UK Knit Camp 2010

Lorilee Beltman

 

Lorilee Beltman is the owner of City Knitting, an urban neighbourhood yarn shop known for its eclectic collection of characters we call “Yarnies”. Sometimes referred to as “Cheers” for knitters, the Grand Rapids, Michigan shop has annually received the local Townie Gold Award for best yarn shop since opening in 2005. In the shop, Lorilee most enjoys teaching and observing relationships develop between those drawn together there. Her continental knitting video on youtube.com has garnered considerable praise. She also has an excellent series of Baby Surprise Jacket knitting videos on youtube.com too.  When not entangled in yarn, she enjoys the woods, coffee, napping, being on water in any non-motorized craft, and camping with her husband and three teenage boys.

 

 

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Classes with Lorilee - all classes will take place in the Cottrell Building

 

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Holey Squares Scarf

Create a snazzy- looking scarf using self-striping yarn to knit mitered squares.  Work garter stitch in the round from the outside of the square inward, with decreases at the corners.  Stop short of reaching the middle and bind off for a holey square!

In class you will learn how to knit in the round using the magic loop method, a very useful tool!  You'll also learn a few tricks while working one complete square and practicing the grafted seam. Afterward, create your own scarf in fingering, worsted or bulky weight, using the pattern provided by the instructor.

When: Tuesday, 9.30 - 12.30

Level: Intermediate plus

Class Skills: cast on, knit, purl, bind off, increase & decrease, experience knitting in the round

What you will learn: mitered squares, magic loop knitting, a sneaky substitute for an ‘ssk’, seaming by grafting

Cost: £35

Class Length: 3 hours

Minimum number of students: 8  Maximum number of students: 20

Please bring with you: 50 yards of bulky weight self striping or variegated yarn. (200 grams is needed for project, but not for class practice.)  Circular needle size 4.5mm - 5mm (US 8- 9) 32”- 40” long is a must. 40" length is preferred. Tapestry needle.

Homework:  With chosen yarn and needles, make the following swatch and bring it with you to class for seaming practice. Use long tail cast on (important) to cast on 18 stitches, being certain to leave a tail about 18" long still remaining.  Knit several rows until piece measures about 2 inches.  Bind off. Do not darn in tails.  We will use the tail for seaming.

 

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Convert to Continental

Lorilee teaches her particular type of continental knitting that has helped so many people knit faster and more comfortably.  We will learn both the knit and purl stitches, and add as many maneuvers as we have time for, such as increases, decreases and binding off.  Lorilee will pay individual attention to each student to train for techniques that work best for them.   This class is appropriate for beginners to advanced knitters- anyone wishing to learn a new method for reasons of speed or hand comfort.

When: Tuesday, 2.00 - 5.00

Level: Beginner plus

Class Skills: Knitting by another method, or crochet experience

Skills you will learn: continental knitting

Cost: £40

Class Length: 3 hours

Minimum number of students: 8  Maximum number of students: 20

Please bring with you: 50 yards of light-colored, smooth worsted or aran weight yarn. A variegated yarn is fine, too, as long as it is not dark overall.  Slippery steel circular needle size 4mm - 5mm (US 6- 8,) 24"- 40” long is fine. Straight needles are not recommended as they just inhibit movement for this technique.

Homework:  With chosen yarn and needles, cast on 24 stitches.  Knit about an inch in either stockinette or garter stitch.  Crocheters not knowing how to knit must find a friend to cast on and knit a few rows for them.  We do not cover casting on in class.  Do not cast off, bring swatch as is on the needles.

 

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In the dark handwarmers

These fun-to-wear hand warmers have neither left nor right, nor top nor bottom so they can be worn any old way; you can even put them on "In the Dark".  They are worked quickly in the round and can be simply made when finished with a seam. However, in class we are going to learn how to knit them entirely in the round with no seaming at all. If you like to learn wacky construction methods, this class is for you. This class is appropriate for intermediate level knitters or higher.

When: Wednesday, 9.30 - 12.30

Level: Intermediate plus

Class Length: 3 hours

Class skills: Must be comfortable knitting in the round. Must already know long-tail cast on method.

What you’ll learn: Judy's Magic Cast On, knitting a mitered square, using a long circular needle to work in the round.

