.

Hello Friends!     

Feeling a little ‘Squirrel’?

Could there could be a more perfect Fall day – crisp, breezy, full of colour, and begging for a cozy woolly layer to make being outside pure bliss.  What are you reaching for on a day like this? 


The 2026-27 Firsties are in love with Fall!

You may be choosing from your own knitted collection, or maybe you are checking out the new pattern offerings.  Spoiled for choice, it can be overwhelming to decide.  Squirrel! 

What’s missing from your wardrobe?  A simple raglan in a cozy yarn; a cabled pullover with a modern twist; a textured vest in a crisp well-spun farm yarn; a crocheted cardigan with an elegant bohemian feel; a complex fair isle piece that is full of your favourite colours; some basic wool socks that make your feet sing; or a beautiful woolly wrap of a hug that just won’t let you go? 

Whatever you choose to have running through your fingers during this season, I wish you all the comfort that comes from your thoughtful making.

These programs are currently running, or about to start:

Texture Vest by Helga Isager
Fisherman Sweater by Skall Studio
Increscent – A Crocheted Jacket by Janica York Carter
Keris – A Fair Isle Vest by Marie Wallin

These programs will begin over the next few months:

A First Raglan:  The Seela by Jonna Helin
Aito:  a gradient shawl in unspun wool
Sock School: basic sock knitting with optional colour work

 

 

Here are the program details:

 

 

 

Textured Knitting
Texture Vest
by Helga Isager

Class #3, Saturday, November 14
from 1 to 4 p.m.


image from ravelry

The vest is worked back and forth from the bottom up.
When the body is long enough the fronts and back are divided and worked separately. The shoulders and the back are finished with rib.  Short rows are worked at the shoulder area to shape them to fit.
Stitches are picked up around the armholes to work a ribbed edge that is finished off with a sewn bind-off. 
Miles of texture – Venessa’s vest divided for the armholes

The Learning:
–  my favourite cast-on for 1 x 1 rib
–  knitting textured fabric using a chart
–  working short rows to create shaping
– crocheted button loops for toggles
–  my pick-up technique for tidy edgings
–  sewn bind-off

Students are knitting with the perfect yarn for this project from Desidero Ranch in Tappen, BC. 

 

Cable Knitting
The Fisherman Sweater

designed by Skall Studio
5 Saturdays 

Start Date:  Saturday, October 17, from 1 to 4 pm
Please bring your calendar to the first class to plan.

 

 
image from ravelry

Knit at a chunky weight gauge, the weight of this fabric adds boldness and definition to the stitch patterns.  This design is intended to be oversized, and is knit in the round to the armholes, from the bottom up, beginning with a wide rib. 

 


image from Skall website

The Learning:
–  knitting cables and braids
– 
short rows to shape the shoulders
–  knitting sleeves from the top down, in the round
–  my preferred cast-on method for 1 x 1 rib
–  sewn bind-off

I found the perfect yarn (again!) for this project at Desidero Ranch in Tappen, BC.

If you are interested in this class please email for the registration details.  Start dates can be changed, so please let me know in the email, if the date doesn’t work for you.  I try to accommodate everyone’s schedules as much as I can.

 

Crocheting a Garment
Increscent

designed by Janica York Carter


Class #2, Saturday, November 7
from 1 to 4


image from ravelry

A beginner friendly crocheted jacket that requires zero sewing!  It is constructed from two hexagons worked in granny stitch which are joined at the centre back.  Once the hexagons are joined the sleeves and lower body can be lengthened to fit by working granny stitch.

 

Yoriko’s sample using her own yarns

The Learning:
– 
 for crocheters comfortable with basic stitches and are ready to make a garment 
–   joining rounds
–  optional single crochet decreases
–  optional double crochet post stitches 

Fair Isle Knitting

The Keris Vest
converted from knitting flat to knitting in the round

designed by Marie Wallin 


Class #2, Saturday, October 31
from 1 to 4 p.m.

Marie Wallin’s photo from ravelry

Originally featured in Marie’s book Cumbria, this design is now available as a separate PDF download.  Knit bottom up in all over colour work, we will be working this vest in the round instead, with optional steeks at the armholes for those who choose to.  

Designed to use Marie’s own British Breeds yarn, I will provide a list of colours for shetland yarns to make this a more affordable project.  Marie’s yarns are gorgeous, for sure, but are also pricey.  I’ll do the research and provide an alternative collection of colours in shetland wool yarn that will match as closely as possible to the pattern suggestions.

