Article Pract - Knitting & Crochet Classes serving Oakland, Berkeley and environs

June / July / some August Classes

CROCHET LEVEL II—advanced beginner

Saturday June 27 ~ 2 - 6pm ~ $40
Instructor: Peter Franzi

Intermediate Crochet. Introduction to post stitches and popcorns, clusters and other combination stitches. Learn the chainless foundation stitch and finishing techniques. Pre-requisite: Beginning Crochet - or - knowledge of basic crochet stitches (sc, hdc, dc, tr, ch st, and sl st)and crocheting in the round. Materials: H or I hook; Pale, solid-colored worsted weight yarn; Yarn (tapestry) needle; Scissors. Registered students receive 15% off class materials.

SKILLS WORKSHOP—July

Thursday July 2 ~ 7 - 9pm ~ $15
Instructor: Julie Weisenberger

This workshop is an intensified, personalized help session. Bring your project or questions and get expert help, whether you'd like to learn how to read a pattern, or how to modify one, or how to finish a garment or fix mistakes. Julie is also well versed in Habu kits, so this is a great opportunity to knit those up with a helping hand. All levels welcome from advanced beginner to advanced knitters. This is not a beginning knitting class, you must already know the basics to attend. This workshop requires advanced sign up.

BEGINNING DROP SPINDLE

Thursdays July 9 & 16 ~ 7 - 9pm ~ $45

Instructor: Mike Wade

Have you ever wanted to create your own yarn? Are you curious about where your fiber comes from? One ultra-portable way is with a suspended spindle (also called a drop spindle). Michael will guide you in using a top whorl drop spindle. In the intro class you’ll learn the parts of the spindle, fiber properties and how to create singles by pre-drafting, spinning and parking. We’ll also talk about different ways of managing the fiber and setting the twist. Materials Required: Top Whorl spindle (Schacht makes great, affordable student spindles). I’d suggest a medium whorl (approximately 1.5 to 2.0 oz). 2 oz of wool such as Corriedale, Blue Faced Leicester or any other medium length wool. Most other fibers are NOT good when you’re first starting (i.e. cotton, silk, linen, etc.) Registered students receive 15% off class materials.

BEGINNING KNITTING

Saturdays July 4 & 11 ~ 1 - 3pm ~ $45

Instructor: Stéfan Christenberry

Learn how to cast on, cast off, knit, purl, and follow a pattern. This class is perfect for those who want to knit scarves, ponchos, hats, pillows, blankets—any of a variety of basic garments and items. Materials: 190 yards or more of worsted weight yarn (ex. 1 skein of Cascade 220 or Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted) & 24" circular US size 9 needles. Instructions and pattern will be provided. Registered students receive 15% off class materials.

BEGINNING CROCHET

Saturdays July 11 & 18 ~ 3:30 - 5:30pm ~ $45

Instructor: Peter Franzi

Learn to crochet—by the end of this class you'll be hooked! Materials: please bring to class one skein of worsted weight yarn (light and solid colored) and a crochet hook size H or I. Registered students receive 15% off class materials

ALTERING PATTERNS for SIZE/GAUGE/STYLE

Tuesday July 14 ~ 6:30 - 9:00pm ~ $25
Instructor: Kira Dulaney

It can be hard to find just the right pattern to fit your yarn, body, and fashion sense. In this class we will work through adjusting a pattern you'd like to make for a different size, gauge, or style (change a raglan to a set-in shoulder, or a cardigan to a vest). Bring a pattern or two that you'd like to make, a gauge swatch in your chosen yarn(s), a measuring tape, a calculator, extra paper and a pencil. This class is open to both knitters and crocheters.

