Registration for Mini Classes is OPEN for registration ONLY AT THE MADRONA RETREAT. Come to the Retreat Registration Table just a floor above the hotel lobby. You can still register for any class that has space up to 24 hours before the class.
Please note: We have just added another Knitting Backwards class due to demand. Amy Detjen will teach it on Sunday morning so take a look!
We are thrilled with our line up of 28 Mini Classes this year. You’ll find classes with Clara Parkes, Evelyn Clark, JC Briar, Sarah Anderson, Mary Scott Huff, Sivia Harding, Judy Pascale, Gwen Bortner, Amy Detjen, Lorilee Beltman and many more! Check them all out on the schedule below.
Mini Class registration is totally separate from regular class registration so please READ all the information and instructions below.
- Mini Class registration is totally separate from the regular class registration. If you have registered for regular classes, be sure not to double book yourself. Each person must register separately.
- Registration for Mini Classes will open Thursday afternoon PST on January 24, 2013. When registration opens you can click on the big red button at the bottom of this page, following the class schedule. You will be linked to the Mini Class registration pages.
- If you are registering for another person be sure you have all of their contact information. You must register the person using their own email address. Every person taking classes must be registered separately. One registration per person. You may use your credit card to pay for the person you are registering for as long as you enter your own billing address and card number at check out.
- Mini Classes are about 1 hour and 20 minutes of instructional time. Be on time for your session so you don’t miss anything or disrupt these short classes after they begin! Be sure to check in at the retreat registration table when you arrive at the hotel and get your name tag and registration packet. Locations for the mini classes are in your registration packet and on posters at the hotel.
- For teacher information click on each teacher’s name in the schedule.
- Supply lists and homework, if any, are listed in the class description. You will not receive separate information about supplies or homework.
- Each Mini class (90 minutes in length) costs $45. Payment is by credit card only. We take Visa, Master Card, and Discover Card.
- No Refunds or wait lists. There are 10-12 spaces in each class. If you find you cannot attend after you register, you may give or sell your space to another. But you MUST let us know who will be taking your place at least 24 hours before class. Call Lisa Kobeck at 425-984-4302or email her at lkobeck@yahoo.com.
- Online registration for all the classes on this schedule will close Tuesday February 14th before the retreat begins but we will accept registrations for available classes listed in this schedule only (no regular classes) at the retreat registration table in the Hotel Murano.
REMEMBER: There are concurrent mini classes and three hour classes during most time periods. Be careful not to register for more than one class in each time period or double book yourself with any regular classes you have already registered for.
TO REGISTER: Click on the red button on the bottom of this page following the Mini Class Schedule.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14 | TEACHER/CLASS |
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| Thursday Morning Session 1 9:00 - 10:30 | Teacher: Gladys We Planning to Pool: How to use handpainted yarns Handpainted yarns are beautiful, but can be difficult to work with because of the seemingly unpredictable way that the colours can pool. This class will help you take a new look at those gorgeous multicoloured skeins in your stash in order to help you see new ways to work with them. We'll do some simple swatching and plan how to use your yarn to create new and original works of planned pooling art. For examples, see Gladys' projects at http://www.ravelry.com/projects/wenat Experience: Intermediate to advanced knitter. Able to swatch confidently and play with your personal gauge. Supplies: A selection of needles from US 4 through US 9 and a skein or sample skein of handpainted yarn. (Instructor will bring some mini-skeins to share, but your own needles are essential. Interchangeable needles are recommended but not required.) Location: Upper Rotunda in the Pavilion |
| Thursday Morning Session 2 9:00 - 10:30 | Teacher: Chris Bylsma Fabulous Finger Cord Details can often make or break a garment. Finger cord (not finger knitting) is one of those elements that can add just the perfect touch and is so versatile - but so unknown – to create ties, drawstrings, frogs, loop closures, celtic or swirled buttons and much more. Learn the basics of this fun and very portable technique that requires only your fingers, yarn and a will to play! A great new tool for your 'toolbox'. Experience: Everyone welcome Supplies: Two colors smooth worsted weight or sock yarn, scissors and a tapestry needle. Location: Hospitality Suite #403 |
