The Details...
Saturday, January 9th 2pm to 4pm MANDATORY
Saturday, January 16th 2pm to 4pm
Saturday, January 23rd 2pm to 4pm
Saturday February 6th 2pm to 4pm
This 4-session get-together is structured to help you along and answer any questions as they come up, but it is not a class in the sense that everyone is doing the exact same thing at the same time with lecture/presentations. It's a fun social atmosphere, with the first meeting discussing the fit of the sweater. You will need a knit swatch before the first meeting (more information below)
The first meeting is MANDATORY, as we will discuss fit and gauge and hand out printed patterns and email digital patterns. After that, all meetings are up to you, and there are no make-up sessions available. Remember, this is more social/accountability than it is instructional! This particular sweater is very laid back and knits up fast because it is on large needles! There is a little bit of detail through the yoke, but it is a fairly simple "lace" that isn't really lace.
During the first meeting, we will cast on the neck of the sweater. So you will want the needles that you swatched with AND needles 2mm smaller for the neck. Sometimes this means bringing a lot of needles but you will be happy you did!
Pre-req: Must know how to knit in the round, purl, increase, decrease, cast on and bind off.
So you need to know how much yarn to purchase....
I will HIGHLY recommend Yarnalia Cloud for this sweater. The lofty-ness of this yarn is perfect for the design and is light as air. Using a worsted with a fluffy yarn held double is what the pattern calls for, but it will be a more dense sweater. My XXL sweater was 7 balls of Yarnalia Cloud (350 grams). If you want to look at the colors that this yarn comes in and special order, just let us know! You can see the colors HERE
Pre-req: Must know how to knit in the round, purl, increase, decrease, cast on and bind off.
So you need to know how much yarn to purchase....
I will HIGHLY recommend Yarnalia Cloud for this sweater. The lofty-ness of this yarn is perfect for the design and is light as air. Using a worsted with a fluffy yarn held double is what the pattern calls for, but it will be a more dense sweater. My XXL sweater was 7 balls of Yarnalia Cloud (350 grams). If you want to look at the colors that this yarn comes in and special order, just let us know! You can see the colors HERE
I'm giving the estimates of balls of yarn needed for the different sizes, but this is ONLY for Yarnalia Cloud. If you would like to use a different yarn, you will need different amounts of yarn (reference the pattern for these amounts)
XS-4
S-5
M-5
L-6
XL-6
2XL-7
3XL-7
4XL-8
5XL-8
Needles:
US #10/6mm and US #10.75/7mm (a LOT of sets don't have a 10.75 so I used a US11 for my sweater)
Notions: Removable stitch markers, waste yarn/knitting barber cords (we have them in stock), Stitch markers (a handful if you want to use them through the lace), tapestry needle to weave in ends
Gauge
14 stitches and 20 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch with larger needles
THE GAUGE SWATCH
Using the yarn you've selected and the larger needle (US10.75 or US11) CO24 stitches and knit a stockinette swatch (I like to put a couple stitches at the beginning and end in garter stitch so it doesn't roll at the edges) . After an inch or two, change to another needle size (I highly recommend putting a row of purls or something to mark the change in needle size). If the fabric feels too loose, go down a needle size or two....if the fabric feels too stiff, go up a needle size or two. It never hurts to gauge with 2-3 needle sizes to make sure you get the fabric that you love!! Be sure to note which needle you used on each section!
US #10/6mm and US #10.75/7mm (a LOT of sets don't have a 10.75 so I used a US11 for my sweater)
Notions: Removable stitch markers, waste yarn/knitting barber cords (we have them in stock), Stitch markers (a handful if you want to use them through the lace), tapestry needle to weave in ends
Gauge
14 stitches and 20 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch with larger needles
THE GAUGE SWATCH
Using the yarn you've selected and the larger needle (US10.75 or US11) CO24 stitches and knit a stockinette swatch (I like to put a couple stitches at the beginning and end in garter stitch so it doesn't roll at the edges) . After an inch or two, change to another needle size (I highly recommend putting a row of purls or something to mark the change in needle size). If the fabric feels too loose, go down a needle size or two....if the fabric feels too stiff, go up a needle size or two. It never hurts to gauge with 2-3 needle sizes to make sure you get the fabric that you love!! Be sure to note which needle you used on each section!
