After the Whirlwind…

Whew! I’ve had a bit of adventure of late. After so long without much travel, I had three trips in a row over the past two months. It was supposed to be four, but, well… things got complicated.

After Stitches West in February, we had a family trip to Kauai and the Big Island that I hope to tell you about in more detail soon. It really does warrant a full review and I’ve got lots or recommendations, as soon as I have time to write them all up. For now, I just want to say that we had an amazing time and the wildlife we spotted was off the charts. Check out my Instagram posts from mid-March for a quick preview.

Just two days after my return from Hawaii, I was off again, this time traveling to Port Ludlow, Washington, for the return of one of my very favorite knitting events, Strungalong. It’s always been an amazing, small retreat with the most outstanding teachers, but I’ve come to appreciate it even more after having been away for three years. It really was a tremendous thing to connect with old friends and get to be a student again.

After that, I was scheduled to get to see some of you in person at Interweave Yarn Fest in Loveland, Colorado last week. Alas, I was struck down again by Covid. Fortunately my case was mild, and I seem to have recovered from it. But I was so disappointed to miss being with you all in Colorado.

It’s fortuitous for all concerned, then, that my next upcoming teaching excursions will be virtual. I’ll be teaching some of your favorites as well as some new classes online via my own website over Zoom in April, May and June. Registration is now open via my Payhip store. 

Basic Knit Fixes · Saturday, April 29 – Never fear, almost everything in knitting can be fixed. In this class, you’ll learn how to “read” your knitting to identify problems, what causes issues like accidental holes and unintentionally expanding knitting, and how to fix common problems like dropped or twisted stitches. You’ll learn how to tink, how to frog, and how to know which one to do when. You’ll learn how and when to use lifelines, and a few other tips and tricks along the way! (Beginner and up)

Intro to Brioche: Two-Color Brioche in the Round · Saturday, April 29 – Unlock the secrets of squishy, captivating brioche knitting. Working brioche in the round is easier than flat, and two colors are easier to keep track of than one. You’ll learn the magic of working this fun and fluffy stitch as you begin to work the Bri-Licious Cowl in class. This class is suitable for first-time brioche knitters and the pattern will be supplied in class. (Advanced Beginner and Up – Must know how to slip stitches, work yarnovers, and knit in the round.)

Ladderback Jacquard · Saturday, May 20 – Once you add this technique to your knitting toolbox, you may never want to go back to any other method of carrying floats. The ladderback jacquard technique will improve the tension of your stranded knitting while allowing you to span much larger areas between stitches. This knitting method adds stretch to the floats while preventing the alternate color from peeking through, and can be applied to nearly any form of stranded knitting. (Advanced – Must already know how to knit basic stranded colorwork.)

Straightforward Steps To Self-Publishing Patterns · Saturday, May 20 – So you’ve written a knitting pattern — or you know you want to … now what? I will walk you step-by-step through the process of preparing your pattern for release and launching it into the world. We’ll talk about resources and timelines, the roles of tech editors and test knitters  (plus how to find them and how to know if they’re what you need), and best practices for layout and photography. Then we’ll dive into the sales process: How to list on Ravelry, options for other sales platforms, and even a bit of marketing guidance. (All Levels) 

Sock Doc · Saturday, June 3 – One of the benefits of hand-knitting socks is to get a custom fit … so what do you do if you don’t? What if you end up with socks that pinch in, pooch out, sag, bag, or have holes in the wrong places? What if your socks come out … (gasp!) ugly? In this lecture-based class with plenty of back-and-forth Q&A, I’ll share best practices in sock knitting and tackle the most common problems sock knitters encounter. She’ll answer your specific questions about the problems you are having with your handknit socks and share solutions you may not have considered. (All levels of sock knitters)

Brioche Without Breakdowns: Recognize and Fix Your Mistakes · Saturday, June 3 – Mistakes in brioche can feel overwhelming, but there’s no need to give up! In this class we’ll examine different types mistakes that happen in brioche knitting, and practice recognizing and fixing them. We’ll work from simple fixes to lifelines to complicated brioche “party tricks,” learning the secrets to brioche tinking, frogging, dropping down, and more. (Intermediate – Must already know how to work basic two-color brioche.)
 

There’ll be more travel to in-person events later in the spring and summer. I’ve got the full listing on my Classes page, so if you’re near Milwaukee, Philadelphia, or Deer Isle, Maine, we just might get to spend some time together. In the meantime, as Elizabeth Zimmerman said, “Knit on with confidence and hope through all crises.”