| Thursday Morning Session 3 10:30 - 12:00 | Teacher: Judy Taylor Hooking Rugs for Beginners Learn how to use your knitting, spinning, weaving yarns in a whole new way. Rugs, pillows, wall hangings all can be created from this technique that will use up your leftovers from other projects. Experience: None Supplies: Bring yarns in a variety of colors, scissors (hooks will be loaned to students in class). Location: Upper Rotunda in the Pavilion |
| Thursday Morning Session 4 10:30 - 12:00 | CLOSED Teacher: Clara Parkes Sock Tips and Tricks for Strength and Stretch Have you fallen in love with a yarn, only now to discover that it may not be the best choice for socks? Or maybe your soles keep wearing thin on the socks you have knit. With a little work up front, we still may be able to make your sock dreams come true. In this workshop, you’ll learn simple but extremely effective techniques for overcoming sock yarn shortcomings and keeping your socks strong and stretchy every time. Experience: All levels. Supplies: Please bring a pen and pencil for notes. You are also encouraged to bring any socks that have failed you. Location: Hospitality Suite #403 |
| Thursday Afternoon Session 5 1:30 - 3:00 | Teacher: Sarah Anderson Making the Most of Your Drumcarder In this class Sarah will demonstrate different uses of the drumcarder. We'll include tips on blending fibers, different ways to use color in batts, making carder punis, dizzing off the carder and cleaning your carder. The class will consist of demonstration with question and answer throughout so you can go home and try out these new techniques for yourself. Experience: None Supplies: Note taking materials Location: Upper Rotunda in the Pavilion |
| Thursday Afternoon Session 6 1:30 - 3:00 | CLOSED Teacher: JC Briar Cast-On Trickery Provisional and tubular cast-ons permit all sorts of trickery: no-sew hems, scarves with identical ends, seamless underarms in top-down sweaters, ribbing that appears to flow from one side of the fabric to the other, and much more. Check out multiple provisional and tubular options in this class, and choose your new favorite cast-ons. Experience: Basic Knitting Experience Supplies: Smooth, light colored, worsted-weight yarn in two colors; needles of a size appropriate for your yarn, (including 2 circulars, OR a long magic loop circular OR a set of dpns); a crochet hook. Location: Hospitality Suite #403 |
| Thursday Afternoon Session 7 3:00 - 4:30 | Teacher: Sarah Anderson Spin a Soft Core Yarn Fluffy and light, soft core yarns are delicious. In this mini-class you’ll learn the basics of spinning and plying a soft core yarn. These yarns can remain a single or be plied but no matter what you do with them, they are lovely and warm. Experience: Must be able to spin a continuous yarn Supplies: 1. Spinning Wheel in good working order 2. 3 bobbins 3. Roving, top or batts to spin (at least 1 oz) 4. Lace weight yarn for your core – you may want to match your spinning fiber’s color) Location: Upper Rotunda in the Pavilion |
| Thursday Afternoon Session 8 3:00 - 4:30 | Teacher: JC Briar Recover with Tink, Drop, and Frog Mistakes happen. Fortunately, knitters have an array of techniques for dealing with mistakes. Learn when and how to tink, drop, and frog properly, so you can get back to knitting as soon as possible. Experience: Basic Knitting experience Supplies: Smooth, light colored worsted-weight yarn; needles of size appropriate to your yarn and spare double point or circular needles 1 or 2 sizes smaller; crochet hook; waste yarn. Homework:Cast on 20 stitches. Knit in stockinette stitch for 4 inches (10 cm). Leave on needles with yarn attached, do not bind off. Location: Hospitality Suite #403 |
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15 | TEACHER/CLASS |
|---|---|
| Friday Morning Session 1 9:00 - 10:30 | Teacher: Janine Bajus Flattering Shoulders for Fair Isle Sweaters The major criticism of classic Fair Isle sweaters is that they are boxy and unflattering. But they don't have to be this way! In this class I will walk you through the calculations and technique for knitting a shaped shoulder in the round to avoid "wings" and squared-off shoulders—without purling in color pattern. I will also discuss how to bring the shoulder line in without having to knit a sleeve cap and how to knit the arm band in a vest to avoid flaring. You can use these techniques with any published pattern to create a better-fitting garment. Experience: Knitting in the round. Supplies: Bring another 24", 28", or 32" circular needle in the same size as the one used for the homework; A few yards of smooth cotton yarn such as Cotton Classic; Tapestry needle; Sharpened pencil; Ruler Homework: Using a 24" size 5 circular needle (or the size you prefer—there is no need for a particular gauge in this class) and smooth worsted weight wool (a light color is easier to work with), cast on 160 stitches. Join and knit in the round for approximately 3 inches. Do not break off the yarn. Leave the work on the needles. Location: Camaretta in the Hotel |
