Category Archives: Sweater Class

Learn to Knit a Worsted Weight Sweater!

We are pretty excited about our new collection, Knits for Everybody. Whether you pick up a copy of the printed book (now 40% off) or buy it as an ebook so you can get started right away, you'll have the patterns you need to get your Christmas gift list off to a great start. Interested in making a winter sweater for you or someone on your list? No problem! We've got a video classl that is sure to help you out. In our tutorial, Katy Banks, designer of the worsted weight sweater pattern (available in sizes newborn to men's XXLand women's 5X) takes you through all the key steps to knitting your very own sweater. From increases and decreases, to putting the sleeve stitches on hold and starting a neckline, this class will guide you every step of the way. So grab your yarn and needles, and cast for your very own worsted weight sweater, today!

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Design a Sweater, lesson 6: Working the Yoke

The yoke is the most complicated part of a raglan sweater, but I think you’ll find that if you take it slow and workcarefully, it is not very hard at all! The trickiest thing is that the raglan decreases and neckline shaping will be workedat the same time.This is also the most exciting part of the sweater--we arenearing the finish line and for the first time, you’ll get to see your work really start to come together. Pun intended.Let’s get started! Read on for the videos and worksheet:

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Design A Sweater, Lesson 5: Planning the Neckline

I am not usually a monogamous knitter, and the recent heat has made my wosted-wool sweater project even less appealing. So I am a little behind myself and I suspect some of you are, too! In the next phase of our sweater designing, we will work the yoke and neckline, which means two sets of calculations that must be worked at the same time! To make that a little easier on everyone,and to give you all some time to catch up, I've divided this section into two lessons. This week's video covers the basic shaping and construction o fthe neckline, and gives ideas for how to decide what knid of neckline you want. Watch the videos below:

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Design A Sweater. Lesson 4: Sleeves!

I raced through the body of my sweater in order to stay ahead of the class, but even if you haven't finished that sections, you can always start on a sleeve! Knitting sleeeves can be a welcome break from working the torso of a sweater--they are more portable, and smaller, so each round goes much faster and the length gows perceptibly, for a real feeling of accomplishment! In this lesson, we'll go over the math behind sleeve shaping, and discuss some potential modifications that allow you to get custom sleeves! Click the link below for the handout: Lesson 4: Sleeves And check out our videos, where I (somewhat tiredly--apologies! I should maybe not shoot these lessons on Monday!) walk you through the math and show how the formulas in the handout gave me the sleeve I want!

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Design a Sweater, Lesson 3: Shaping the Torso

Hi there! As you'll see in this week's video, my sweater is coming along swimmingly! Now that I am deep in the process of working the waist shaping, I am remembering why my row counter is my best friend! This week, we'll be discussing how to calculate the increases and decreases that will shape the torso of your sweater to the finished dimensions you desire. It may be helpful for you to look over and print out this week's handout so that you can follow along with the video lesson, in which I'll be walking you through all the math required in this step. I promise, it's not terribly hard :) Click the link below to get the handout: Lesson 3 - Shaping the Torso And check out the videos below!

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Design A Sweater, Lesson 1: Swatching and Measuring

Ok, are we all ready to start swatching? Last week we discussed yarn choices and design dreaming, and this week we are going to solidify our yarn choices (if you haven't already!) and find the right needle to get the fabric that your design requires! I've done some extensive swatching (the results of which I share in the videos below) and have settled on knitting my Swish Worsted on US 6 Zephyr needles. Swatching can seem boring when you're itching to cast on a project, but it is one of the most essential parts of the design process, so it deserves a lot of time and attention! In this lesson, I'll be giving tips on how to swatch for the fabric your design needs, and then covering the measuring of gauge from your swatch, and the measurements needed for a succesful knit. All this information ins contained in the pdf linked below, which also has diagrams and blanks for you to fill in with your personal gauge and measurments. Don't worry if you're math-phobic; I've done my nest to keep it simple and to walk you through all the claculations step-by-step! Lesson 1: Swatching and Measuring Read on for more info and Videos...

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Design A Sweater, Lesson 7: Finishing!

Hi Knitters! This final edition of the sweater class is all about finishing. In this week's video and handout, I'll discuss weaving in ends, how to finish your turned hem, closing up the underarms, and working the neckline trim! Whew! Each step goes pretty fast, but make sure to take the time to do these steps right, as a well-finished sweater will look a lot better than one with sloppy finishing. Check out our tutorials on finishing, too--they'll give you a lot of information on how to execute the techniques discussed in this lesson. Finshing Tutorials Another resource I really like and use a lot is Nancie Wiseman's Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques, which is a wealth of information on every bit of swea=ter finishing you could imagine! And without further ado, here's your handout for this week:

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Podcast Episode 148: Sweater Weather

Kelley chats with designer Nina about a free online design-your-own-sweater class that Nina taught.  Kelley also reviews books with great sweater-weather projects. Books Reviewed Knitting 24/7 by Veronik Avery Brave New Knits by Julie Turjoman   3 easy ways to listen…    

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Who Wants to Design a Sweater?

Are you tired of knitting from patterns? Do you have a sweater in your imagination that you can't quite find the perfect instructions for? Are you an aspiring garment designer? If any of these questions piqued your interest, then you are probably ready to design your own sweater! I'll be teaching an online class over the next 8 weeks right here on the Stash Blog, which will cover everything you need to know to knit a seamless sweater from the bottom up to fit your personal measurements precisely! Each week, there will be video discussions of the curent topic and free pdf downloads of my notes and worksheets. I'll be knitting my own sweater as we go, and if you knit along with me, you'll be able to easily have yours done too in the 8-week period. Feel free to ask questions in the comments section of the posts--I'll answer as many as humanly posible and other will chime in too, so that folks who can't knit along with us can still access the class later! As I learned while shooting the first video, I can really run off at the mouth! So I'll stop writing now and just let the videos speak for themselves. This is our introductory lesson. I'll be giving an overview of the course, encouraging you to knit a sweater for yourself, and discussing yarn options from a design perspective so that you can select your yarns and be ready to start knitting with them in time for next week's discussion on gauge and swatching. Click through for the videos, and Enjoy!

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Pomp, Circumstance; Sweaters!

Congratulations, KP Sweater Class of 2010, you are now sweater knitters! I didn't print up diplomas for you but you have something better than a ceremonial sheet of paper today. Today you have great sweaters, made with your own two hands, that actually fit (or, will once they are done!) There's just so much beauty on display here; read ahead for a closer look at all of these wonderful projects!

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