Category Archives: classes

The river runs on

Posted on August 18, 2020 | 7 comments

It was a big week! I did a little knitting, and a lot of teaching.

Here’s the little knitting, before. I ripped back my Rio Calina a bit. I learned that it’s not so much the direction of the cable cross that drives me, but the over/under. I didn’t like long snakey lines that continued uncrossed on the top of the fabric, so I changed it! Do you see what I did?

I like it a lot better this way.

The squash I’ve been pollinating (plant sex!) in the garden did some sneaky growing while I wasn’t paying attention. It got big!

I guess the bees can manage from here on out.

I used one of the squash on a pizza. Same basic structure as the puff pastry tarts in previous posts, but this is a little more substantial than the puff pastry.

Do you remember mug cakes, from a few years ago? We needed a small dessert, so I made a mug cake. This is half, plus some goodies. Here’s the recipe.

I taught 4 classes for Virtual VKLive, including Syncopation, which made its VKLive debut. It was really fun; my students were awesome!

Now I’m working on more video tutorials, and launching a Payhip store. More on that later.

Knit on!

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Brioche trifecta

Posted on July 17, 2020 | 10 comments

Apparently I’m living my best brioche life today. This morning I got up early and took a VKLive class with Nancy Marchant, Lacing Up Brioche.

I learned 2 ways to make eyelet holes in my brioche, the double yarn over method, and the release purl method. Brilliant! I bought Nancy’s book back in March, but had yet to open it. I just needed someone to make me pay attention. It was 7 a.m. here for me, and 4 p.m. for Nancy in Amsterdam. There were students all over the world; thank you Zoom!

Here’s a better look at my swatch, with the light shining through.

Brioche item 2: I also taught a Petite Brioche class later in the morning; these are always fun. Twenty new brioche knitters sent out into the world!

Brioche item 3? I’m test knitting a hat for Hunter Hammersen. I saw her call for test knitters on Twitter, and her sample was so pretty I couldn’t resist. It’s knitting up nicely in Malabrigo Rios. The variegation in the dark color doesn’t show much on the public side, but the inside is spectacular.

It’s been a very brioche day. But not to worry, I also got a few rows in on my Half the Knit Sky KAL.

I just finished the next increase row, so my smile is getting bigger!

Tomorrow I’m teaching brioche increases and decreases, and Petite Brioche again on Sunday. Lots more brioche going on!

brioche knitting

If all this talk of brioche makes you want to learn, there are still a few spots in my classes *next* weekend through the Peacetree Fiber Adventures online retreat. I’m teaching Petite Brioche and Next Steps in Brioche: Increases and Decreases. Check it out!

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Tutorial: Fixing a dropped brioche YO several rows down

Posted on July 5, 2020 | 1 comment

I promised a video tutorial to 3 of my classes at the last Virtual VKLive, and I made one and sent it along. But I just re-made it with more descriptive detail. Here’s the link on YouTube.

I learned this technique from a video by Nancy Marchant, and then expanded on it as I learned how and why it works. Just another tool in the brioche toolbox!

I put a link to this video on my tutorials page, so you don’t even have to remember where to find it. And if you didn’t know I have a tutorials page, go check it out. I have lots of tips over there, and I’m getting better and better at making videos.

My brioche classes are sold out at VKLive, but you can take brioche classes from me at the Peacetree Fiber Adventures online retreat on July 24 and 25. Register here.

There’s still room in my Minerva Entrelac scarf/cowl class at Virtual VKLive. Register here!

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Virtual VKLive Round 3 coming up!

Posted on June 28, 2020 | 2 comments

I’m pleased to be teaching at the July edition of Virtual VogueKnitting Live! More brioche, and more entrelac. And for the first time, they have a preview page so you can see what the class offerings will be. Link right here. Sign up for their newsletter, and you’ll be first to know when registration goes live, which will be very soon.

I’m knitting away on my second Half the Knit Sky. Pattern coming soon; 2/3 of my test knitters are done. I’m ready to rock and roll! Would you be interested in a Half the Knit Sky KAL? I’d be happy to organize one, if the interest is there. This is lovely lightweight summer knitting.

What are you knitting now?

