Mentor: Someone whose hindsight can become your foresight
[Author Unknown]

If raveling out almost as much as I knit qualifies me to facilitate knitting classes, then I’m over qualified. Sometimes I think I ravel more than I knit. You should see my box of learned-the-hard-way projects.

Here is the list of classes I’m leading at Sarah Jane’s Yarn Shoppe this fall:

Unfinished Knitting Projects: October 5, 2010 (5:00 – 7:00) 
October 23, 2010 (10:00 – 12:00)

Have you lost your place in a pattern so you can’t go on? Are you frustrated by a difficulty in your knitting? Do you need help with fitting, construction or some other dreaded task? These sessions are planned to help knitters solve challenges that are keeping them from finishing projects.

Bring: A project, pattern, needles, and whatever else you’d need to ask questions and find solutions to specific problems.

Gansey Socks: October 9 & 16 (12:30 – 2:30)

Learn the basics of gansey knitting. In her book, Knitting Ganseys, Beth Brown-Reinsel discusses the details that makes sweater construction identifiably Gansey — welts, plain area, definition ridge, patterning, seam stitches, gusset. This sock pattern includes all those features. The gusset for the heel is even worked like an underarm gusset, then turned with a short-row technique.

Bring: DK-weight yarn (plain color and light enough to see a texture pattern), US Size 1 or 2 needles (5-needle sock set, two circulars or magic loop will all work), tapestry needle, scissors, stitch markers.

Mouse Tracks Shawl: October 9, 16 & November 20, 2010 (10:00 – 12:00)

This garter-stitch shawl features shaping so that it hangs comfortably, simple Russian-style lace accents, and double-ribbed closure. Learn the basics of chart reading, eyelet lace, short rows, increases and decreases.

Bring: 750 yards of sock or sport weight yarn, US size 2 or 3 circular (or pair of long straight) needles, tapestry needle, scissors, stitch markers.

Texture + Color Mitten: October 12 & 19, 2010 (5:00 – 7:00)

This pattern was written in a child’s size so it could be completed in about 4 hours with the intent of providing practice in both texture and two-color (stranded) knitting. An adult size pattern will also be provided. Learn chart reading, two-color knitting, texture knitting, and shaping.

Bring: Two colors of DK-weight yarn (a light color and a dark color), US Size 2 or 3 needles, tapestry needle, scissors, stitch markers. Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride and US Size 3 needles will work for adult mittens.

Colorful Counterpane: November 2 & 16, 2010 (5:00 – 7:00)

Learn long-tail cast on, increases, decreases, stranded color knitting, selvage preparation for seam, seam sewing, pattern and chart reading. This projects includes most of the basic knitting skills and produces four afghan squares that are sewn together.

Bring: four colors of DK weight wool yarn: 1 ball green, 2 balls light neutral color, 1 ball dark and 1 ball light flower color. 5-needle sock set in size appropriate for yarn weight. 20-inch circular needle at least two sizes smaller than sock set.

What breaks in a moment may take years to mend.
[Swedish Proverb]

Sock mending is almost a forgotten skill, but hand-knit socks deserve mending. The socks in the photo above have heels that can be raveled and re-knit if necessary. They are for another class I’m facilitating at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. It is half a day (Sunday, 1:00-4:00 pm) so I have a small project planned that gives the knitter detailed experience making a replaceable or peasant heel. I have printed copies of the August sock (watermelon) from my CD book for each participant as well.