Did you know I teach knitting classes? I do. I started teaching when No Sheep for You was published, to help spread the non-wool knitting knowledge as far as I could. What I learned in those early classes is how much I love the lightbulb moments — when something you say as a teacher hits straight home with a student, and the lightbulb moves away from your head and over theirs.
That’s a bit dramatic, but hopefully you know what I mean. Sharing what I’ve learned, making knitting less stressful and more fun, is why I keep teaching. I champion the joys of mindless [think relaxing] knitting, helping knitters to create beautiful things without tearing their hair out. If you like classes with lots of math, you’ll need to look elsewhere. Instead, I love to find elegant shortcuts; easier, more efficient ways to do things; and always to end up with a fabulous result at the end of the project.
So, what am I teaching at VK Live? Two of my favorite classes!
First, the Autopilot Sock, my favorite toe-up sock recipe. Maybe you’ve heard about this pattern — I think it’s pretty nifty, and the top-down sock knitters who I’ve shared it with have, to my great pleasure and surprise, become almost instant toe-up converts. Tweeted Jennie: “Fantastic pattern. One pair done, two more on the needles. 1 in car, 1 in purse, covers emergency sock knitting needs.”
Which is exactly the point. This pattern may become your go-to sock pattern as it has mine, or it might be the sock you start when you have no other pattern in mind and just need to KNIT SOCKS.
The second class I’m teaching is Plug+Play Shawl Design. This class is all about feeling clever. I provide a handy, comprehensive manual and a selection of easy-but-pretty lace patterns. Put them together as you please with fingering or sportweight yarn, and the result is uniquely your own! Finally a chance for you to explore designing, without brain strain, and with absolute pride in your creative ability!
We’ll talk about how to put lace patterns together, how to build different shapes of shawls, what kind of things you can do to lace patterns to make them more enjoyable to knit and lots more. After class, you’ll have the tools you need to go on designing your own lace projects.
I hope I’ll get to meet some of you at my classes at VK Live in LA this September. Registration info is here.
Don’t forget to visit the rest of my blog tour compadres — it’s nice to get to know them and the classes they teach this way!
I remember your segment on Knitty Gritty and how amazed I was at how much you knew about non-wool fibers. The folks who get to take your classes are indeed fortunate.
Oh, the sock class sounds perfect for me!
VK Live LA looks like a great event. Can’t wait to attend. Thanks for this opportunity to win a class with you.
I would love! to take the autopilot sock class! Can’t wait for VK Live!
I would love to win a class – that would definitely help me get to LA.
Los Angeles can be pretty hot in September — don’t want to be knitting wool socks then!
Unfortunately, getting to L.A. is not an option as I live about 7000 miles away. I would like to find out more about the auto pilot sock though. My two attempts at toe-up socks both ended in top-down socks! Is the pattern available anywhere? Thank you.
What a treat… I may just have to sign up for that sock class!
Sounds like a great program! I would love the sock or shawl class!!
Turns out I won’t be able to travel that weekend… BOOOO
I want to know how to knit a pretty lace shawl without it killing me… But LA is sort of on the other side of the globe-ish…
I suffer from the dreaded second sock syndrome. A chance to to be cured? Wonderful. And at VKLive!!!
ok, I’ll bite. LA is just a hop skip and a jump and getting a class would be just the impetus to get down there!
I would love to win a class – your autopilot sock sounds perfect! Thanks for the opportunity . . . I’m peepsmom on Ravelry.
Oh yes autopilot sock! Fingers crossed!
I won’t be making it to LA so don’t include me in your drawing, but I will be in NY in January and I hope you will be there as well.
Yay! I’m registered for VK Live. Looking forward to meeting you and taking your class. Sooo excited!
Pick me! Pick me.
How exciting!
Autopilot socks, surely the way socks should be knit, sometimes. I would love to win a class at VKL.
I would love the opportunity to attend a free class. I’ve not tried my hand at sock knitting yet but that sock looks pretty lovely. My email is niseyknits@gmail.com.
I’ve always wanted to take a knitting class, and that would be the perfect time to start! I’m in! 🙂
I would love to attend a class at VKLive, the Plug and Play shawl design. Oh my, I would be a light bulb exploding in that class, but LA is a far piece from Texas, but I think it would be a great opportunity. Come to Texas. Soon.
Ruby
(Rav: MzCruse)
I am so excited about this event. It is right down the street from where I work! I will see you then!
I’d love to win! Thanks!
I love toe-up socks! I would love to win!
Woo Hoo! I’ll be at VK Live…I live about 7 minutes away! Would love to take your class for free!!!
I am planning on going to VKL in LA soon and haven’t planned on taking any classes. I would love to win one! 😀
I am going to be there! I can’t wait, it is going to be fun.
Wow, what a cool gift! Would love to go and learn about autopilot socks!
Socks sound great. What are the odds, I wonder…
Your Plug + Play shawl class sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
So exciting!!!
I’ve given up toe up socks recently because I just cannot figure out when is the right time to start the gusset increases… the sock class would be so helpful.
*fingers crossed*
I’ve made 3 pairs of socks and my toes have left something to be desired, that is my knitted toes, that is the toe of the sock. Knitting the toe first might solve my problem. – Narda
Hey, your Autopilot Sock class sounds ideal! I’ve knitted a couple of pairs of socks and found them rather fiddly. It was one of my knitting resolutions for the New Year to get good at knitting socks, so I have a ways to go yet!
I’ve already signed up for VK Live, and would totally love to take your sock class while I’m there! Thanks so much!! 😀
what a great prize!! This would give me another reason to be in LA in Sept.
Now that I’ve finally mastered magic loop after years of DPN sock knitting, it’s time to go the toe-up route. May help me w/the “differently-sized second sock” syndrome, which just happened with my last pair. I live in L.A. and will be there, still trying to pick classes! It’s “AudreyGS” on Rav, too…Thanks!
I had fun in one of your shawl classes before, and I’m glad to hear you’re teaching at VKLive!
Your classes sound wonderful! What an generous give-away.
I really want to try the plug and play shawl. I’ve done stoles that way, but very rarely do I use more than one stitch pattern. It would be nice to see how to incorporate more than one without it looking like an overenthused 5 year old designed it.
I would love an opportunity to take a class at VK Live. It will be the first knitting “convention” on this scale that I have attended!
I would love a copy of the auto-pilot pattern too as I live in Australia and will never have the chance to attend a class. Have you published it, or have plans to do so?
I’m taking your shawl class and really excited about it since shawls are what I love to knit the best!