You can knit your swatch flat or in the round.
If you would like to swatch in the round here is a video that might help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsn5DqmXA-w
Also, I found a cool new way from Laura Nelkin that you might like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A59F9L4P-E
After you have bound off your gauge swatch, put it in water for 15 minutes, then take out and dry in a towel and lay flat to dry. You don't need to pin out your swatch, but spread it out like you would a finished sweater. It is interesting to measure the swatch before and after blocking to see how much it grows or doesn't grow! Every fiber reacts differently.
**BRING THIS SWATCH WASHED, BLOCKED AND DRIED TO OUR FIRST MEETING**
Things to bring to our first meeting:
- Your washed and blocked gauge swatch
- The knitting needles you used to make your gauge swatch AND be sure to have the needle you will need for the neckline (if you gauge swatch in US9, US10 and US11...bring all those needles AND bring a US8 as well) Yes, this may mean bringing a lot of needles. If you don't want to, we have them in stock as well!
- One ball of your yarn
- Calculator (chances are you have one in your cell!) :)
WE WILL PROVIDE THE PRINTED AND DIGITAL PATTERN FOR YOU!!
Frequently Asked Questions...
Q: Why are the meetings more closely spaced than usual?
A: This is a larger gauge sweater and will knit up faster than sweaters we have done in the past.
Q: I can't make it to the 2nd meeting, can I schedule an extra session to get caught up?
A: No, unfortunately there are no make-up sessions. We do have private lessons on Tuesdays and Fridays if you need them. Sweater-a-long is more of an accountability, fun group, and not a lecture-type class. There is nothing to get "caught up" on as what goes on during each gathering is organic and comes from questions/issues that you guys encounter.
Q: Do I have to knit to a certain point each gathering?
A: No! You will knit at YOUR speed. Whatever point you are at for each gathering, is exactly where YOU should be. If you run into something that stops you up, just bring it to the next gathering and we can work through it together.
Q: What will you be teaching?
A: On the first gathering, we will do the most "class work" as we will be measuring our gauge swatch and determining the size of sweater that we would like. I will step you through the process and we will cast on the sweater. If you have questions about weaving in ends, ask it! If you need help putting your sleeves on hold, we got you! If you don't understand the pattern, we will walk you through it. Each one of these sweater-a-longs take on a different feel depending on who is taking it and what questions arise. Sometimes people have NO questions and just knit the sweater and socialize. Everyone is on their own journey and we will meet you where you are at!
Q: What if I already know how to knit a sweater?
A: That's fine! This gathering is more social/accountability than it is instructional. We are here for you if you need us!
Q: What if I don't finish the sweater in the time we have together
A: That's no problem. You can finish it on your own schedule. If you need assistance after the final gathering, we can set up a private lesson time (they are $25/hour)
Q: Can I use yarn from my stash?
A: You bet!!! But if you don't have a sweaters quantity in your stash...we are happy to help! If you want to special order, do it SOON!!! Sometimes yarns are out of stock or on back order!
Q: Can I do this if I have never knit a sweater?
A: This sweater is good for an adventurous beginner. It isn't simple, but the large gauge does help it go a little faster. The fluffy yarn can be frustrating for true beginners.
Q: What if I can't knit?
A: We recommend our Knitting 101 class or our learn to knit kit!
Q: I don't want to swatch, can I still attend?
A: Nope, you must swatch...even if this is the ONLY time in your life that you do it!!
Q: Ok, I'll swatch but I won't bind off so I can use the yarn later.
A: Nope, it needs to be bound off, washed and blocked to know how the yarn will behave when you finish your sweater. This is SOOO important if you are using Alpaca or Superwash! A fun thing to do is measure the swatch before you wash it and after...to see how much it grows!
