Twice a year, needlework industry people meet to network, take classes, and do business at a show called TNNA (The National Needlearts Association). Beth and I went to do the fall buying for Westport Yarns.We got there two days early to take advantage of the wealth of classes TNNA has to offer for needlework (knitting, crochet, weaving, spinning) as well as business related classes.
Here are a couple of samples of what you can accomplish with double knitting. She has a terrific book on color work, ironically called, “Mastering Color Knitting“.
A very cool technique that I look forward to experimenting with. There are so many possibilities!
The convention was right in the heart of Columbus, Ohio. There were lots of great restaurants walking distance from our hotel. The first night out I discovered Summer Shandy beer; it was delicious!
During “rest time” I admired this knitter’s sweater. It’s one I’ve had my eye on. Cinnie by Chic Knits.
It is a really interesting sweater. You start with a lace panel in the back. Then go side to side. Then down. When I got home I started it! It is a lot of fun.
Saturday morning before the convention began, I took another class with Cat. This was about “Empowering New Knitters”. She shared a different method for teaching beginning knitters.
Again, her class was interesting and innovative in it’s approach. Two of the things a new knitter can make are a baby hat and
A woman sitting behind me was wearing Color Affection. This remains a very popular pattern on Ravelry. I was surprised how many people in the class hadn’t seen it before.
She showed us how to put in an after-thought heel in a tube sock.
She cut the heel and picked up the stitches! She had many people cringing in their seats as she cut the fabric. I’d really want to practice that one before doing it on a sock I cared about.
The key to success here was not cutting to the absolute edges of the sock, cutting one or two stitches in from the sides.
Both Cat and Melissa are excellent teachers with a wealth of knowledge to share. It was a pleasure to be a student. I enjoyed meeting the other shop owners/staff taking the class.
One thing that amused me during all three classes was how all of us students reacted to the yarn provided in the classes. People went around trading out colors so that they could work with the colors they enjoyed. It is the little things that mean a lot.
I came away from my classes totally jazzed up about new techniques and tricks of the trade. One of the best things I learned was from Cat.
She taught us how to recalibrate our gauge. I actually was able to employ a technique that enabled me to get gauge on the needle a pattern called for. You could actually see the progression of my loose tension and then how it tightened up into the right gauge. The first cable cross was loose and the next two on top tightened up. I don’t know if that has ever happened! This was truly game changing for my knitting.
I’ve since got gauge on two knitting projects, on the needle the pattern recommended! Inconceivable!
