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Class - Building Blocks



Building Blocks

Level:  Next Steps Knitting. 
Students should know how to knit, and purl.  Knowledge of long tail cast on method useful but not required.

Class meets once a month for 6 months on the 3rd Sunday from 9:00 – 11:30 (2.5 hrs)

Click the "Select Date" button to see dates and times. 


This class is all about skills building!  We will be tackling new skills each month. 

Each meeting will teach new techniques and also review any skills necessary from previous blocks.  As we work, we will also learn how to read our stitches, fix mistakes, read and decipher knitting patterns, understand knitting gauge, seaming, blocking, ripping, tinking, and many more nuggets of knitting wisdom.  You’ll have a firm foundation in knitting and a million new projects and patterns you can pursue.  You do not have to make the finished blanket.  The squares you make can become pillows, placemats, scarves and shawls.  You don’t even need to finish any of the squares if you don’t want to.  You should plan to be doing homework knitting between class meetings.  You should aim to for working on and completing about 2 blocks each month between class meetings if your goal is complete the blanket during the span of the class.

As always, you can use your own yarn and needles for a class at Cloverhill.  You are not required to purchase materials at the shop, but if you do we will give you 10% Discount for yarn purchased for this class.  Please note that discounted items are not returnable. Shop for yarn in person so that we can apply the 10% discount to your yarn.


Pattern Required: 

Building Blocks by Michelle Hunter of Knit Purl Hunter
The pattern is not included in the class.  If you already own the book, just bring it with you to class.  If you need to acquire the pattern book you have several options:

  • Get a hard copy at a discount when you register for the Class + Materials on our website ($18, regularly $20.25).  Books ordered this way will be distributed on the first day of class.
  • Purchase a Digital Download from Ravelry here ($19.95 at time of posting, PDF format)
  • Purchase a hard copy separately from Cloverhill Yarn Shop or other local yarn shop.
Materials Required:

If making all 12 squares, you will need 1,000-1,200 grams of yarn (10-12 balls).  Chunky, Aran, or Worsted weight yarns can be used successfully.  A shop sample is in progress using Plymouth Select Worsted Superwash Merino.  

We’ll review yarn, needles, and gauge in the first class.  This project is well suited to using multiple colors and purchasing one ball at a time.  We have several great yarn choices in the shop for this project. 


Pattern Gauge:                
4 stitches s and 5 rows = 1 inch on US 10 needles or size needed to obtain gauge. 

Makes 12”x12” squares. (36” x 48” blanket with 12 squares)

The blanket is easily expanded by making extra squares.


What size will your squares be if you get a different gauge:           

18 stitches and 22.5 rows = 4 inches on US 7-9 needles or size needed to obtain gauge. 

Makes 10.5” x10.5” squares. (31.5” x 42” blanket with 12 squares)

 

20 stitches and 25 rows = 4 inches on US 6-8 needles or size needed to obtain gauge.

Makes 9.6” x 9.6” squares. (29” x 38.4” blanket with 12 squares)

While picking yarn, look for solid or tonal colors.  Avoid striping, marled, or textured yarns.  Heathered yarns can be beautiful, but can sometime make it difficult to see stitches, so they should be avoided for now too.

In the first class we will review yarn and needle selections, discuss gauge, and check gauge swatches.  Gauge is not critical for this project, but it will dictate the finished size of your squares, the size of the final blanket, as well as the amount of yarn you may need to complete the project. 

Some yarns in the shop to consider:                    

  • Berroco Comfort Worsted
  • Berroco Remix
  • Berroco Vintage
  • Plymouth Encore Worsted
  • Plymouth Galway
  • Malabrigo Rios
  • Plymouth Homestead
  • Jody Long Coastline

 

What to bring to the first class:

Come to class with your needles and at least one ball of yarn wound and ready to use.  Ideally you'll have already cast on and done the Teacher's Pet Pre-Class Homework before class.

Stitch markers - locking and fixed markers will be useful over the course of the class.

 

Teacher’s Pet Pre-Class Homework:

If you feel like being a step ahead you can make a gauge swatch at home using the same yarn and needles you plan to use throughout the project.  Reliable gauge swatches should be about 5”-6” square.  (You get brownie points if you wash and block your swatch before class.)

If you’ve already swatched (or feel comfortable with your yarn and needle choices), you can begin the bottom border of a square at home before class.

Bottom Border:

Cast on 48 stitches using the Long Tail Cast On method. (Or your preferred cast on method.)

Begin Seed Stitch as follows:

Row 1: *K1, p1; repeat from *.

Row 2: *P1, k1; repeat from *.

Work these 2 rows 2 more times for a total of 6 rows.

 

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Pattern book available at discounted price if purchased "with Materials". (discount available with website registration only.)

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Included Materials


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This class cannot be purchased online. Please contact the store for more information.