If you would like to swatch in the round here is a video that might help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsn5DqmXA-w
Also, I found a cool new way from Laura Nelkin that you might like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A59F9L4P-E
After you have bound off your gauge swatch, put it in water for 15 minutes, then take out and dry in a towel and lay flat to dry. You don't need to pin out your swatch, but spread it out like you would a finished sweater. It is interesting to measure the swatch before and after blocking to see how much it grows or doesn't grow! Every fiber reacts differently.
**BRING THIS SWATCH WASHED, BLOCKED AND DRIED TO OUR FIRST MEETING**
Things to bring to our first meeting:
- Your washed and blocked gauge swatch
- The knitting needles you used to make your gauge swatch AND be sure to have the needle you will need for the neckline (if you gauge swatch in US9, US10 and US11...bring all those needles AND bring a US8 as well) Yes, this may mean bringing a lot of needles. If you don't want to, we have them in stock as well!
- One ball of your yarn
- Calculator (chances are you have one in your cell!) :)
WE WILL PROVIDE THE PRINTED AND DIGITAL PATTERN FOR YOU!!
Frequently Asked Questions...
Q: Why are the meetings more closely spaced than usual?
A: This is a larger gauge sweater and will knit up faster than sweaters we have done in the past.
Q: I can't make it to the 2nd meeting, can I schedule an extra session to get caught up?
A: No, unfortunately there are no make-up sessions. We do have private lessons on Tuesdays and Fridays if you need them. Sweater-a-long is more of an accountability, fun group, and not a lecture-type class. There is nothing to get "caught up" on as what goes on during each gathering is organic and comes from questions/issues that you guys encounter.
Q: Do I have to knit to a certain point each gathering?
A: No! You will knit at YOUR speed. Whatever point you are at for each gathering, is exactly where YOU should be. If you run into something that stops you up, just bring it to the next gathering and we can work through it together.
Q: What will you be teaching?
A: On the first gathering, we will do the most "class work" as we will be measuring our gauge swatch and determining the size of sweater that we would like. I will step you through the process and we will cast on the sweater. If you have questions about weaving in ends, ask it! If you need help putting your sleeves on hold, we got you! If you don't understand the pattern, we will walk you through it. Each one of these sweater-a-longs take on a different feel depending on who is taking it and what questions arise. Sometimes people have NO questions and just knit the sweater and socialize. Everyone is on their own journey and we will meet you where you are at!
Q: What if I already know how to knit a sweater?
A: That's fine! This gathering is more social/accountability than it is instructional. We are here for you if you need us!
Q: What if I don't finish the sweater in the time we have together
A: That's no problem. You can finish it on your own schedule. If you need assistance after the final gathering, we can set up a private lesson time (they are $25/hour)
Q: Can I use yarn from my stash?
A: You bet!!! But if you don't have a sweaters quantity in your stash...we are happy to help! If you want to special order, do it SOON!!! Sometimes yarns are out of stock or on back order!
Q: Can I do this if I have never knit a sweater?
A: This sweater is good for an adventurous beginner. It isn't simple, but the large gauge does help it go a little faster. The fluffy yarn can be frustrating for true beginners.
Q: What if I can't knit?
A: We recommend our Knitting 101 class or our learn to knit kit!
Q: I don't want to swatch, can I still attend?
A: Nope, you must swatch...even if this is the ONLY time in your life that you do it!!
Q: Ok, I'll swatch but I won't bind off so I can use the yarn later.
A: Nope, it needs to be bound off, washed and blocked to know how the yarn will behave when you finish your sweater. This is SOOO important if you are using Alpaca or Superwash! A fun thing to do is measure the swatch before you wash it and after...to see how much it grows!
If you would like to read more about this sweater you can do so here (but DON'T buy the pattern if you are joining us for the sweater-a-long, the price is included in the cost of the class!!) https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/crescendo-sweater
Registration for this Sweater-a-long goes on sale November 18th
Comments
Post a Comment