Class - Knit Stockings
This class will work from the book Knit Christmas Stockings: 19 Patterns for Stockings & Ornaments, edited by Gwen W. Steege. Students may also opt to work a mini stocking (page 106) or any of the ornaments or other stockings in the book. Most of the stockings in this book involve the stranded colorwork technique, but there are several lovely patterns with plain knitting, cables, or embroidery embellishment. Easy Christmas Stocking #277 by Knitting Pure & Simple is also acceptable for class. Some of the patters in the book are also available for individual purchase on Ravelry.
Students must have a copy of the book or own an individual pattern. Copies of the the pattern or most recent edition of the book (2nd edition ©2013) are available for purchase at the shop. Please purchase the book or pattern prior to the first day of class to assure you have a copy to use in class. The shop will not photocopy copy written material unless it is from your own book/pattern. Students who own a copy of the 1st edition of the book may use it in class. Ravelry purchases can be made independently, or we are happy to facilitate a Ravelry In-Store purchase on your behalf. If you make a Ravelry In-Store purchase we will be happy to print the pattern for you. We are unable to print patterns that you have purchased on Ravelry independently. Please be sure to make book, pattern, and Ravelry purchases before class.
There will be homework knitting between class meetings. Students who do not have much time to knit between classes can consider making the mini stockings (page 106) to learn various techniques and most of the knitting can be done in class. This little cutie can be used as an ornament or as a cash or gift card sleeve.
- Participants must know how to knit, purl, cast on, and bind off comfortably without assistance.
- Decreases - K2tog, SSK, P2tog.
- Prior experience knitting in the round with double pointed needles is helpful.
- Stranded Colorwork in the round (Fair Isle is a subset of stranded colorwork)
- Cuff down sock and stocking construction methods with various combinations of gusseted heel, short row heel, afterthought heel, standard toe, gathered toe.
- Picking up stitches: live stitches for afterthought heel, and selvedge stitches for gusset.
- Chart reading for colorwork, as well as cables, and stitches as needed to suit your chosen project.
- Duplicate stitch
- Kitchener
- Weaving in ends
Yarn Requirements:
Two or more colors of worsted weight yarn. Check your pattern requirements for the number of colors required. It is always possible to add or reduce the number of colors, but 2 colors is the minimum for any stranded colorwork. 100% wool yarn is preferred and will give the most reliable results. Those who are doing colorwork for the first time should choose 2 different colors of the same yarn. Experienced colorwork knitters may mix different yarns of similar weight at their own discretion.
The class sample is worked in 3 colors of Galway Worsted in colors 148 (Ruby), 1 (Natural), and 26 (Fir Tree). Some good wool options in the shop include Galway Worsted, Lamb’s Pride Bulky, Homestead, Rios, and Worsted Merino Superwash. 100% acrylic and cotton blends are not always ideal for use with stranded colorwork, but aren't necessarily excluded. Encore Worsted and Vintage Worsted are acrylic/wool blends that are reasonable substitutes.
Most patterns in the book are written for Worsted (or Aran) weight yarn but several of the patterns use thicker yarn. Patterns calling for thicker yarn will produce a slightly smaller stocking when using worsted weight yarn. You are welcome to use thicker yarn if you pattern is written for thicker yarn.Stop by the shop to peek inside the book or peek at Easy Christmas Stocking #277.
Or, on Ravelry....
- Knit Christmas Stockings: 19 Patterns for Stockings & Ornaments, edited by Gwen W. Steege (pattern info viewable Here)
- Mini Christmas Sock NL4 by Nancy Lindberg (same as Mini Socks on page 106). Available on Ravelry here.
- Christmas Socks NL3 by Nancy Lindberg (same as Mix-and-Match Stockings on page 60). Available on Ravelry here.
- Easy Christmas Stocking #277 by Knitting Pure & Simple. Hardcopy available at Cloverhill. Available on Ravelry here.
Needles:
Patterns call for a range of US6 – US9 needles with worsted weight yarn and a range of 22-16 stitches per 4 inches. Size US 8 will likely be appropriate for most knitters and provide an acceptable gauge for a worsted weight yarn used with any of the patterns in this book.
Gauge is important but not critical. We want to make a nice fabric that isn’t tight and stiff, nor loose and see-through. If you always go up or down a needle size, assume the same for this class. If in doubt, err on the larger side since stranded gauge is often tighter than ones regular knitting gauge.
DPNs are recommended for most of the patterns. Choose long 8” length DPN needles where possible, 6" DPNs will work for the mini stocking. Students may opt to modify instructions on their own to work with alternate needle types (e.g. 1 circular, 2 circulars, Addi FlexiFlips, magic loop, etc.), however class instruction will focus on the needle types designated in the pattern(s).
Yarn selections, needles, and pattern choices will be reviewed during the first class meeting.
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