| Friday Morning Session 2 9:00 - 10:30 | Teacher: Carson Demers My Aching Hands and Wrists Learn what contributes to knitter’s discomfort in their hands and wrists and how to avoid it. Unlearn techniques that don’t serve to keep you knitting comfortably. Learn to make choices that ease the work your hands do and gain tips for making them feel better. Experience: No experience necessary Supplies: None – bring along your knitting. Location: Upper Rotunda in the Pavilion |
| Friday Morning Session 3 9:00 - 10:30 | Teacher: Gwen Bortner Helps and Tricks for Intermediate Knitters Is your knitting at a plateau and you want to move on to be an advanced knitter? Do you have questions but have never quite found the right class to ask them? Do you think the advanced knitters must know something you don’t? Gwen will provide a variety of helps to take you to the next level and along the way provide some tricks that you may not have thought of yet. Skill Level: Intermediate skills and knowledge of most commonly used knitting techniques Supplies: 1 oz of light colored worsted weight yarn and size 8 or 9 knitting needles. Location: Hospitality Suite #403 |
| Friday Morning Session 4 10:30 - 12:00 | CLOSED Teacher: Sivia Harding Hooked on Beads Hooking beads is a fun and spontaneous way to add beads to your knitting without pre-stringing your working yarn. Discover some of the many embellishment possibilities that you can accomplish with this technique. Experience: Ability to cast on, knit, and purl Supplies: US 14 crochet hook (available at Carolina Homespun – order ahead or buy in the marketplace. Extras will be provided in class), 30 yards stash worsted weight or finer yarn, size 8/0 or 6/0 beads (extras available in class) Location: Camaretta in the Hotel |
| Friday Morning Session 5 10:30 - 12:00 | CLOSED Teacher: Mary Scott Huff 2 Strings = Not Scary (A Stranded Colorwork How-To) Always wanted to try the beautiful technique of stranded colorwork, but scared to try it on your own? Let Mary show you the way! In this mini-class, we'll debunk some misconceptions about the technique that might make learning it seem hard. Then we'll jump right in and get stranded, together! Experience: Strong beginner; some experience with circular knitting on DPN, Magic Loop, or 2 Circulars. Supplies: 1 skein each, smooth, 100% wool yarn in 2 contrasting colors (no black, please) in DK or Sport weight , with DPN, long circular or 2 matching circular needles to swatch; note-taking supplies. Location: Upper Rotunda in the Pavilion |
| Friday Morning Session 6 10:30 - 12:00 | CLOSED Teacher: Gwen Bortner Knitting in Both Directions Most of us knit in one direction, but what would happen if you could knit in either direction? Bobbles would pop out faster, entrelac would be even more fun, edgings would be added quicker and your yarn would be less tangled! Some call it “knitting back backwards”, but regardless of the name, it is a great skill to have in your knitting arsenal. You can learn the basics to knitting (and purling) in “the other direction” regardless of the way you knit now! All it takes, is a little bit of practice. Experience: Must be very comfortable with both knitting and purling. Supplies: 1 oz of smooth worsted weight yarn and appropriate size needles. Location: Hospitality Suite #403 |
| Friday Afternoon Session 7 1:30 - 3:00 | CLOSED Teacher: Anne Berk Intarsia in the Round For the intrepid knitter who is told that something is difficult or impossible, but wants to do it anyway. Intarsia is easily knit flat, but there is a way to create seamless intarsia in the round. It is tricky, but once you know how, it is very manageable. This is knitting magic at a high level! Experience: Advanced Beginner (knows how to knit and purl and work in the round) Supplies: Worsted weight yarn in 4 different colors. A size 7 circular needle 16” length. A sense of humor. Location: Upper Rotunda in the Pavilion |
| Friday Afternoon Session 8 1:30 - 3:00 | Teacher: Lisa Daehlin Tunisian Lace Crochet A hybrid of knitting and crochet, the technique of Tunisian Crochet results in a fabric with a woven quality in its more traditional version and a lace-like quality when using openwork techniques. In this introductory class, learn how to make the basic Tunisian Crochet stitches (simple/knit/purl), and then expand upon those skills to include color changing (stripes and cross-hatching) as well as some basic lace and textural stitches. By the end of class, participants will have swatched a variety of options of color and texture, ready to use them for any number of patterns and designs. Experience: This class is suitable for those with the very basic crochet skills – know how to make a chain and single crochet. Supplies: Tunisian (afghan) crochet hook size I or J; Two balls (different colors) of DK or worsted weight yarn – light colored and smooth. Location: Hospitality Suite #403 |
