DOWN HOME & COMPANY
10 Toll Bridge Lane
Fryeburg, ME 04037
207-925-1811
By Appointment Only

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2010 CLASSES
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The current listing is below. I'm sorry that most of these classes are during the week although 3 are on a weekend. I will be looking for venues for more weekend classes so that those of you who are outside the immediate area will be able to come.

For classes in Casco and Fryeburg, please use the link on my website for Crooked River Adult & Community Education (part of the Maine Education system) to get complete information and to sign up. The adult ed classes are cancelled if there are not enough students signed up at least one week prior to class, so if you are interested in one of these don't wait to sign up. I am often told that someone waited until a few days before class to sign up but the class was cancelled.

I am teaching 3 classes at Pleasant Mountain Fiber Arts in Denmark, ME this year - "Knitting from Charts", "Cast On, Bind off and Seams", and "Gauge". These are weekend classes. Please use the Pleasant Mountain Fiber Arts link on my website to get more information on signing up for these and other classes. These classes will require that you sign up even earlier than the adult ed classes as there is a lot of preparation involved in putting them on.

 

Classes at Crooked River Adult Education

For classes located at the Crooked River location please fill out the form available at http://crookedriver.maineadulted.org

Felted Soap: This is an easy first wet-felt project. Learn the basics of wet felting while making a decorative cover for a bar of soap. No knitting involved. Anyone can do this. Single session, Thursday, May 6th, 1-2:30 pm. Materials fee $5.

Fair Isle Knitting: This style of knitting uses many colors and looks and sounds complicated, but is really simpler than you would expect. A little bit of Fair Isle patterning can dress up scarves, hats, mittens and, of course, sweaters. The only prerequisite for this class is that you can knit and purl. It is helpful but not necessary to know both Continental (see Continental Knitting class description above) and American style knitting techniques. Single session, Thursday, May 13th, 1-2:30 pm. Please bring to class sport weight yarn in at least 2 colors and size 7 or 8 needles.

Learning to Knit From Charts can be intimidating if you have never done it before, but once you get the knack it is faster and easier than line by line directions because it presents a visual image to follow. You can look at your knitting then look at the chart to see where you are going and where you have been. It is very useful when knitting lace patterns, doing color work, and especially when knitting an Aran sweater where there are a number of different patterns going on at the same time. In this class we will do a bit of lace, a bit of color work, a cable, and if time allows, try our hand at charting a simple pattern. This is an intermediate level class. Students should know how to knit & purl and have completed a few projects. Those who have taken the Fair Isle class will be able to build on the chart skills already learned.

Thursdays, May 20th & 27th 6-7:30 pm
# of sessions: 2
Maximum # of Students = 8
Lab fee: No
Student Should Bring: Sport and/or worsted weight yarn in at least two colors, appropriately sized needles, stitch markers and a cable needle (or an expendable bobby pin).

Class to be held in Casco.

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Knitting Lace: Lace is not as difficult as you think, and you don't need to use skinny yarn or tiny needles to do it. This is a technique class, but if the student has approximately 6 oz of yarn the sample started in class can be continued to make a lovely, lacy scarf.

Thursday, June 3rd 6-8 pm
# of sessions: 1
Max # of students: 8
Lab fee: No
Supplies: Bring to class soft, sport weight yarn in a light color (textured or flecked yarn is not suitable for this class), size 8 needles, and 2 stitch markers. Pattern is included in class fee.

Class to be held at Molly Ockett

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Dropped A Stitch? : So many times I have had to help knitters who are in a panic because they have dropped a stitch. Now is your chance to become empowered and learn a couple of ways to retrieve that stitch.

Thursday, June 24th 6-7:30 pm
# of sessions: 1
Max # of students: 6
Lab fee: No
Supplies: Bring two 4 inch square swatches still on the needles; one in stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl one row) and another in garter stitch (purl every row), as well as a crochet hook. A plain, light colored yarn is best.

Class to be held at Molly Ockett

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Continental Style Knitting: Have you ever seen someone knit with the yarn coming off the first finger of their left hand? This is called Continental or German style knitting. It is faster than the American (or English) style knitting and when used in conjunction with American style makes color work a 'snap'. This class will show you the technique and help you to get started. Student should be able to knit and purl to take this class.

Thursday, July 1 6-7:30 pm
# of sessions: 1
Max # of students: 8
Lab fee: No
Supplies: Student should bring yarn and needles

Class to be held at Molly Ockett

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Knitting with two colors (Fair Isle): This style of knitting uses many colors and looks and sounds complicated, but is really simpler than you would expect. A little bit of Fair Isle patterning can dress up scarves, hats, mittens and, of course, sweaters. The only prerequisite for this class is that you can knit and purl. It is helpful but not necessary to know both Continental (see Continental Knitting class description above) and American style knitting techniques.

Thursday, July 15th 6-8 pm
# of sessions: 1
Max # of students: 8
Lab fee: No
Supplies: Student should bring sport weight yarn in at least two colors and size 7 or 8 needles.

Class to be held at Molly Ockett

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Duplicate Stitch: $15. Duplicate stitch is a good alternative to color stranding when there is only a small motif involved, such as a kitten on a child’s sweater or hat. We will plot your chosen motif on knitter’s graph paper, then duplicate stitch it onto your knitting.

Thursday, July 29th 6-8 pm
# of sessions: 1
Max # of students: 6
Lab fee: No

Supplies: Student should bring a 6”X6” knitted swatch in stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl one row) or some knitted fabric you would like to decorate, a picture or pattern you would like to use, some contrasting color yarn and a yarn needle.

Class to be held at the Casco facility

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Classes at Pleasant Mountain Fiber Arts

Saturday, June 19th 1-4 pm
Knitting From Charts can be intimidating if you have never done it before, but once you get the knack it is faster and easier than line by line directions because it presents a visual image to follow. You can look at your knitting then look at the chart and see where you are going and where you have been. It's very useful when knitting lace patterns, doing color work, and especially when knitting an Aran sweater where there are a number of different patterns going on at the same time. In this class we will try out a bit of lace, a bit of color work, and some cables, and try our hand at charting a simple pattern.

Friday, June 18th, 9 am-noon
Cast On, Bind Off & Seams: A beautiful knitted garment starts with the right cast on and ends with good finishing. These techniques make all the difference in the look of your finished project. Learn different methods of casting on and binding off and the reason you would use one over another in certain situations. Also learn at least two methods of seaming. Bring worsted weight yarn, size 8 needles, and a yarn needle.

Sunday, June 20th, 1-4 pm
Gauge: A gauge class doesn't sound very sexy, and many knitters don't like to take the time to do a gauge swatch, but it is probably the single, most important piece of knowledge needed for proper fit or to make your own designs. if the gauge is off, your item will be end up being too large or too small. In this class you will learn how to measure your gauge and explore the differences that needle sizes and yarn grist make. You need to be able to knit & purl to do this class. Bring to class several yarns of different weights and types, and needles in sizes 6, 9 & 13 or whatever you have (it doesn’t matter whether the needles are double point, straight, or circular).

 

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