Woodland Holiday Stockings (2 Parts – 10/26 & 11/2)

Description

Knitted holiday stockings provide a wonderful, fun introduction to colorwork for advanced beginners and above!  They make great gifts, or use them to decorate your own mantle.  In this class, you’ll learn to make a stocking in two colors (you pick them!) and with the woodland animal of your choice – a deer, squirrel, bird, or rabbit!  

We’ll begin with a slipstitch chevron pattern stitch and then switch to color work.  During the first week, we’ll complete the stocking up to the heel turn; then, into the second week, we turn the heel and send you forward to completion.  These skills will help you make other kinds of stockings.    

Pattern will be supplied by Artisan Knitworks

Skill Level: *Adventurous Advanced Beginner 

You should be comfortable knitting in the round, using whichever method you prefer (e.g., double pointed needles, two circular needles, or magic loop).  See Artisan Knitworks staff for information about these methods if uncertain which to choose.  No prior sock knitting experience is needed.

Materials: 150 yards of worsted weight yarn in main color, 185 yards of worsted weight yarn in contrast color. Suggested yarns: Berroco Vintage, Blue Sky Woolstok, Plymouth Galway, Plymouth Encore, or Kelbourne Lucky Tweed. See Artisan Knitworks staff for more suggestions.

Size 6 needles (your choice of method), or a size that results in 4.5 sts per inch.  Size 6 double points will be needed for heel and toes. Stitch markers, scrap yarn, and tapestry needle. 

Pattern: Woodland Stockings pattern by Allison Lutes will be provided during class.

Homework:  Make a gauge swatch — cast on 18 sts and make a swatch in stockinette stitch (K 1 row, P 1 row), or, if you prefer, make a swatch with 36 sts with double pointed needles (in the round).  If too few stitches per inch, you will need smaller needles; if too few, larger needles.

We hope that you will buy your supplies at Artisan Knitworks. .  

Note:  All registrants in Artisan Knitworks classes get a 10% discount on all full-priced merchandise before, during, and immediately after the class period.   

 

About Sharon Rakow:

Sharon Rakow has been teaching beginners and experienced knitters alike for almost two decades.  She was employed at Knit Around Yarn Shop, Ann Arbor, Michigan, for 10 years and then at Always in Stitches, Noblesville, Indiana, for 3 years.  And, after returning to Michigan some years ago, she worked and taught for a year at Artisan Knitworks.  Sharon has been known to say that she is fearless.  She believes that, by expanding a knitter’s skills and repertoire of techniques, any project can be conquered. She especially enjoys introducing knitters to the beauty and ease of Fair Isle and other varieties of stranded colorwork.

When not knitting or spinning, Sharon works in IT. She is also part owner of WheelyCool Fibers where she is responsible for designing and creating hand-spun yarns and spinning blends. Some of her hand-spuns can be found at Artisan Knitworks. 

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For most classes, we hope you’ll use our beautiful yarns! We offer a 10% discount on full-priced materials for class use.

All classes include detailed handouts or (as relevant) printed patterns.

Classes may require a minimum number of participants.  If Artisan Knitworks or the instructor has to cancel, a full refund (check), registration in another class, or store credit (120% of tuition) will be offered.  If you have to cancel your class registration up to 7 days before the event, we offer the same choices.  However, we cannot offer these choices if you cancel within the 7-day window.