Look for more Knit Maine Classes to be listed soon!
Jill Bigelow-Suttell April 17-18th
Meet Jill
Jill is a knitting teacher and knitwear designer and author of A Knitter’s Gallery of Mitered Squares. When she is not knitting, she enjoys kayaking, hiking and reading a good book. Jill is married to a man who doesn’t mind a lot of yarn and projects lying all around the house. She also has one very energetic dog.
Follow her knitting journey on Instagram/Facebook @thebeanknits or sign up for her newsletter at www.thebeanknits.com
Ana Campos
Meet Ana
Ana Campos is a Brazilian knitting instructor, fiber witch, and designer with over 20 years of knitting experience. She currently makes her home by the sea in Salem, Massachusetts, known as the Witch City. As a Latina and an immigrant, she values the opportunities for connection, community, and common ground that knitting creates. Ana’s love for the knitting community led her to open Circle of Stitches, the witchiest yarn shop, in 2015. Her focus is on empowering knitters to grow their skills and technical knowledge, so everyone can make pieces they love. She is passionate about teaching students how to customize patterns for the perfect fit. She also loves teaching Portuguese knitting, which reminds her of her grandma Tina back home in Rio, and hosting her monthly tarot study group.
Ana is an inaugural member of the Vogue Knitting Diversity Advisory Council, and a co-creator of Latines y Lana, an ongoing project to elevate and share the work of Latine fiber artists. Ana loves helping folks find inspiration and expand their skills, and her favorite projects are sweaters and socks.
When she is not at her shop, you can find her elbows-deep in her dye pots. Growing up in the tropics gave her a lifelong passion for bright colors and bold combinations, which she brings to her line of hand-dyed yarns, Toil & Trouble. She loves dyeing colorful sock yarns, and hopes this book will help you fall in love with socks too! Find Ana online at www.circleofstitches.com, on Instagram @circlestitches
Continental Knitting with Jill April 17th 11-1pm EDT
Continental knitting is a method of knitting where the yarn is held in the left hand. It is faster and more efficient than the English or ‘throw’ method. It makes ribbing a breeze and is easier on the hands. In this class we will cover knit, purl, rib, increase and decrease methods. A simple ribbed hat pattern is included so that you can practice and master continental knitting.
Supplies: light colored, worsted weight wool or wool-blend yarn, needle size 7 or 8.
Reversible Cables with Jill April 18th 11-1pm EDT
Design A Reversible Cabled Scarf
Learn the secrets of knitting reversible cables. Then, choose from several cable patterns provided to create a scarf using any yarn weight. Use one stitch pattern or several, it’s all up to you. Time permitting, you’ll even learn how to convert basic cable stitch patterns into reversible cables.
Supplies: light colored, worsted weight wool or wool-blend yarn, needle size 8 or 9 for practice, any yarn you choose to start a scarf and one needle the appropriate size for the chosen yarn as well as one needle 2 sizes larger.
Portuguese Knitting with Ana April 18th 2-4pm EDT
Learn how to knit Portuguese style! Portuguese knitting is more efficient and easier on your joints, so it can help reduce strain and fatigue. In this style of knitting, the yarn is tensioned either around the neck or using a knitting pin.
This unique method of tensioning the yarn allows both knit and purl stitches to be created with a simple flick of the thumb! After the live workshop, you will receive lifetime access to pre-recorded review videos that cover the basic techniques so you can keep practicing.
Materials: Worsted weight yarn with a smooth texture, such as Berroco Ultra Wool, and US7 knitting needles.
Optional: Portuguese Knitting pin (you can work with the yarn around your neck instead of with a pin)
Homework: Using smooth worsted weight yarn and US7 needles, cast on 20 stitches. Knit 2 rows. Leave on the needles and bring to class.
Pre-requisites: You must already know how to knit and purl in another style of knitting.
Meet the Maker: Shelia Anderson of Urban Girl Yarns
About Shelia--Meet Shelia Saturday April 17th at 7pm EDT
I dipped my toe into the world of Indie Dyeing 4 years ago and I have never looked back. I started knitting when I was 6 years old and I thought there was nothing else that could bring me such joy, until I mixed the dye and stood in the glow of the fumes. All the pretty colors had me hooked. Now whenever I see a sweater, shawl, or any knitted/crocheted item I start to visualize different color combinations an I run to the pot and try to make my vision reality.
Learn more at www.urbangirlyarns.com