CLASSES

Color, Color, & more Color
with Claudia McClean

In this class, we'll be working on panels with several colors of Claudia Hand Painted variegated yarns using the pattern "Coloratura" from Chris Bylsma. If you haven't tried combining variegated yarns before, you are in for a real treat! We'll start off with swatches from the pattern, making panels, and trying various yarns, allowing you to consider the whole jacket project, which will be available at Kathy's Kreations. Each panel is knit with 2 yarns held together, the same laceweight colorway throughout, with different fingering colorways. Prepare to be amazed at how the colors transform each other. In addition to the yarns suggested, you will try other combinations of variegated yarns that give the same gauge. We'll experiment and avoid colors that are too close together as they won't show--we'll let them make their own beautiful music and enjoy!  The jacket is an easy, portable project that any knitter can accomplish. The classic and amazingly svelte lines of this jacket are created with individual panels that are later seamed together.

We'll talk about color, how color looks, how we feel about color. I would also like to touch on how things feel and fit. In this class, we will also discuss fiber content, the tension of the fabric, the way the garment fits or hangs on our bodies.You may also bring 1 or 2 of your most favorite garments. They can be either items you have made or purchased (sweaters, hats, gloves etc.)  and let’s talk about what makes them our favorite. You may also try on any of the many garments that will be on display in the trunk show.

The goal of this class is to become more conscious and confident in project and color selection. I’ve been known to have a completely knit up vest ready for assembly that I did not sew together for 3 years. I did not want to face the possibility that it did not work. I sewed it together finally and it is one of my favorite garments.

Materials needed: Claudia will provide multiple swatching yarns for a $5.00 materials fee, payable to claudia at the beginning of class. Please bring size 4 or 5 needles, double pointed and 10 inch straights. This is a hands on swatching experience, blending colors, mixing and matching, seeing what works for which project and having fun!.

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Button, Button – All About Buttonholes
with Kathy Zimmerman

A well-chosen button is more than a functional way to fasten your garment. It is a decorative element and can be the focal point of the design, elevating the simplest cardigan to rock-star status. 

Which buttonhole technique you use will depend on the garment, how it will be worn, the position of the buttonhole, the size and type of button, and your yarn.  In this class, you will learn how to make horizontal and vertical buttonholes, the perfect one-row self-reinforcing buttonhole, eyelet buttonholes, three-row buttonholes, “after-thought” buttonholes and button loops.  Kathy will share her designer tips and tricks for buttonhole placement and for selecting the appropriate technique for best results. 

Class supplies for students to bring to class: worsted weight yarn approx.75 yards in a light to mid-tone shade; US 5 knitting needles; scissors; tapestry needle. Students are invited to bring "work in progress (WIP)" jackets or cardigans for advice on which buttonhole method is best-suited for their project.

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Let’s Play!
with Barbara Assejew and Barb Grossman

This class will be led by 2 teachers: Barbara Assejew and Barb Grossman. I first saw Barbara Assejew’s creative work online at her Etsy site: http://www.etsy.com/shop/amberstudios. I love her “up-cycling” component and it fits in well with some of the work that I have been doing. We met in Philadelphia and had a fun “play date” which inspired me to organize some classes for Bedford Springs. Together we will offer you the opportunity to make 3 items and embellish your own garment/s in a series of 3 classes. In your first 2 sessions, you will make a neck warmer, wristlets and a pin using needle felting techniques by hand and with the Babylock needle felting machine. In a 3rd session, you are invited to bring a sweater you would like to embellish and some scarves (chiffon, silk, pashmina) from your closet. We will transform them into new, fabulous looking garments. A cashmere style cardigan will work well, as will any solid color lightweight cardigan that has some wool content in it. Scarves that have been sitting in your closet for too many years work well too, bring several, we’ll cut and splice and add other fibers to create a whole new accessory! All materials will be provided for you for the pin, neck warmer and wristlets, however you are invited to bring any sweater and scarves you might like to embellish for your 3rd session.

