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Introduction to Versa Lace class

We love lace! We love the feminine allure of lace shawls and wraps and cowls and scarves. But we do not love the wrong sides of these garments. Phooey! What’s a knitter to do? Did you know you can convert many stockinette-based lace patterns into reversible lace patterns? No, this is not double-knitting, but you should already be comfortable with 1×1 ribbing and lace knitting.
Juniperus ficus, pattern included with class

Skill level is intermediate.
Prerequisite: Students should already be familiar with the basic processes of knitting lace including mastery of yarn-overs, left-leaning decreases (ssk), and right-leaning decreases (k2tog).

What you will learn:
Italian cast-on, which is perfect for versa lace or 1×1 ribbing or brioche (If you are taking the 2-hour version rather than the 3-hour version, we'll have to skip this cast-on)
double yarn-overs and how to deal with them on the next row
left-leaning reversible decrease
right-leaning reversible decrease
tubular bind-off, which is also perfect for 1×1 ribbing

Maximum 20 students.

½ day workshop

Students receive a handout in booklet form including the Juniperus ficus scarf pattern.

detail of Assiduous, a slightly more complex lace pattern

No materials fee. The pattern (normally a paid download on Ravelry) is provided as part of the class materials.

No homework, per se, but please be sure you meet the prerequisite. If you want to cast-on ahead of time for the 2-hour or virtual class, cast-on 22 pairs/44 stitches of 1×1 ribbing. In a three-hour in-person class, we'll do Italian cast-on.

Supplies:

  • class yarn (worsted weight, plain, light or bright or medium color, non-splitting)
  • needles appropriate for 1×1 ribbing in this yarn
  • contrasting yarn in a similar weight (one yard is fine — it is easier to learn the cast-on in two colors)
  • removable pin to mark right side of work
  • optional: chart for a lace pattern you would like to work reversibly
  • If you want to cast-on the project in class, you need 2 skeins of Feza yarns Harvest renamed Urth Harvest worsted or other worsted-weight yarn (400-500 yards).

No special needs for the room set up. A whiteboard or flip chart is nice to have but not need to have. I have a projector if the facilities can accommodate it. Room set-up should be tables and chairs either facing forward or in a U-shape.

This class has been taught at
The Whole Nine Yarns, Woodstock GA;
Spring Fling 2016, Atlanta GA;
Yarn and Y'all, May 2016, Greenville SC;
Georgia FiberFest 2016, Columbus GA;
Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair 2016, Fletcher NC;
South Carolina Knit Inn 2017, Greenville SC;
Unwind 2018, Blowing Rock NC;
Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair 2018, Fletcher NC;
Kanuga Knitting and Quilting Retreat 2019, Hendersonville, NC;
Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival 2019, Pittsburgh PA;
Carolina Fiber Fest 2019, Raleigh NC;
STITCHES Salt Lake 2019, Salt Lake City UT;
Spring Break 2020 for Kathy's Kreations, Ligonier, PA;
Fiberworld 2021, online;
Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair 2021, Fletcher NC;
Blue Ridge Fiber Fest 2022, Sparta, NC;
Carolina Fiber Fest 2023, Raleigh NC;
TKGA Next Level Knitting Conference 2023, virtual;
Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival 2023, Pittsburgh PA;
New York State Sheep and Wool Festival 2023, Rhinebeck NY.

Note: When this class is offered virtually or offered as a 2-hour class, I drop the lesson on Italian cast-on. I also market that class as "Essentials of Versa Lace" rather than "Introduction to Versa Lace."

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