Sock Knitting Classes

Where a Knitting Kit is mentioned, you should bring the following items:

Must have: various sizes crochet hooks (based on yarn you are working with), ruler, scissors, pencil, large and small tapestry (blunt or darning) needles (we prefer bent-tip needles).

Nice to have: point protectors (if you use them), sticky notes, cable needle, row counter, stitch markers (including locking stitch markers), calculator, stitch holders, needle gauge, tape measure.

2701 Darn it! Sock Repair for Knitters

Class A: Wednesday, June 18, 1 pm to 3 pm

or Class B: Saturday, September 20, 9 to 11

This is a sock-mending party. What? Don't have any with holes in them yet? Even better for you! Bring your socks with thin spots! Bring your socks with holes or thin spots, small tapestry needle, your needle collection, and spare yarn to match. With these tools and a little practice you’ll soon be wearing the socks again. We’ll have spare holey socks to practice on if you don’t have any.

Required supplies and equipment: sock(s) with holes or very thin areas, your knitting needle collection, small tapestry needle, scissors, and matching or leftover yarn. Also bring a worsted weight swatch knit on size 7 or 8 needles that measures at least 4 inches wide x 5 inches tall with matching yarn. Do not bind off the swatch.

Joan Sheridan Hoover, $25 class fee, no materials fee

3708 Toe up, Two at a Time Socks

Class A: Fridays, July 11 (6 pm to 9 pm), 18, 25, and August 8, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, four sessions

or Class B: Fridays, October 24, (6 pm to 9 pm) 31, November 14, 21, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, four sessions

or Class C, 2009: Fridays, April 10 (6 pm to 9 pm), 17, 24, and May 8, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, four sessions

Take your sock knitting to the next level! You will learn to knit socks from the toe up so you always have just the right amount of yarn. Plus, knit them on one long, circular needle and work both socks at the same time. When you are done with one, you are done! Knit from Deb's "any gauge, any size" sock pattern with lots of great sock knitting hints thrown in. Your friends will be amazed and you'll escape the single-sock-syndrome! Not for the faint-hearted. Must have knit socks before.

Required supplies and equipment: 100 grams of yarn in sock, double knitting, or worsted weight. One 40" or 47” circular needle in a size appropriate for your weight yarn and determined by your gauge swatch. One set of double point needles in the same size.

Optional: Heel and toe reinforcing yarn. One small ball of light-colored yarn in a worsted weight. One set of double point needles in a size 7 or 8. NOTE: Worsted or double knitting weight yarn for your first pair is highly recommended! We STRONGLY recommend the use of Raggi sock yarn for your first pair (worsted weight, size 5 needles). Yes, they will be thick, but it will be much easier for you to finish your homework before the next class (remember - you are knitting two socks at a time!).

Deb Harowitz, $60 class fee, $6 fee for handout and pattern

1706 Learn to Knit Socks

Dates: Mondays, July 14, 21 and 28, 6 pm to 8 pm, three sessions

Starting with the top of the sock using double point or circular needles, you will learn how to cast on and get started the first week, how to turn the heel the second week, and how to work the toe the final week. We'll use large yarn so that you finish fast and can see your stitches better. Common Sense sock pattern included free!

Required supplies and equipment: two skeins Raggi sock yarn, US size 5 double point or two circular needles, tapestry needle.

Jae Koscierzynski, $45 class fee, no materials fee

2708 Peerie Socks

Dates: Wednesdays, July 23 and 30, 1 pm to 3 pm, two sessions

These socks are even more addicting to knit than self-patterning sock yarn. We dyed the yarn here to get just the right combination of FUN! Knit in the round using traditional Fair Isle techniques and patterning, these socks are a great way to try a new style of knitting and include several tricks for making your knitting better.

Required supplies and equipment: Heritage Peerie sock kit with supplies listed in pattern.

Joan Sheridan Hoover, $35 class fee, no materials fee

2709 Toe Options I

Class A: Friday, August 22, 6 pm to 9 pm, one session

or Class B, 2009: Friday, January 16, 6 pm to 9 pm, one session

Has the traditional figure-eight toe for a toe-up sock got you in a sweat? Learn three alternative toes for knitting a toe-up sock: the Turkish cast-on, a simple round toe, and a square garter-stitch toe. You will soon have more Toe Options!

Required supplies and equipment: Worsted weight yarn in a smooth texture and light color, size 8 double-pointed needles, and two size 8, 24" circular needles (magic loop OK), knitting tool kit.

Deb Harowitz, $30 class fee, $1 handout fee

2716 Turkish Sock Design

Dates: Saturday, August 23, 10 am - 5 pm, one sessions

Turkish socks are made toe-up with much color. They may have one of several heels not commonly found in Western-style sock knitting. The instructor, Lynn Hershberger, owns four pairs of authentic socks knit in Turkey, and developed a series of patterns from features found in those socks.

We will knit a mini sock (knit one to fit you later), with double knitting or worsted weight yarn to make a sock with all the details of a larger sock. We will learn how you can use these details to build a knit-to-fit pair for any size foot.

Required supplies and equipment: At least two contrasting colors of double knitting or worsted weight yarn (all yarns the same weight, at least one solid color to be the main color of the sock). Size 4 double-pointed needles (set of 5) for double knitting yarn; size 5 for worsted. Sewing needle with eye large enough for yarn used.

Provided: Three handouts: one with Turkish sock background, one with the structure of the sock (a knit-to-fit pattern/formula), and one about colorwork.

Prerequisites: Confident beginner: you should be able to knit, purl, and have knit on double-pointed needles and knit in the round.

