Leader: Steve Foreman
Craft: Hand Knitting
Experience: Confident Beginner
Summary: By the end of this workshop you will know what stranded knitting is, when it is an appropriate method to use, how to read a chart for colour knitting, and how to knit an object using stranded knitting. We will cover knitting with more than one colour, choice of colour, colour dominance, managing floats, and making increases and decreases.
Description
Stranded knitting is a form of colour work that is well suited to repeating motifs that cover a knitted item, well known for its use in Fair Isle and Scandinavian hats and jumpers.
In this workshop we will work on a stranded knitting bookmark in two colours. The pattern is designed so that it can be worked in the round (using double pointed needles, magic loop on one circular needle, or two circular needles). Those who do not want to work in the round can use the “false in the round” with double pointed needles or a circular needle.
You will learn how to manage create stranded knit fabric from both the knit and purl faces of the work, how to manage your yarn, how to avoid your floats being too tight, a method for trapping floats so they do not catch on fingers when the item is in use, colour dominance, and what to think about when choosing colours.
About the leader
I started knitting when I was working away from home as a way of “turning off” in the evenings. I always have several projects on the go – and always one that contains something new. In the past, I have “investigated” stranded knitting, lace knitting and steeks and have presented workshops at four Conventions on these and design topics.
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Email – the@teabreakknitter.uk
Skills required
You will need to know how to cast on and make knit and purl stitches. Although we will not increase or decrease during the workshop, we will talk about how these are best handled when making stranded knitting. It will be an advantage if you can knit small circumference items in the round, but the workshop is designed to allow you to take part if you cannot do that.
Preparation
No preparation is needed
What to bring
- 4mm needles of the type you prefer for knitting small diameter items in the round, such as a set of double pointed needles, two circulars, or a circular needle at least 80cm long.
- 10g each of two contrasting, solid colour, smooth double knitting wool.
- 6 stitch markers.
- Pen or pencil and paper for taking notes.
- Scissors or snips to cut your yarn.
Additional material
Steve will provide a handout covering the main points discussed in the workshop.
