WINTER CLASSES 2012

Register on-line, in the store, or call us at (503) 469-9500

Project Based Classes
Single session technique and project driven classes
Class fee: $20 plus materials (unless otherwise noted)

Baby Surprise Jacket, Then and Now.*  Wednesdays January 11 & 25, 6-8pm. Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Baby Surprise Jacket has remained a popular youth garment since its original publication in 1968. Variations and interpretations of this classic design abound throughout the knitting world today, making it a go to pattern for that special little one in your life. Join us as we explore different ways to jazz it up along with other traditional baby garments. Suitable for the beginning knitter.  *This is a 2-part class; cost is $40 plus materials.  Heather Robb

Embellishments.  Friday January 13, 2-4pm. Want to add some décor to your knitted projects?  Learn the basics of embroidery for knitting, including the ever-so-important duplicate stitch, and experiment with knitted flowers and leaves to embellish with flair! Anne Laird

Designer Spotlight: Jared Flood.  Tuesday January 17, 10am-Noon.  Several young designers have radically impacted the knitting world in recent years.  Jared Flood is one of these great innovators, blending classic design and technique with modern style. Join Anne for a brief history of this talented young man’s rise to fame, an overview of his contributions to modern knitting, all while working your way through one of his many popular designs.  Students should know how to cast-on, knit, and purl. Anne Laird

Felt Yourself A Project Bag.  Thursday January 19, 6-8pm.  Why not tuck your knitting projects into your very own, uniquely constructed project bags!  Learn the basics of felting with animal fibers while creating a bag sure to become one of your favorites. Students should know how to cast-on, knit and purl. Anne Laird

Novelty Knits. Friday January 20, 2-4pm. They’re back!!  After a brief disappearance, novelty yarns are back in vogue and it’s time to explore projects that best showcase their unique characteristics.  Simple projects made with novelty yarns will add a pop of color and texture to any wardrobe and would make wonderful gifts. Students should know how to cast-on, knit, and purl.  Anne Laird

Cabled Accessories. Saturday January 21, 3-5pm. Intimidated by the twisting, complex look of cables? No need to shy away.  Learn how great (and easy) it is to knit cables with an accessory like Bella’s Mitts, Irish Hiking Scarf, or Star Crossed Slouchy Beret. Each project features cables at their very best, and knit quickly too! You not only learn to cable, but how to fix them, all while creating something beautiful for yourself or as a gift. Suitable for the novice knitter.  Heather Robb

Techniques for Perfect Finishing.  Friday January 27, 2-4pm. Once you've completed the pieces for your knitted project, it's time to add the finishing touch! Learn the basics of proper seaming techniques, the weaving in of ends, and the fundamentals of blocking so that your completed project looks its very best. Anne Laird

Oops! I Dropped A Stitch. Thursday February 2, 6-8pm, or Friday April 6, 2-4pm.  No longer will you need to come running.  You too can figure out where you went astray, and then fix it! Also learn some clever tips for avoiding mistakes in the first place! Students should know how to cast on, knit and purl. Anne Laird

Its Hot!  Friday February 3, 2-4pm.  Ever noticed the new “Hot” category on Ravelry?  Together, we’ll find out why the top projects in the “Hot” column have caught the eye of so many knitters, then jump on the bandwagon ourselves as we knit up some of today’s most popular designs. Students should know how to cast-on, knit and purl. Anne Laird

Knits For the Home. Saturday February 4, 3-5pm. Give your home that little something extra with a hand knitted piece you’ve made yourself! From pillows and lap blankets to knitting as visual art pieces for your walls, even coasters and cup cozies. You’ll learn how to use gauge to your advantage and how to showcase the inner art in knitting with other art mediums. Suitable for the adventurous beginner.  Heather Robb

So You Want To Knit A Sweater? Wednesdays 6-8pm.  In this 4-part series we'll cover all the elements of successful garment making while using a classic, popular pattern as a template for your very own personalized sweater. From fiber choices, proper gauging, and the basics of pattern altering, to the finishing and proper care of your knitted wardrobe, you'll learn and execute techniques and helpful hints that are all part of what makes a handmade garment not only successful but so wonderful to make and wear. Students should know how to cast on, knit and purl.  Heather Robb

Class 1: Getting Started.  February 8.  You’ve got pattern and yarn in hand and you’re ready to leap into your knitting! In the first class of the series, you’ll learn how your choice of fiber will affect the outcome of your garment, gauging math and why it is important, how to achieve accurate body measurements, the basics of pattern altering and much more as we begin our sweaters together.