BASIC SOCKS CLASS

Tuesdays July 21 & 28 ~ 7-9pm ~ $45
Instructor: Emily Gilliom

This class teaches traditional sock knitting on double pointed needles. Top down socks with a gusset heel. This techinique allows the knitter to read and follow the marjority of sock patterns found in books, magazines, and single patterns. Skill level: you must be comfortable casting on and off, knitting and purling. Materials needed: 230 yards worsted weight yarn (washable recommended) and a set of five US size 6 double pointed bamboo needles. Registered students receive 15% off class materials.

INTERMEDIATE DROP SPINDLE

Wednesday July 22 ~ 7-9pm ~ $25
Instructor: Michael Wade

Now that you know how to spin a single, you should ply them to make a stronger more interesting yarn. We’ll review good technique for drafting and holding your fiber supply, but we’ll also cover shoe box plying, center-pull ball/nostepinne plying and felt ball plying. We’ll talk about the difference between woolen and worsted techniques and how to achieve them with your drop spindle. I’ll even show a few tricks about dealing with very long lengths of fiber before you need to wind on. The pre-requisites are: be able to spin a continuous single (not perfect but with structural integrity). Bring in three small balls of singles that have either been wound into a center pull ball or transferred to plying
rods (or knitting needles).

CROCHET CABLES

Saturdays July 25 & August 1 ~ 3:30 - 5pm ~ $30
Instructor: Peter Franzi

Yes, crocheted cables are possible. Learn a variety of cable patterns, ranging from 2 to 9 stitches. Cables are not difficult as they may appear and you will soon master this staple of Aran design. Skills: intermediate/advanced. Materials: variety of hooks, 1 skein/ball of smooth, solid, light-colored worsted or DK/Sport yarn. Registered students receive 15% off class materials.

Design Your Own: FINGERLESS GLOVES

Saturdays August 22 & 29 ~ 1 - 3pm ~ $40
Instructor: Kira Dulaney

Fingerless gloves are quick and fun to make, and they make great gifts for everyone on your list, including hard-to-knit-for men! In this class you can either design your own fingerless gloves under Kira's guidance, or choose any of her glove designs (link to http://www.kirakdesigns.com/gloves.htm). This is an intermediate class; you should know how to cast on, knit, purl, and knit in the round. Materials: 50-100 grams of a sturdy yarn, double-pointed needles in an appropriate size (or two circulars, or magic-loop circulars), stitch markers, scrap yarn. If you are making gloves using one of Kira's existing patterns, you will need the pattern and everything on the materials list of that pattern.
Registered students receive 15% off class materials.

BEGINNING KNITTING—August

Saturdays August 1 & 8 ~ 1 - 3pm ~ $45

Instructor: Stéfan Christenberry

Learn how to cast on, cast off, knit, purl, and follow a pattern. This class is perfect for those who want to knit scarves, ponchos, hats, pillows, blankets—any of a variety of basic garments and items. Materials: 190 yards or more of worsted weight yarn (ex. 1 skein of Cascade 220 or Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted) & 24" circular US size 9 needles. Instructions and pattern will be provided. Registered students receive 15% off class materials.

HANDS ON HELP

Every Tuesday and Friday 4 - 6pm ~ **FREE**
Instructor: Song Palmese

Stuck? Need help reading a pattern? Forget how to cast-on or off? Help is at hand.
**All Article Pract customers are welcome, please restrict the projects you bring in to projects made with yarn purchased at our store. 15 minute sessions, no appointment neccessary, and free.

Hands-On Help is not a substitute for knitting lessons or individual instruction. If you require more help,
we have a list of private knitting instructors available, or you may want to consider taking our Level II class or attending our Skills Workshop.
We respectfully request that attendees not take advantage of this free service.

Enroll early as class size is limited. Although we anticipate full registration for all classes, we reserve the right to cancel a class due to poor enrollment. In this circumstance your fee will be refunded in full. If you aren�t able to make your class, we will need 24 hours notice for full refund. Fewer than 24 hours notice or No Show = no refund. Please bring basic accessories to all classes: scissors, stitch markers, yarn needles, etc.