Start (and finish) knitting a sweater? Yes you can!
If you’ve conquered the basics of casting on, purling, knitting and binding off, then you’re ready to move on and make a start on your first garment and this set of classes will take you all the way.
Over 5 weekly classes we will work through knitting your choice of top-down top. We will work through it together, step by step, so that by the end you will have a finished garment and the confidence and knowledge to get going on knitting many more.
Each week we will guide you through the garment construction techniques that your pattern requires. Providing you can continue knitting between the classes, your brand new hand knitted sweater will be in sight by the end of the 5 weeks.
During the course you will learn how to:
- choose the right yarn for your pattern
- measure yourself correctly to choose the right size for the pattern you want to knit
- swatch and measure your knitting gauge
- read and follow the pattern and its knitting terminology
- master the stitches and techniques used in the pattern
- complete the garment with appropriate finishing techniques and blocking
The course fee includes tuition and pattern instruction. Patterns, needles and yarn are available to purchase separately with a 10% participant’s discount. We also have a Scholarship Programme to fund one place on the course for a low/no income knitter. If you are interested in applying for this place, please see the information on our Scholarship Programme page. The Scholarship place is made possible by our YARN FORWARD project, which you can contribute to here.
As this course is based on knitting a top-down garment, students are encouraged to select a pattern from the list below before the course commences. Help and advice with choosing patterns is always available in the shop.
Sweaters
- Minna No by Noriko Ichikawa
- Aran Gallant by Caidree
- Venlig by Veera Valimaki
- Margit by Spektakel
- White Mountains by Midori Hirose
- Aveiro by Orlane Sucche
- Novice Sweater by Petite Knit
- No Frills Sweater by Petite Knit
- Top Down Seamless Men’s Saddle Shouldered Sweater by Kyoko Nakayoshi
- Piilo by Jonna Hietala
- Varpu by Jonna Hietala
- Felix Pullover by Amy Christoffers
- Evendoon Pullover by Kate Davies
- Il Grande Favorito by Isabell Kraemer
Cardigans
- Evendoon Cardigan by Kate Davies
- Fanel by Orlane Sucche
- Don’t Ask by Isabell Kraemer
- Felix Cardigan by Amy Christoffers
- Harvest Cardigan by Tin Can Knits
- Cyclamen by Renee Callahan
- Shore Cardigan by Carrie Bostick Hoge
T-shirts
- Vaara by Sachiko Burgin
- Raw Vest by Lone Kjeldsen
- Nuuk by Jonna Hietala
- Koi Tee by Gingko
- Ballerina Wrap Top by Alexandra Tavel
- Stevie by Elizabeth Smith
- Yume by Isabell Kraemer
Alternatively any of the sweaters in these books of top-down sweater patterns would be great options:
- Madder Anthology 2
- Coco Knits Sweater Workshop by Julie Weisenberger
- Ready Set Raglan