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Virtual Vogue Knitting Live, right now

Posted on June 10, 2020 | 1 comment

It’s on! Round 2 of Virtual Knitting Live from Vogue Knitting. I’m teaching or lecturing every day from Wednesday (today) through Sunday. There’s still room in my Friday class, Intro to Lace and Beads: Fern Shawlette, and there is always room in lectures. My lecture on Thursday is Blocking: It’s Magic!

You can still register for classses, or you can just register for the virtual marketplace ($4.99) which gets you access to the market and other marketplace extras like virtual knit nights, trivia, meditation, and most fun: At the Drawing Table with Franklin Habit. Well worth the price of admission.

In light of recent events, Vogue has issued this statement:

We at Vogue Knitting stand in solidarity with Black communities and the Black Lives Matter protests happening around the world, and with everyone who is fighting for justice and equality in this country. In support of this, we will be donating a percent of net proceeds from this show—those already collected and yet to be collected from this show—to Color of Change, which is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. “Color of Change helps people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by 1.7 million members, we move decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America.” For more information about Color of Change, please click here.

I’ll be donating 20% of my Ravelry pattern sales during Virtual VKLive to Color of Change. Change is slow, and change can be hard, but every small step helps.

And as part of the whirlwind week, I’m part of a Facebook Live Zoom with Wool and Fiber Arts and Bead Biz. Come talk about design and beads with 2 knit designers and 2 crochet designers. That’s today, this afternoon, 3 pm Pacific/6 pm Eastern. Link here.

My Facebook Live Zoom with Knit Picks has been postponed from June 11 to June 18. That’s next Thursday, 8:30 am Pacific (I’ll let you do all the figuring for your various time zones). There isn’t a specific event listed; they usually do these on their page every Thursday morning. Link to the Knit Picks Facebook page here.

OK, deep breath, and off to prep for the day’s events. Brioche class tonight!

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Fern Lace Shawlette update

Posted on May 22, 2020 | 3 comments

Beads and Lace

I’ve just updated my Fern Shawlette pattern to streamline it for classes. The i-cord edging, garter stitch body, and lace edging are now all on the same chart, and together in the instructions, instead of my previous modular approach.

I’m leaving both versions in the downloads section on Ravelry, so you can choose which way works better for the way you think! If you previously purchased Fern, you’ll find an update notice in your Ravelry library.

To celebrate this update, I’m offering 10% off the pattern through May 29. Use coupon code FernUpdate on the Fern Lace Shawlette Ravelry page here. Current newsletter subscribers, check your inbox for your code.

I’m using this pattern at Virtual Knitting Live in June. If you’re taking this class, make sure you download the file that says “Fern Shawlette for classes 05.20” for the updated version!

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Virtual Knitting Live, Encore!

Posted on May 22, 2020 | 3 comments

Virtual Knitting Live 2 promo

Vogue’s Virtual Knitting Live was much fun we’re doing it again, June 10 – 14. Registration is now open; jump if you want to take a class. Last time most classes sold out in 48 hours.

This time around I’m teaching 2 sections of Petite Brioche (Intro to 2 color brioche in the round, one section is already sold out), Intro to Lace and Beads: Fern Shawlette, Minerva Entrelac, and Next Steps in Brioche: Increases and Decreases, featuring Heliotrope hat or cowl, or Brioche Pastiche. I’m also giving a lecture: Blocking: It’s Magic!

Petite Brioche

Beads and LaceFern Shawlette

entrelac knittingMinerva Entrelac

brioche knittingHeliotrope and Brioche Pastiche

Registration for any class or lecture includes a ticket to the virtual marketplace, and lots of fun extra activities. If you’re not ready for classes, a $3.99 ticket to the marketplace comes with those extra activities, too.

Register early for best selection!

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Potpourri catch-up! Zoom classes, pickles, and more

Posted on May 4, 2020 | 5 comments

First, I have a Kerfuffle stranded colorwork cowl class on Wednesday evening through Weird Sisters. You don’t even have to be in the same time zone! Here’s the link.

It *is* possible to learn knitting techniques through Zoom, and if you’re missing your usual knitting circle, this is a great way to get your knitting fix. We had a Petite Brioche class on Saturday, and everyone was successfully knitting brioche by the end of class.

