Designing Your Own Fair Isle Workshop

"There are many reasons for designing your own sweater (or anything else) instead of using a pattern drawn up by another. The primary  one, of course, is that you want to. If you are an anarchist at heart, part of that want is a desire for something unique--something that is wholly yours. Not fashionable; not proper or correct; maybe not even practical--but beautiful. Clothes, after all, say who we are... when we can be just ourselves we need something that is completely personal. Nothing could be better than a self-designed and personally knit garment."

Anna Zilboorg, Knitting for Anarchists

I will be leading a 3-day Design Your Own Fair Isle Sweater workshop June 27-29th in a town 20 minutes outside of Seattle. Suzanne Pedersen, the organizer, tells me that there are still a few openings. Here is the official description of the class:

You can design a Fair Isle sweater that reflects your own personality—traditional, contemporary, subdued, extroverted—a garment that incorporates patterns that have meaning to you, colors that make your heart sing, a design that fits and flatters. Designing your own garment can seem daunting—but taken step by step, you can do it.

We will spend the first day playing with a collection of over 200 colors of Shetland yarn. We will begin by discussing sources of inspiration, how to use color theory, and helpful resources. Then we will plunge into the actual process of choosing colors. 

Day two will be spent charting and swatching pattern motifs. We will start planning the overall garment shape and motif placement.

Day three will focus on construction issues specific to Fair Isle-type garments: steeks, corrugated ribbing, purl-when-you-can borders, and shaping tips for armholes and shoulders.

At the end of the workshop, you will have the start of a customized sweater pattern, the skills necessary to knit your sweater, and the yarns you need to swatch several color combinations.

Level of Skill: Must have experience with 2-color stranded knitting (or be willing to practice before the workshop) and knitting in the round; must have completed a sweater or a vest (of any kind).

I expect this class will be a lot of fun, plus you can even stay at Suzanne's--it's like a Girl Scout Camp sleepover! Please contact Suzanne (suzanne@madronafiberarts.com) for more details about registration.

Comments

[Sheila]

Oh, I wish I could! But since I'm doing the weaving workshop I can't take the time off for both. But the rest of you... go for it! Suzanne's house is wonderful, she's a great cook, and it's a real retreat setting. Not to mention the fabulous fun you'll have learning from Janine :-)

[Emma In Seattle]

I registered for the class and then had to cancel because I'm allergic to cats and dogs. :/

I hope to attend your workshop at a LYS in Seattle someday.

[CarolineF]

Ahem. I live on the wrong coast. Too bad! I could really use that class as I am incompetent at making stuff up! I'm sure it will be great.

[tutleymutley]

Bit far for me to come, but sounds great. I sooo wish we had workshops like this across this side of the pond.

[Emily]

Zilboorg is a genius. I love that crazy book.
I just spent last evening working on a design for a stranded hat pattern and I know she is right. (Also, designing your own is immensely more fun.)

[kendall]

I wish I could come, too! When I win the lottery, and can afford to travel I'll be there! :)

[Carrie]

I'm all signed up, and very excited for the class. Now I just need to make sure I can take that Friday off work . . .

[Ann]

I'll be there! While there, we can talk about why I, too, am splitting time between Washington and SF Bay Area over a glass of wine (or 2 or 3).