Cost: £35

Minimum number of students: 8  Maximum number of students: 20

Please bring with you:  100 yards of bulky weight to aran or heavy worsted weight yarn, something that knits up to about 3.5 - 4.5 stitches per inch is fine.  Students may be working in different gauges for this class. Please avoid dark colours.  Tweed, variegated or striping yarns are all good choices.

Slippery steel circular needle size 4.5mm - 6.5mm (US 7- 10 ), 40” long is essential. Neither straight needles nor double points will work- they are not allowed for this class, truly.

Gauge or tape measure. Bring a calculator if you have one.  We'll need a few to share in class.

Homework:  Swatch  in stocking stitch with chosen yarn until you have a needle size which makes the yarn work up in a gauge you like. Be certain to bring that needle size in a circular needle 40" long. Make a stocking swatch about 5 inches wide and work until it measures 2" long.  Bring swatch and needles to class.

 

 

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 Sassafras mittens

In this day-long class, learn how to make this mitten of bold design and unusual construction, using the instructor's pattern. Enjoy a clever thumb gusset and picking up and knitting adjacent pieces.  No seaming! Many will be able to complete one mitten in class.  This is not a beginners class; it is better suited for intermediate to advanced knitters.

When: Thursday, 9.30 - 5.00

Level: Intermediate plus

Class Length: 6 hours

Class skills: Must already be comfortable knitting in the round. Must already know long-tail cast on method. K2tog and ssk decreases.

What you’ll learn:  Picking up stitches, modular knitting, fulling knitted mittens. 

Cost: £70

Minimum number of students: 8  Maximum number of students: 20

Please bring with you:  Yarn: A pair of mittens requires 175 yards of bulky wool yarn that knits up to 3.75- 4 stitches per inch. Please choose a natural animal fibre that will felt.  We do not shrink these mittens, but we do full them, and the fibres need to lock together a bit. Instructor's favourite combination uses one skein of Rowan 'Colourscape Chunky' and one ball of 'Kidsilk Haze', one strand of each held together.  Students may choose solid or variegated yarn, but a self-striping yarn gives the most interesting result.  If choosing solids, consider bringing a couple contrasting colors for more interesting mittens.

Needles:  We will be working in the round on 8 to 60 stitches at a time.  A set of five double pointed needles, OR two circulars, OR one 40" long circular needle for magic loop knitting will work.  Choose whichever method you are already comfortable with.  Instructor uses magic loop, and can assist students using a variety of techniques, but magic loop knitting will not be taught in class. Choose a needle size about US 8 - 10.  See homework for more on needles.

Scissors, tapestry needle, pen or pencil.

Homework: Swatch with chosen yarn until you have a needle size which makes the yarn work up in a gauge of 3.75 to 4 stitches per inch. Make a stocking stitch swatch of correct gauge about 5" wide and work until it measures 2" long.  Bring swatch with you.

 

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Seismic Socks  - Yarn for this class is provided by the tutor

Interesting patterning effects can be created by stranding colour vertically in your knitting.  During class we will learn to prepare our yarn, read the charts specific to this technique, and properly manage the yarn as we work through two sample charts prepared for you.  Colour is added to these socks neither by fair isle technique nor duplicate stitch.  It is likely new to most of you.

Once you understand the rules, we will brainstorm together in class about other design possibilities.  You’ll be able to sketch your own plan to enhance your own knitting. 

When: Friday, 9.30 - 12.30

Level: Intermediate plus

Class Length: 3 hours

Cost: £37.50

Minimum number of students: 8  Maximum number of students: 20

Class skills: Students must already be comfortable knitting in the round with fingering weight yarn.

What you’ll learn: Vertical stranding, reading the chart specific to the technique.

Please bring with you:  A set of five double pointed needles, OR two circulars, OR one 40" long circular needle for magic loop knitting will work.  Choose whichever method you are already comfortable with.  Instructor uses magic loop, and can assist students using a variety of techniques, but magic loop knitting will not be taught in class. Choose a needle size appropriate for fingering weight yarn, a 2.00mm - 3.00mm, US 0-2, or whichever size you need to reach a gauge of 7-8 sts per inch.

Scissors, tapestry needle, pen or pencil.

No homework is set for this class.