With Sharon Brant – author of Professional Finishing Techniques

This course is designed for the knitter who is able to complete a sweater and would like to see how to make up a garment with a professional finish.

The day will be dedicated to mastering techniques of finishing a garment in a professional way.

The skills we aim to cover are:

i) Grafting
ii) Mattress stitch
iii) Picking up stitches
iv) Buttonholes and button bands
v) Special effects such as Swiss darning and embroidery onto knitwear.

Before you come to the workshop we would like you to knit a small garment and some squares. Please bring these to the workshop along with one pair of 3 1/4mm needles and a pair of 4mm needles and the remainder of your yarn.

Please work 2 squares in simple moss stitch and 2 squares in stocking stitch.

Using 3 1/4mm needle cast on 36sts and work in P1,K1 rib for 5 rows on the 6th row, work to last 6sts, turn and place the 6sts onto a pin. Change to 4mm needles and cont on rem sts in st st until work measures 15cms, ending with a ws row, cast off.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SMALL GARMENT.

MATERIALS: Two balls of DK yarn (preferably ROWAN). One pair of 3 1/4mm needles and 4mm needles. One stitch holder. Four safety pins.
BACK.
Using 3 1/4mm needles cast on 37sts and knit 5 rows.
Change to 4mm needles and work 36rows in stst.

NEXT ROW; K13, TURN, leave rem sts on a pin,
NEXT ROW Purl.
NEXT ROW KNIT THE 13 STS AND THEN LEAVE THE STS ON A THREAD.

Return to sts on a pin, slip centre 11 sts on a pin, rejoin yarn and knit 13 rem sts.

NEXT ROW purl.
Slip these sts onto a thread.

FRONT.
Work as for back until 22 rows of stst have been completed.

SHAPE NECK.
NEXT ROW. K16, turn leaving rem sts on a pin.
Dec 1 st at neck edge on next 3 alt rows, then cont straight until 38rows of stst have been completed.
Knit one row and then slip sts onto a thread.

Return to other sts on pin leave centre 5sts on a pin and work other side to match.

SLEEVES. (ONLY MAKE ONE SLEEVE IF YOU ARE SHORT OF TIME.)
Using 3 3/4mm needles cast on 18sts and k 5 rows.
Change to 4mm needles and work 2 rows in stst.
Inc 1st each end of next and every foll 4th row 4 times
CAST OFF.

Workshop information:

This workshop will show you the two different techniques of knitting with colour which are ‘fairisle’ and ‘intarsia’. Whilst working on a simple fairisle panel you will learn the two-handed method of carrying yarns which will help you to achieve an even tension and neat, flat fabric. You will then learn how to manage your colours and avoid holes whilst working on a simple intarsia panel.
The two panels can then be sewn together to make a cute drawstring bag.

Participants will need to bring the following:

• A pair of 3.25mm needles.
• Sewing up needle.

Knitting ability: This course is suitable for both experienced knitters and new knitters who must have knowledge of the basic techniques.