Second, I mailed off some goodies for the Minerva KAL participants this morning. If you’re out of the country, it could take up to 2 weeks to arrive. Otherwise, locally should be much quicker than that.

Third, my Fibonacci and Fan shawl pattern was just featured by Noble Knits. Check out this page for Fibonacci and Fan, and more great math geek knitting!

Fish sauce pickled cucumbers

Fourth, I’ve been playing with quick pickles recently. My favorite so far are these spicy fish sauce pickles. Original recipe here, and my take below. Basically double the liquid ingredients, reduce the sugar and red pepper. And only one cucumber. That’s what fits in the jar!

Spicy Fish Sauce Quick Pickles

1/2 cup rice vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons fish sauce
1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
1 small cucumber

Cut cucumber into 1/4” thick rounds. Whisk all other ingredients together in a wide mouth 12 oz canning jar. Add cucumber slices. Refrigerate for 3 hours/overnight. They get spicier the longer you soak them! I take them out the next day and store them in a covered dish.

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Posted in classes, KAL, Knit, recipe

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Kerfuffle Cowl update, and Kerfuffle Zoom class

Posted on April 19, 2020 | 5 comments

Read to the bottom if you’re interested in class!

Young woman wearing snowflake colorwork cowlLarge cowl

I’ve updated the pattern for my Kerfuffle Cowl to streamline it for classes. I’ve been saying for years that I was going to do this, and now I have a little time to get it done. Here’s what I’ve changed:

  • Changed the needles to omit the smaller needle for the ribbing. Now the ribbing and the body both use the same larger needle. It works fine, and makes class that much more accessible.
  • Omitted the purl stitches in the first 3 and last 3 rows of the charted pattern. I was concerned about the edge flipping, but blocking takes care of that, and it’s one less thing for a new colorwork knitter to think about.
  • Added a larger 30″ size to the original 24″ size. Knitter’s choice!

The Kerfuffle cowl is a great project for first time stranded colorwork. There are only two colors used per round, and I’ve taken care that the motifs don’t have long floats that need to be trapped.

To celebrate this update, you can purchase the Kerfuffle Cowl pattern for 15% off through April 24, 2020 using the coupon code FRESH when you purchase it through Ravelry. Newsletter subscribers will have a 25% discount in the next newsletter. Not a subscriber? Sign up here!

Small cowl

I’m teaching a Kerfuffle Cowl stranded colorwork class through Zoom on Wednesday May 6, 5:30 to 7:30 pm. The class is being organized by Fuchsia Troutman at Weird Sisters Yarn Shop. She’ll have class kits available, and a special pattern discount, too. Register here!

By the way, my May 2 Petite Brioche class is now full; thank you for your interest! This will be a great way to get into the swing of Zoom classes. I’m looking forward to being able to teach from home, and I hope you enjoy learning from home, too.

Three of my four Virtual Knitting Live classes are full (that was quick!). There are a few spots left in my Minerva Entrelac class, so if you’re interested in that, register now. VKLive link is here.

Let’s knit together, apart!

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Virtual Knitting Live: Teachers gonna teach

Posted on April 18, 2020 | 6 comments

Virtual Knitting Live card

I’m so excited that I’m teaching at Virtual Knitting Live, Vogue Knitting Live’s new event, next month. Registration is now open! Class sizes are limited, so register early for best selection.

Classes are 2 hours long. I’m optimizing my offerings to work well as interactive classes through the Zoom platform. I’m teaching:

  • Petite Brioche: 2 color brioche in the round (sold out already!)
  • Herringbone Braids and Beyond: Braided Wristlets
  • Minerva Entrelac cowl or scarf
  • YO? YO! Fun and Fancy Stitches

Virtual Knitting Live class collage
Clara Parkes is giving the keynote speech at 9 a.m. on Monday May 11, which means 6 a.m. here. Not sure I’ll be awake for it, but she’d be worth it!

I’m also teaching a couple smaller classes beforehand, which is my opportunity to practice my Zoom skills before the event. I’m teaching Petite Brioche on Saturday May 2, and Kerfuffle Cowl (through Weird Sisters Yarn Shop) on Wednesday, May 6. More info on Kerfuffle in my next post, and info on Petite Brioche is in this previous post.

Let me know if you want to knit together, apart!

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