Lynn Hershberger, $75 class fee, no materials fee

2710 Toe Options, the Sequel!

Class A: Friday, September 12, 6 pm to 9 pm, one session

or 2009, Class B: Friday, January 23, 6 pm to 9 pm, one session

Sock toes don't need to be boring or plain. Learn three more alternative toes for knitting toe-up socks: square toe variations, fancy spiral, and a sideways Turkish toe. You will be able to create "toe envy&334; with your sock-knitting friends! The "Toe Options I" class is required to take this class.

Required supplies and equipment: Worsted weight yarn in a smooth texture and light color, size 8 double-pointed needles, and two size 8, 24" circular needles (magic loop OK), knitting tool kit.

Deb Harowitz, $30 class fee, $1 handout fee

2719 Introduction to Magical Socks

Date: Saturday, November 1, 12 pm to 4 pm, one session

Get a guided tour to a new way of thinking. We will do one of the sample socks in Cat Bordhi's New Pathways for Sock Knitters, including practicing Judy's magical cast on. You'll also learn how to use the book (and not drive yourself crazy). By the end of the class you'll be ready to try a sock on your own.

Required supplies and equipment: Worsted or double knitting weight yarn and size 4 or 5 needles (double point set or magic loop or two circular), stitch markers - optional lettered stitch markers which are available in the shop, tapestry needle, scissors.

Required book: New Pathways for Sock Knitters by Cat Bordhi

Skill level: Must have knit socks

Joan Sheridan Hoover, $45 class fee, no materials fee

2720 Magical Socks I

Dates: Fridays, November 14, 21, and December 12, 7 pm to 9 pm, three sessions

Make two pairs of pint-sized socks following the patterns in New Pathways for Sock Knitters then, cast on for a full-sized pair. Through these exercises you will learn several different cast ons, bind offs, and gusset styles. Once you are done with this class, you will be ready to design your own socks following Cat's formula.

Required supplies and equipment: yarn and needles for the following patterns: Marcelo's Seven-League Boots and Bartholomew's Tantalizing Socks (use double point or magic loop or two circulars), stitch markers - optional lettered stitch markers which are available in the shop, tapestry needle, scissors.

Required book: New Pathways for Sock Knitters by Cat Bordhi

Skill level: Must have knit at least one sample sock from this book.

Joan Sheridan Hoover, $60 class fee, no materials fee

2711 Toe Options All Day

Class A: Saturday, December 6, 9 am to 4 pm, one session

or 2009, Class B: Saturday, May 16, 9 am to 4 pm

Learn at least five alternative toes for knitting a toe-up sock. There's more than one way to build a sock - these options give you choices in your knitting and even make socks fit better and stay hole-free longer. After taking this class you will be able to create "toe envy" with your sock knitting friends!

Required supplies and equipment: At least two contrasting colors of double knitting or worsted weight yarn (all yarns the same weight, at least one solid color which will become the main color of the sock). US Size 4 double-pointed needles (set of 5) for double knitting yarn; US size 5 for worsted. Circular needles (two sets) in these same sizes are okay. Tapestry needle.

Deb Harowitz, $75 class fee, $2 handout fee

2702 Sock Change Purse

Date: Saturday, December 27, 10 am to 4 pm

This very excellent project is much better than making a silk purse out of a sow's ear. It is made with 100% silk hand-painted yarn or patterned sock yarn and is the perfect size to hold your mad-money or your small knitting notions. Learn how to work a sock from the toe up, make a short row heel, and attach the knitting to the purse frame.

Required equipment and supplies: small crochet hook, tapestry needle

Joan Sheridan Hoover, $80 class fee, includes all materials for project

3710 Magical Socks II

Dates, 2009: Fridays, January 23, 30, and February 13

Take your sock knitting to the next level and try designing your own footwear following the formula in Cat Bordhi's New Pathways for Sock Knitters. We'll measure and swatch, probably rip a bit, and ultimately have you off and knitting a sock of your very own design. There's not much quite as satisfying as being able to say, "Not only did I knit these, but I designed them, too!"

Required supplies and equipment: appropriate yarn and needles, stitch markers - optional lettered stitch markers which are available in the shop, tapestry needle, scissors.

Required book: New Pathways for Sock Knitters by Cat Bordhi

Skill level: Taken Magical Socks I or be advanced knitter

Joan Sheridan Hoover, $45 class fee, no materials fee

1703 Learn to Knit Toe-Up Socks

Date, 2009: Fridays, February 13 (6 pm to 9 pm), 20, 27, and March 13, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, one session

Learn to knit socks with a simple toe-up approach. Ideal for spinners, too, as you will learn to fit with any guage yarn for any size foot! This technique and pattern will allow you to tailor a sock to your yarn and foot - not to have a pattern dictate what yarn to use. Bring your firmly-spun handspun or any yarn your heart desires for swatching (optional) but we strongly recommend worsted weight sock yarn for your class project. Learn lots of great hints for perfecting the sock. Knit with double-pointed needles or two circular needles, your choice.

Skill level: Confident beginner, able to cast on, knit, and bind off.

Required supplies and equipment: Worsted weight yarn in a smooth textuere and light color for your class project, and some handspun (optional - bring your needle collection) for swatching. Size 4 or 5 double-pointed needles or two size 4 or 5, 24 inch circular needles (magic loop OK), stitch markers, knitting tool kit.

Pre class prep: Knit a gauge swatch by casting on (in worsted weight yarn) a minimum of 30 stitches and knitting stockinette stitch in the round for four inches. Bind off but do not cut yarn. Hint! You can knit your gauge flat (on two double-pointed needles) instead of in the round if you carry your yarn loosely across the back (do not work a purl row) and knit the next row from the right edge, just like knitting i-cord but without pulling it tight.

Deb Harowitz, $60 class fee, $5 fee for pattern and handouts