Patty Lyons

There are so many ways your sweater can go wrong, but even more ways it can go sooo right. In this “all things sweater” overview class, we will cover some of the most important things you need to know, as well as a host of fantastic hands-on knitting tips to get you to your perfect sweater. In the first part of the class we will deal with all the things you need to know about your sweater before you knit, including an exploration of fiber and pattern choice. We will look at swatching best practices that go far beyond gauge, and we will also take a peek into the pattern to see what it will and won’t tell us.

In part two we will delve into specific knitting techniques to discover a host of “the pattern never told you that” knitting refinements, from better cast-ons to ways to improve the look of your rib, shaping, and shoulders, as well as a few fantastic bind-offs. Finally, we’ll address some finishing issues that plague many a knitter, when we explore the best practice for picking up stitches (including the oh-so-tricky button band on a V-neck trauma) as well as the best way to set in a sleeve. Discover the secrets and make this the year of your perfect sweater!

Technique Requirements: Must know long-tail cast-on, how to knit, purl, cast on, bind off, basic increases and decreases, have knit one sweater.