In this class, you might use pieces of the scarves, yarns, fiber and ribbons to embellish the sweater, ribbons and yarns to dress up that plain scarf. The possibilities are endless. Should you care to spend more time in this class and experiment some more, you are invited to bring an old wool sweater (please wash it so that it is felted) cut it up, and create some other items, slippers, a handbag, a hat. You can use this class time to create some fun gifts for the holidays. A traditional sewing machine will also be on hand to stitch pieces together that cannot be needle felted. This will be an open style classroom format, open to all attendees Friday afternoon, Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.

Materials needed: Please bring with you a good pair of scissors, a tapestry needle, and your imagination. All other materials will be provided for the neck warmer, wristlets and pin.
Please also plan to bring your own garments for embellishment if you care to for a 3rd session (sweater, scarves, felted sweater for additional accessories).

No knitting, crochet, felting or sewing experience needed. This is a fiber art play class. Even if you don’t think you are very creative, you can take this class, we will be there to assist you and help you select colors, textures, etc. It will be a fun “play date”!

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Prayer Shawl
with Marge Connelly

The workshop is to orient people to the purpose and beauty of prayer shawls.  The pattern is easy enough for beginners and has enough complexity to keep a seasoned knitter engaged. We will start with 5 stitches, do 4 start up rows and then repeat the same 8 rows over and over until a beautiful shawl emerges. The pattern is adapted from a Victorian lace pattern and the edging is taken from Victorian lace. Prayer shawls cross all boundaries of faith... Christians, Jews, Moslem, etc. all appreciate prayer shawls and as I always tell my students, “even atheists get cold!”

Supplies needed for this class: Size 13 needles circular at least 29" long and a size k crochet hook. Homespun yarn - 2 skeins or Jiffy yarn for a mohair look - 3 skeins….(chunky "5" size - either Homespun or Jiffy or some other Chunky yarn.) Marge will be asking the yarn company for a donation of yarn. Please check our newsletter for updates regarding changes.

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Scrumptious Silk Scarf
with Dalis Davidson

Have you seen those gorgeous silk scarves in gift shops and always wanted one? Now you can have your very own artisan scarf by dyeing your own. Ethereal, elegant and colorful, a perfect accessory. Learn various dyeing techniques, choose your favorite colors and experiment with ‘painting’ on silk. All materials will be provided.  You will go away with your very own 90” silk chiffon scarf, ready to wear or bring it to the Let's Play felting session and make a felt pin to complement your scarf or even do some embellishing with needle felting.

Materials needed: Please bring an apron or large shirt that you don’t mind getting dye on and an old towel.

Material fee: $10.00, payable to Dalis in the classroom.

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Decorated Garter Stitch; Easy and Interesting
with Bonnie Meanor

This class is an easy and interesting way to have fun, making good use of yarn from your stash as well as odds and ends of yarn left over from knitting. You will learn ways to embellish garments with this technique. It is versatile and can be used to make a scarf, blanket or throw, a sweater, purse or just use it as an experiment in color. Bonnie will help you decide which colors of your yarn will work well together if you aren't sure about combining colors. She will share several easy methods for combining color from her many years experience as a yarn store owner and even more years as a knitter. This class is all about garter stitch, no purling required. You need: to know how to knit, to use a crochet hook for single crochet for the interesting decorative bits (if you have never crocheted, not to worry, it's easy and Bonnie will show you how!)

Materials needed to bring to class: A number of yarns in different colors and textures from sock/shawl weight to aran weight (leave the bulky weight at home) You will find thin yarns combine to match the weightier ones. Multi-color  and variegated yarns work well in this project. # 8 needles, circular or straight, and a # H crochet hook or a G if you are "loose" like Bonnie is! If you have some extra leftover yarn balls, you may want to bring them to share amongst yourselves in this class for a more interesting project.