| Friday Afternoon Session 9 3:00 - 4:30 | Teacher: Anne Berk Zipper Add a zipper to your knitting sewn by hand for a strong, clean, supple finish using a method with specific steps that will give a great result every time and make your knits look even better. Experience: Ability to cast on, knit, and purl Supplies & Homework: Two knitted swatches of the same length in which to insert your zipper. If you have a project that needs a zipper, please bring it to class. Zipper that is the same length as your swatches or a bit shorter. (www.zipperstop.com is an excellent source for zippers with vast color range and lengths). Also bring sewing pins, sewing needle, thread that matches your swatches and thread of a contrast color, scissors. Location: Upper Rotunda in the Pavilion |
| Friday Afternoon Session 10 3:00 - 4:30 | Teacher: Evelyn A. Clark Design a Lace Dishcloth In this class, we will explore the basics of lace design and chart a lace that can be used on a diamond-shaped, garter stitch dishcloth. Why a dishcloth? It offers a low-stress entry into lace design using yarn large enough to easily see how the design works and results in a useful item. It can even be profitable: instructor has had three dishcloth booklets published by Leisure Arts. Experience: Intermediate level class: Must know knitting basics and be able to read charts. (No dishcloth knitting experience necessary!) Supplies: several sheets of 5-squares-to-the-inch graph paper; Pencil and eraser; Optional Supplies: worsted weight cotton yarn, such as Lily's Sugar 'n Cream with appropriately sized knitting needles Location: Hospitality Suite #403 |
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16 | TEACHER/CLASS |
|---|---|
| Saturday Morning Session 1 9:00 - 10:30 | Teacher: Gayle Roehm Three-D Embellishments Have some fun embellishing sock cuffs, hats, bags and other projects with twists, blisters, crosses, nubs and other methods of adding texture and dimension. You’ll learn several embellishments that are knit in as you go and don’t require breaking your yarn. If you change your mind later, you can unravel them. Experience: Advanced beginner to intermediate and up – knows the cast on, knit, purl, cast off Supplies: Smooth, light-colored yarn in sport to worsted weight and appropriate needles for swatching (suggested: size 5 to 8), plus an extra double-pointed needle, crochet hook or cable needle. Location: Camaretta in Hotel |
| Saturday Morning Session 2 9:00 - 10:30 | Teacher: Judy Pascale Short Row Shaping Learning the method of Short Rows with a specific step insures a perfect angle for shoulders or multiple designs. Using this technique leaves a sharp clean angle in both the knit stitches as well as the purl stitches. Joining the swatches with a 3-needle bind off that will have any pattern stitch on both pieces lined up correctly creating a perfect seam. Experience: Advanced beginner to intermediate and up – Can cast on, knit, purl, cast off, increase and decrease. Supplies: Worsted weight yarn in a light color and needles appropriate for yarn as listed on the yarn label Homework: Cast on 18 stitches using the yarn listed in the supplies. Work a few rows in garter to control rolling. Work a few rows in stockinette stitch ending on a wrong side row. Leave enough yarn attached to live stitches for continuation of techniques. Make two swatches as above and bring on holders or needles. Location: Upper Rotunda in the Pavilion |
| Saturday Morning Session 3 9:00 - 10:30 | Teacher: Evelyn A. Clark Design a Lace Dishcloth In this class, we will explore the basics of lace design and chart a lace that can be used on a diamond-shaped, garter stitch dishcloth. Why a dishcloth? It offers a low-stress entry into lace design using yarn large enough to easily see how the design works and results in a useful item. It can even be profitable: instructor has had three dishcloth booklets published by Leisure Arts. Experience: Intermediate level class: Must know knitting basics and be able to read charts. (No dishcloth knitting experience necessary!) Supplies: several sheets of 5-squares-to-the-inch graph paper; Pencil and eraser; Optional Supplies: worsted weight cotton yarn, such as Lily's Sugar 'n Cream with appropriately sized knitting needles Location:Hospitality Suite #403 |
| Saturday Morning Session 4 10:30 - 12:00 | CLOSED Teacher: Gayle Roehm Elongated Stitch Sampler Elongated stitches can enhance lace patterns and create surface interest on a knitted fabric. We’ll work a sampler while we experiment with several techniques to make long multiple-wrapped stitches, pulled-out floating stitches, elongated slipped stitches, and other variations. You’ll discover new ways to manipulate a knitted stitch. Experience: Advanced beginner to intermediate and up – knows the cast on, knit, purl, cast off Supplies: Smooth, light-colored yarn in sport to worsted weight and appropriate needles for swatching (suggested: size 5 to 8), plus an extra double-pointed needle, crochet hook or cable needle. Location: Camaretta in the Hotel |