Class 2: Ready, Set, Knit Your Heart Out!  February 22.  And we're off! Well on our way, our needles clicking, we'll discuss how shaping affects your garment, how to use increases and decreases in different ways, how and why Arm Scythes work, and how to accommodate any curve with short rows.

Class 3: Finishing Techniques. March 14. A majority of the project’s body has now fallen out of our needles, and the excitement of nearing the end is building. Together, we’ll explore different types of sleeves, how to adjust length, proper seaming techniques, and how to add embellishments.

Class 4: Houston, Look What I Made! April 4.  The moment has arrived to give yourself a pat on the back and look at your handiwork with pride! In this last class, we’ll put our seaming to the test, learning to weave in yarn ends invisibly, how to add extra yarn into seams for future repairs, and discuss how to properly care for your garment, as well as review blocking techniques and how to use them to your advantage.

Fun Fiber Facts.  Friday February 10, 2-4pm.  Plant fibers versus animal fibers, lace-weight versus fingering weight – there’s just so much information to be learned!  This class will help you understand the characteristics of and distinguish between different fibers, yarn weights, making it easy for you to choose the best yarn for all of your knitting projects. Anne Laird

Continental Knitting. Thursday February 16, 6-8pm, or Tuesday April 10, 10am-Noon. One of our most popular classes!  Learn to be a ‘Picker’ rather than a ‘Thrower,’ and get your project finished at light speed. Students should currently be able to knit English-style (throwing/holding the working yarn in your right hand). Anne Laird

Entrelac. Friday February 17, 2-4pm. Knit.  Turn.  Knit. Turn.  Learn the time-honored technique of Entrelac to create a textured diamond pattern with a series of interconnected squares on two different orientations.  You’ll learn the technique, while creating a fun and quick project.  Students should know how to cast on, knit and purl, and be familiar with simple increases and decreases. Anne Laird

Color Technique.  Saturday February 18, 3-5pm. Color work is beautiful, but it takes some know how. Let us help you discover the joy of adding color to your knitting. Heather will teach you the basics of color work, including the science behind choosing the right colors, how to read a color chart, stranding with both one and two hands, and finishing. Students should know how to cast on, knit, and purl. Heather Robb

Loving That Lace.*  Fridays February 24 & March 9, 2-4pm.  Are you ready to delve into the wonderful world of lace knitting?  Learn the intricacies of cast-ons & bind-offs, increases & decreases, and blocking techniques best suited to knitting lace, all while tackling one of today’s most-popular shawl, shawlette, or scarf patterns. Take your knitting talent up a notch as you become a successful lace-knitter!  * This is a 2-part class; cost is $40 plus materials. Anne Laird

Designer Spotlight:  Stephen West.  Tuesday February 28, 10am-Noon.  The second in our series showcasing young new designers whose creations are taking the knitting world by storm! Stephen West is one such designer who stands out, with his edgy, modern designs for men and women a like. Learn a history of this talented designer while knitting up one of his highly popular patterns.  Students should know how to cast-on, knit and purl. Anne Laird

Ravelry Unraveled.  Wednesday February 29, 6-8pm.  Do you wish you had just a little help navigating the amazing world of Ravelry.com? Learn how to harness this incredible wealth of knitting and crochet knowledge. We'll teach you to search for patterns, find pattern opinions from other Ravelers, get project ideas for that coveted skein of yarn in your stash, post progress and pictures of your For Yarn's Sake projects, and save your favorites in your queue. Don't be left out of the global fun. Sue Dietze

Fingerless Gloves.*  Thursdays March 1 & 8, 6-8pm. Fingerless mitts continue to be one of the most popular items in the knitting world. Learn the ins and outs of these wonderful little hand warmers with a special place for your thumbs using the magic loop method, while also exploring different ways to make thumb gussets. A must have for the oncoming spring season! Suitable for the intermediate knitter.  *This is a 2-part class; cost is $40 plus materials. Heather Robb.