The Learning:

Suitable for advanced beginners and up.  You’ll receive all the support you need to knit this garment to fit you using strong, practiced, skills that will make great fabric.  We’ll knit this over several months, at a comfortable pace that you determine, to be ready for winter weather.

This garment would be a great introduction for knitters who want to build on their colour work skills, but also an interesting new knit for experienced knitters.

For advanced knitters who wish to, I’ll provide instructions for steeking the armholes.

Marie Wallin’s photo from ravelry

A First Raglan
for beginners or nearly beginners 
Seela by Jonna Helin
4 Saturdays from 1 to 4 p.m.
Suggested Start Date:  January 23, 2027


photo from ravelry

This is the pullover I reach for often.  It feels done, over a gathered skirt, or tucked into a pair of high-waisted wide-legs.  Knit on larger needles, it is a garment that works up quickly enough to get into while you are still dreaming about it!

The Construction
Top-down garment with a fold-over collar
Knit in the round, with raglan-shaping and a few short rows
Deeper armhole for over-sized comfort
Long full sleeves (customizable)
Knit it to your desired length

The Learning
A flexible cast-on and cast-off
Knitting a folded ribbed collar
Raglan shaping
Short rows
Picking up sleeves from waste yarn
Customizing the fit


photo from ravelry
If you are interested in this class please email for the details using this link.  In your message, please let me know if the start date works for you.  It is sometimes possible to change dates. 
 

Knitting With Unspun Yarn


photo from the Istex website

The Aito Shawl 
by Melody Hoffman

2 Saturdays from 1 to 5 p.m.
Suggested start date:  December 5 

photo from Laine Magazine Issue 4

Plotulopi and Nutiden are unspun single ply yarns that knit into a soft and cozy fabric.  Used single, these pre-yarns are delicate to work with, but once laid into place they create a feathery light and instantly comforting fabric.

This program will be two classes, with knitting time in between.

The Learning:

During the first class we’ll practice the splicing technique and colour planning that makes the beautiful fade happen in this shawl.  The pattern suggests six plates of Plotulopi, each in a different colour, working from dark through to light.  But please do you!  This is a beautiful way to knit unspun yarn – any that you choose.
During the second class we’ll gather to knit and address any of the issues 
that arise for you as you work through this beautiful project.  The fabric is a garter stitch base infused with very simple lace sections.  Just gorgeous!

Venessa’s Aito shawl knit in Plotulopi

If this program interests you, and you would like the details about the yarn and registration, please email me using this link.  In your email please let me know if the start date works for you.  It is sometimes possible to change dates.  I try to accommodate everyone’s schedules as much as I can.

 

Sock School 
 
worked plain if this is your first sock
or with the colourwork if you are ready for more

3 Saturdays from 1 to 5 pm
Suggested Start Date:  February 6, 2027

photo copied from ravelry

Worked from the cuff down, this simple structure makes hard-wearing socks that fit well. 

Are you new to sock knitting?  beautiful, simple structure and perfect for plain knitting.

Are you a sock knitter ready to add some colour work?  This pattern has a charted design that is so beautiful, don’t you think?

 

  

photo copied from ravelry – The Homesweet Socks

A classic heel flap and gusset, with Kitchener Stitch grafting at the end of a round toe, make this a simple and straight forward knit.  All the helpful Sock School tips will be collected into a booklet of notes, to go with your purchased pattern. 

 

photo copied from ravelry

If this program interests you, and you would like the details about the yarn and registration, please email me using this link.  In your email please let me know if the start date works for you.  It is sometimes possible to change dates. 
 

Just Off My Needles . . . 

Another Unspun Yarn Project
Wild Posy, Flora
designed by Melody Hoffman

  

My second Flora!  This one is knit in one strand of unspun Nutiden yarn from Honer och Eir  held with a strand of silk mohair.  Fitted and cropped, I will wear it over my linen dresses and gathered skirts.  It is as light as air, so soft, and warm.  Squirrel!

Swipe for -- SQUIRREL!
  image from “Up!”   
   
What’s hopping on next?  Inspired by/blaming it on a colleague and studio friend, I went down the rabbit hole with her, and made plans to knit Tori Yu’s Rhinebeck Raglan in a worsted tweed wool.  It became impossible to unsee it!  Would you be interested in this project as a class?  Please email: let me know.

 

      
Tori Yu’s Rhinebeck Raglan

Wishing you a Beautiful Thanksgiving


and many, or even just a few, creative moments this weekend!

I hope I will see you soon!

Venessa