| Saturday Morning Session 5 10:30 - 12:00 | Teacher: Judy Pascale Invisible Rib Seam into Stockinette Creating a smooth and even cast on and rib seam is achieved using a slick trick and by knowing exactly where to insert the sewing needle. Emphasis will then be to produce a transition into the perfect invisible stockinette stitch seam. Experience: Advanced Beginner and up Supplies: Work swatches in a non-textured light color yarn using needle recommended on label. Bring tapestry needle for sewing seams. Homework: Using yarn listed in supplies, Long Tail Cast On 16 stitches. Leave enough yarn attached from cast on row for seaming. Work in knit one, purl one for 13 rows ending on a wrong side row. Then continue swatch in Stockinette Stitch for 12 rows ending on a wrong side row. Bind off. Make two of these swatches. Location: Upper Rotunda in the Pavilion |
| Saturday Morning Session 6 10:30 - 12:00 | CLOSED Teacher: Amelia Garripoli Exploring Yarn Finishes Handspun wool is not complete until it is “finished”. Typically this is a warm soak and rinse…but there are several other finishes that can be done to provide useful results. We will cover: skeining yarn to be finished; gentle and rough finishes; drying with or without weights; cold and hot finishes. We will explore these finishes with handspun yarns and discuss how to decide which type of finish is appropriate for your fiber, yarn and project. Experience: Everyone. Supplies: Demonstration class: paper and writing utensil to take notes. Optional: If you have questions about finishing a certain handspun yarn, bring a sample for discussion. Location: Hospitality Suite #403 |
| Saturday Afternoon Session 7 1:30 - 3:00 | Teacher: Lorilee Beltman Channel Islands Cast-On This stretchy cast-on with its decorative picot edge is a lovely choice for starting a garter stitch garment and K1 X P1 ribbing, even when your pattern doesn’t specify it. In class we will learn the maneuvers, play with a couple of multi-color variations and practice selecting patterns in which to use it. Experience: Intermediate - Must be able to do the Long Tail Cast-On without help. Supplies: Yarn: 50 yards of a wool or wool blend in a worsted weight. Variegated, solids and stripes are fine, just so they are colored light enough to see well. Smooth yarns only – NO fuzzy or boucle yarns. Be willing to share short lengths of your yarn with classmates for color contrast. Needles: Straights or circulars are equally fine to learn this skill. Choose whichever size you normally use for worsted – about US 5-US 7. Homework: Practice Long Tail Cast-On Location: Hospitality Suite #403 |
| Saturday Afternoon Session 8 3:00 - 4:30 | CLOSED Teacher: Ilisha Helfman Jazzknitting and Tapestry Knitting Clinic This is an opportunity for students who have taken either Jazzknitting or Tapestry knitting or who have made gingko leaves from Ilisha’s Jazzknitting Book. Bring works in progress or finished pieces to share. Ilisha will revisit the concepts and discuss creative ways of combining jazzknitted forms with tapestry knitting and handspun yarns and possibly forms of art if students have special interests. She will have examples on hand and will answer questions about techniques, and brainstorm for new ideas to help students take their work further. Here is a chance to get your creative juices flowing and move on to the next level of creative design. Experience: Familiarity with Ilisha’s Jazzknitting techniques and knitting. Supplies: Bring work in progress and photos or objects/textures that inspire you. Bring handpainted sock yarn and slim needles in case you want to try a new technique or revisit an old one. Location: Hospitality Suite #403 |
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17 | TEACHER/CLASS |
|---|---|
| Sunday Morning Session 1 9:00 - 10:30 | Teacher:Amy Detjen Looking Glass Knitting (Knitting Backwards) Learn to knit-back-backwards and purl-back-backwards. More than just a parlor trick, these techniques can make small bits of back and forth knitting much more fun; it's especially useful for working Entrelac, short rows, bobbles, and tiny knitted pieces. Instead of "K10, turn, P10, turn" you'll know how to "K10, knit back - backward 10", and so on -- no purling required to create stockinette stitch while knitting flat. Experience: Beyond Beginner Supplies: one ball of yarn that knits at 4 or 5 sts to the inch and needles (straight or circular) in size appropriate for your yarn. Location: Hospitality Suite #403 |
| Sunday Morning Session 2 10:30 - 12:00 | Teacher:Amy Detjen Cable Tips Cable maneuvers are not difficult, but sometimes you need to keep your wits about you. Even experienced cable knitter can use these tips for keeping track of cables, determining what row is next, turning a cable without a cable needle, and repairing mis-twisted cables. Experience: Beyond Beginner Supplies: one ball of light colored yarn (avoid navy or black and needles (straight or circular) in size appropriate for your yarn, cable needle (optional). Location: Hospitality Suite #403 |