or inquisitive knitter who’d like to know where to get great ideas and how to apply them?

Over the years Cat has devised a handful of playful methods for generating such an overflow

of original design possibilities that among them there are sure to be dozens that you’d want to

knit if you had more than twenty-four hours in a day. We’ll generate ideas as a team, then work

in pairs, and finally, each student will work independently to solve chosen design problems.

This is an exciting, high-energy class, which will leave you renewed, refreshed, and frustrated

that you can’t spend your whole life knitting. Fortunately, the methods taught in this class can

be applied outside of knitting, to generate innovative responses and solutions to most of life’s

problems, such as – how to have more time to knit!

Class supplies: Yarn, needles, scissors, graph paper, blank paper, colored pencils, tape and a

little collection of small odd things from around your house (such as a green rubber band, a

kitty toy, a sea shell, a book of matches, etc. – surprise us!) A dodecahedron die, if possible - it’s

a chastity belt for your mind, and you may need one.