Knitting With Beads.  Tuesday March 6, 10am-Noon. What’s more stunning than hand knits with bling!  Learn to add sparkling embellishments to any project, while completing a pair of lacy, beaded fingerless gloves.  Students should know how to cast-on, knit and purl, and be familiar with basic increases and decreases. Anne Laird.

Cowls and Infinity Scarves.  Friday March 16, 2-4pm.  One of today’s most popular knitted accessories are the cowl and infinity scarf—combining the style of a scarf with versatility of a neck & head warmer.  Choose from one of the season’s most popular patterns and create a fashionable accessory for yourself!  Students should know how to cast-on, knit and purl. Anne Laird

Double Knitting. Saturday March 17, 3-5pm. Not just for beautiful reversible color-work projects, double knitting skills will let you knit sweater sleeves that match exactly every time, and, gasp, even knit one sock inside another sock!  Students can pick one of several patterns.  Students should know how to cast-on, knit, purl, and slip a stitch. Heather Robb

Shaping: A Review of Increases, Decreases and Short-Rows. Tuesday March 20, 10am-Noon. SSK, SKP, SK2PO—have all these abbreviations got you stumped?  Learn to decipher the most commonly used increases, decreases, and short row techniques, all of which are critically important for creating beautiful shaping in your knitted projects.  Students should know how to cast on, knit and purl. Anne Laird

Top-Down Sweater Construction.*  Saturdays April 7 & 21, 3-5pm. Knitting from the neck down is fast becoming the most popular way to work a garment. After all, seamless and adjustable along the way just sounds so appealing!  In this 2-part class you’ll have your choice between two styles - pullover or cardigan - to begin your top-down journey. Come explore how this ingenious construction method works while making something you’ll absolutely love to wear! *This is a 2-part class; cost is $40 plus materials. Heather Robb

Knitting In The Round.  Friday April 13, 2-4pm.  Magic Loop, double-pointed needles, two circular needles—just what is the best way to knit in the round?  We’ll take an in-depth look at each of these techniques for knitting in the round, discuss instances when one method is preferred over another, and practice each, allowing you to make the decision that’s best for you!  Students should know how to cast-on, knit and purl. Anne Laird

Mastering the Drop Spindle.* Saturday April 14, 3-5pm. Hey yarn addicts, now you can learn to spin your very own, unique stash.  For Yarn’s Sake’s debut spinning class will teach you to spin uber-soft fiber into yarn.  Janet will take you step by step through the art of spinning with a drop spindle, from handling the fiber to successfully creating your very own yarn.  Class includes an overview of fiber types, as well as an introduction to plying, spinning vocabulary and various types of spindling equipment.  Students will need a drop spindle; For Yarn’s Sake will provide fiber. *$25 class fee. Janet Ewing

Knitting Numbers. Wednesday April 18, 6-8pm. Figuring out gauges, yardages, yarn labels, weights, and substitutions can make even the most experienced knitter groan with dread. For better or worse, knitting is a hobby of numbers and counting. In this workshop we’ll explore techniques to make the problem solving easier, and take your knitted projects from homemade to handmade. Heather Robb.

