Intermediate

Sarah Solomon

Projects & Patterns, Tips & Techniques

We live in a golden age of fibers with a sometimes overwhelming number of yarns to choose from. In this class we’ll take a closer look at fibers and yarn with the ultimate goal of deeper understanding and making better, more informed choices for our knitting projects. We will discuss the properties and sources of both animal and plant fibers, then talk about the processing that goes into making these fibers into specific types of yarns. We will discuss the properties of worsted and woollen yarns and how plying affects yarn behavior. We will learn about how different fibers wash and wear, discuss what fiber blends achieve what results, consider the role of dyes, and explore choosing a yarn for a specific purpose. Once we have a foundation for how different yarns work, we will look at how to approach yarn substitutions. If you’ve ever wondered about why a yarn pills, why it grows when you wear it, why it feels light or heavy, or wondered what yarn would be best for a cable pattern, a lace pattern, a heavenly cowl, or a hard-wearing sweater, this is the class for you. This class is lecture/discussion-based; we will not be knitting in class. Technique Requirements: Knit/purl; cast on/bind off; Increase/decrease; have knit a few accessories; have completed several projects

$0

Saturday