Thursday I took Cool Socks A from Lucy Neatby. She is such an excellent teacher I feel badly to have such a crappy photo of her.
I think I've mentioned before how she uses her instructional DVDs to illustrate and demonstrate techniques in her classes. It works so well. We made a sampler with Channel Island cast on, a short-row garter stitch heel, a stretchy bind off with or without picots.
I had extra time and also threw a double-knit heel turn into my sample. Her class materials are set up really well so you can move ahead if you already understand a technique. We also did a sample of her sock toe chimney technique. When you're ready to graft your toe you knit several rounds in a contrasting color waste yarn, stuff that tube into your sock and use the first row of the waste yarn stitches as a guide to your grafting. It is helpful for eliminating the little "ears" on the sides of a kitchenered toe. I think it would have been a very good technique for grafting the hood of Rogue.
Friday was Socks Exotica with Judith. Again, fabulous teacher, terrible photo.
We got samples of all sorts of luscious fibers and blends. Cashmere, yak, angora, silk...all heavenly. She also gave us blank business cards and one of those full-page plastic sleeves with pockets for business cards. We could write down the information on the fiber then stick small samples in each pocket. I will definitely do this for any future spinning classes.
Saturday I took an all-day sock design class with Anne Hanson. I was so tired and headache-y I left early. Also I think this would have been better as a half-day class.
There were so many beautiful things in the market. I brought home a lot more than I intended. Here is just some of what came home with me.
Hazel Knits merino/nylon sock yarn in Blacklight
Merino/silk from Red Fish
A sweater's worth of Miss Babs's 3-ply sport in Denim
Merino/tencel from Dye Dreams
Merino/Tencel from Wolf Creek
Merino/bamboo/nylon from Kitchen Sink Dyeworks
Merino/bamboo from Lisa Souza
More sport from Miss Babs
A shawl's worth of BFL from Dye Dreams
(I've got to get to work. I'll post more later including links to all these great vendors!)