Cast-Ons and Bind-Offs.  Friday April 20, 2-4pm. Expand your knowledge of cast-on and bind-offs to create better edges on your knitted items and also learn when to select a particular type to use based on your project.  Stretchy, picot, provisional, and Old Norwegian are just a few of the dozen choices that will be taught in this informative class. Students should know how to do a basic cast-on, knit and purl. Anne Laird

Crochet Basics.  Wednesday April 25, 6-8pm.  Learn the basics of Crocheting – from how to hold your hook and tension your yarn, through the basic stitches and terminology, all the way to how to finish off a project. Not only is crochet fun by itself, its also a great way to add embellishment to a knitted project.  Sue Dietze

Sideways Shawlettes. Friday April 27, 2-4pm. One of the season’s hottest new trends is the shawlette which combines the shaping of a scarf with the intricacies of a shawl.  Lace edgings never looked better than when incorporated into a stylish shawlette knit from side-to-side. Students should be able to cast-on, knit, purl, and be familiar with basic increases and decreases. Anne Laird

Socks Deconstructed

Say NO to store-bought socks!  From first time sock knitters to experienced sock aficionados,
we’ll teach you everything you need to know about knitting amazing socks.

Sock Basics From the Cuff Down.  Cuff down socks are easy and fun. In this series of three classes, knitters will learn a very stretchy cast-on, how to make socks using the magic loop, the why's, what's and how's of the "need-not-be-intimidating" heel flap and gusset, and final finishing techniques.  Take one, or sign up for all three!  Students should know how to cast on, knit, purl, increase and decrease. $20 each plus materials.  Sue Dietze

Class 1 – Getting started. Saturday February 25, 3-5pm.  Learn how to cast on loosely, create cuffs, and start off down the ankle.  Students will learn the Magic Loop Method for knitting in the round.

Class 2 – The Mystical Heel. Saturday March 10, 3-5pm.  Not intimidating at all. Learn what goes into making those curvy turns.  Heel flaps, gussets, picking up stitches and the heel turn – you’ll learn it all!

Class 3 – Close up that toe!  Saturday March 24, 3-5pm.  You’ve created a lovely leg, turned the heel, made it through the foot, and now you’re ready to finish it up.  Learn to master the Kitchener Stitch for a comfy, attractive pair of socks.

Toe-Up Socks.* Saturdays January 14, 28, & February 11, 3-5pm. Discover the latest and greatest approach to sock knitting! Knitting socks from the toe up makes the most of your yarn, and allows you to try it on along the way, thus giving a perfect fit every time. Best of all, no grafting!  Even the most reluctant sock knitter will become a toe-up nut.  In this 3-class series, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about knitting amazing toe-up socks. Knitters will learn Judy’s Magic Cast-On, the why's, what's and how's of the "need-not-be-intimidating" gusset and heel flap, and an amazingly stretchy bind-off.  Students must know how to cast on, knit, purl, increase and decrease. Experience with knitting cuff down socks is also highly recommended. *This is a 3-part class; cost is $60 plus materials. Sue Dietze

Two-at-a-Time Socks.*  Wednesdays March 7 & 21, 6-8pm. Have you ever wanted to have a complete pair of socks that actually match as you complete a pattern once OR suffered from SSS – Second Sock Syndrome?  Then ‘Two-at-a-Time Socks’ is the class for you!  Learn to make two socks simultaneously on a single needle using the Magic Loop Method.  Weekly assignments will keep you focused on finishing a beautiful, matching pair of socks in no time.  Students must have prior experience knitting socks.  This is a 2-part class; cost is $40 plus materials.  Sue Dietze

Special Topics for the Sock Junkie.  For Yarn’s Sake loves knitting socks. And we’re sharing that passion with our customers with this special series of specialty topics, all related to knitting socks, both toe up and cuff down.  Take your sock knitting to the next level! Students will use pre-class assignment pieces to practice these new techniques and create samples for future reference.  $20 each plus materials.  Sue Dietze

The Elusive Short Row Heel.  Wednesday April 11, 6-8pm.  Short-Row Heels are considered the most similar to those of store-bought socks, fitting snug across the instep.  But these lovely heels can be challenging.  Learn how to add any one of the several different types of short row heels – plain rows, wrap & turn, and double stitch – to your toe-up socks.

