Welcome

Kristin Drysdale (@Scandiwork) is an internationally renowned expert in Scandinavian colorwork. Inspired by her Scandinavian heritage, she is a master of Norwegian, Swedish, and Icelandic knitting design, technique, history, and symbolism. She was mentored by Randi Bjorge, former National Folk Artist for Norway and designer for Husfliden. She also spent many years abroad gathering techniques in knitting circles from Norway to Austria.

Kristin has taught and designed for over 25 years with patterns published in Laine Magazine, Brown Sheep Wool Company, and KnittersMagazine. Her lovely vintage cardigan, Marit, in Laine Magazine issue 7, is currently on the needles of knitters all over the world. Kristin specializes in continental knitting, colorwork, and how to make sweaters that fit. Her goal is to help knitters everywhere become independent and confident makers. She believes anyone can learn to create heirloom garments that are beautiful both inside and out.

Kristin is a special teacher with the gift of being able to transfer her knowledge to others. She loves to share tips and tricks gleaned from a lifetime of Scandinavian knitting. 

Kristin's classes are based on the skills needed to knit the patterns in her newly released book The Nordic Knitting Primer .

Classes :

1. Ambidextrous Knitting and Jumping into Colorwork 

This class will focus on holding the yarn in the left hand and in the right hand. We will practice whichever way is new to you and then put your now found skill to work and jump into knitting in colorwork. This class is based on Chapters 1 and 2 of The Nordic Knitting Primer.   

Pattern: The Sander Cowl fromChapter 2 of the Nordic Knitting Primer  Skill Level: If you can knit and purl, you can thrive in this class.  Homework: Before class, knit the ribbing  the Sander Cowl so that we can focus on colorwork in class.  In this class we will expand you knitting skills and teach you how to combine Continental and British knitting traditions to make knitting colorwork a snap. This class is great for knitters new to colorwork, but also knitters who would like to expand their colorwork skills. First, we will practice new ways to knit, then we will put the new way together with the way you normally knit, and bam, you will be able to knit colorwork.  If you are new to colorwork, you will be thrilled at how easy it is with this technique.  

In class we will cover:  Continental knitting, British knitting Colorwork with one color in each hand, Chart reading, Two colors in the left hand, Gauge with colorwork, 

My favorite colorwork increase and decreases ,Tips and colorwork tricks  

Yarn will be provided, pattern is included.

2. Scandiwork Steeking Class – Knit Maine

Steeking Without Fear:   This class will teach you how to secure, cut, and finish your knitted fabric for colorwork-in-the-round cardigans, vests, and more.   

Pattern: Steeking Workshop Selbu Thermos Cozy. Optional Nordic cup cozies. All patterns included.  Skill level: intermediate  

Homework:  Before the class you will need to knit the Selbu Thermos Cozy so we can get right to work with a hands-on steeking experience. You may also wish to knit the two cup cozies beforehand. The more projects you come prepared to cut, the more steeking practice you will get.  

Welcome to my Scandiwork Steeking without Fear (or Fainting) class. Steeking is an awesome trick to enable colorwork cardigans, vests, blankets, and more to be knit in the round (the easiest method) and then cut and finished to perfection. We will learn to secure a steek with a row of crochet and cut the steek. Then we will learn to cover the cut edges of the steek with a button band and how to finish the button band with an I-cord so the steek is beautiful inside and out.  You may knit either the thermos cozy or a shorter Selbu cup cozy—whichever you can finish in time for class. After we finish the Selbu cozy, you will learn 2 additional ways to finish and conceal a steek for a horizontal or vertical button band. We will also cover a whole lot about sweater construction, fit, and finishing. We will learn many ways to incorporate steeks into your knitting, and learn when each method is appropriate to use. Each knitter will complete at least one steek but will have the option to work on three different steeks. Patterns are included for the Selbu Thermos Cozy, and 2 cup cozies. Knit all three, and you’ll have knit yourself a happy Nordic picnic set. 

In this class we will cover:  Setting up a steek. K1K2tog bind off Securing the steek (crochet, machine sewing and sewing by hand) Cutting the steek. Picking up stitches on the front and the back of the button band Working a vertical button band and steek Working a horizontal button band Working a I-cord bind off with buttonholes. Working horizontal buttonholes. Working vertical buttonholes. Working a single row buttonhole. Hiding the steek (3 ways) Blocking. Sewing on buttons and finishing beautifully  

Steeking Without Fear Materials  Yarn: 2 colors of Rauma Finullgarn. (or equivalent yarn) 50-gram skein of each color.  Be aware that steeking works best with wool (don’t use superwash yarn). A traditional, toothy wool works best for steeking. Needles: The cozies are knit in the round so you will need gauge-sized double-pointed needles, flexi-flips or long circular needles for magic loop. And smaller-than-gauge-sized DPNs for the cup cozies. Gauge: 24 stitches = 4 inches. Notions: You will also need a crochet hook, an embroidery needle (or a sewing machine), a darning needle, fingering yarn for the steek, and 5 buttons for the thermos cozy (and 3- buttons for each optional cup cozy).   Please be prepared for class with completed homework.  Yarn is not provided for this class. Pattern will be sent ahead of time.

3. Lessons From The Nordic Knitting Primer Purling in colorwork 

In this class we will learn how to knit and purl in colorwork, work a Norwegian braid and make these cozy slippers.  Skill level: Intermediate   Patterns: Sterne Slipper 

In this class we will cover: Gauge and fit 2-color Longtail cast on  Longtail cast on (and estimating how much yarn need) Knitting in colorwork Purling in colorwork, Catching floats, Decreasing in colorwork (SSK and K2tog and when to use which in colorwork), Increasing in colorwork, Chart reading while knitting and purling, DPN skills, Flexiflip skills, Tvinnarand skills, Slipper assembly (hand-sewing skills), Single (double) crochet edge, Colorwork Tips and Tricks

Yarn and Pattern are provided.   

4. Scandiwork Knitting with Three Colors – Knit Maine

Welcome to knitting with three colors without dropping yarn, tangling yarns or crying. . You will learn and master all the skills you need to conquer any three colorwork project.  Pattern and Yarn included in class. 

In this class we will cover:

Chart reading

Long-tail cast on (and estimating yarn for the tail)

Gauge and  fit

Yarn Dominance

English knitting (throwing)

Continental knitting (picking)

Carrying one yarn in each hand

Carrying 2 yarns in the left hand

Catching floats with 2 colors

Catching floats with 3 colors

Knitting in colorwork

Decreases: SSK and K2tog

Increases: Backward loop, and two-color long-tail cast-on 

Knitting in the round

Picking up stitches 

And a Latvian braid for Astrid

Binding off.