Nellie’s Never Enough Socks Club Knit-Along Class.  Tuesdays January 31 & February 14, 9am to noon.*  The second sock in Nellie’s Never Enough Socks Club is a gorgeous Sivia Harding design, with a projected released date of January 15.  Join Anne Laird as she gives you a guided tour through this toe-up masterpiece, knit in a For Yarn’s Sake color- exclusive from Knitted Wit. $60. *This is a 2-part class. Anne Laird

The Basics

Knitting Basics and Beyond. Sundays, 9:45-11:45am, Noon-2pm, or 2:45-4:45pm; Wednesdays 10am-Noon or 1-3pm; Fridays 10am-Noon.
Never touched a knitting needle before?  Used to knit but need a refresher?  Know how to knit but want help along the way with a new technique or project?  Then this is the perfect class for you.  In this 4-sessions class, Anne will guide you through your latest knitting endeavor, whatever that may be.  $75 plus materials (* Denotes 3-class session; $58 plus materials). Anne Laird

Sundays
Session 1 – January 8, 15, 22 & 29
Session 2 – February 5, 12, 19 & 26 (2:45 class starts February 12, and ends March 11)
Session 3 – April 1, 15, 22 & 29

Wednesdays
Session 1 – January 4, 11, 18 & 25
Session 2 – February 1, 8, 5 & 22
Session 3 – February 29, March 7, 14 & 21
Session 4 – April 4, 11, 18 & 25

Fridays
Session 1 – January 6, 13, 20 & 27
Session 2 – February 3, 10, 17 & 24
Session 3* – March 9, 16 & 23
Session 4 – April 6, 13, 20 & 27

Kids Can Knit Too! Tuesdays 3:30-5pm. In this fun class designed especially for kids, your little ones will learn the basics of knitting with Anne, and create colorful scarves, trendy hats, felted bags, fingerless gloves, and maybe even a simple sweater or shrug.  Ages 8 to 14.  $60 plus materials (*Denotes 3-class session; $45 plus materials).  Anne Laird

Session 1 – January 10, 17, 24 & 31
Session 2 – February 7, 14, 21 & 28
Session 3* - March 6, 13 & 20
Session 4 – April 3, 10, 17 & 24

Private Knitting and Crochet Lessons
Whether you’re a newbie knitter or crocheter, or want to dive in to a brand new technique or special project, you can tailor make your own class.  For all ages and ability levels.  You choose the time, we’ll provide the space and instructor.  $25 per hour for individuals; $40 per hour for two people.

Fix-It Clinic.  Tuesdays 5-6pm; Wednesdays & Fridays, 3:15-4:15pm.  Anne Laird & Heather Robb
Stitches fell off the needle? There’s a hole where there shouldn’t be? You have fewer (or more) stitches than you started with?  These drop-in times are intended for those little knitting emergencies.  Our queen of fix-its, Anne Laird, or her masterful side-kick, Heather Robb will take a look and guide you to getting back on track.  Help is on a first come first serve basis, and is for problems that will take no more than 5-10 minutes to repair.  $5 per issue.

Class Policies & Etiquette

Student Discounts:  A 10% discount applies to materials required for class. Apologies; this does not apply to sale items, class fees, Addi needles or books; and may not be combined with other credits or discounts.

Registration:  Class fees must be paid in full to guarantee your space.  Class size is strictly limited to 8 (6-8, at the instructor’s discretion for Kids “Can Knit Too!”).  To register, call us at (503) 469-9500 with a credit card, or drop in the store.

Missed classes: Apologies, but missed classes may not be made up or credited toward future classes / purchases.

Cancellations: A full refund will be given if cancelled at least one week prior to the start of your class.  Because class size is limited and instructor time is committed, you’ll be issued a class credit for cancellations within a week of your class only if we’re able to fill your spot.

Please purchase class materials and complete prerequisite homework prior to the start of class.  Thank you for silencing your cell phone, and taking calls or texting in an area separate from the class.  Other than service animals, please leave pets at home.