Stay tuned for info about this year's live retreats. We appreciate your patience.
Welcome
Kristin Drysdale
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.
Classes:
Scandiwork Steeking Class – Knit Maine
Welcome to my Scandiwork Steeking without Fear (or Fainting ) class. In class we will knit the thermos or cup cozy on the first day of class, and on the second day, we will be securing the steek with a row of crochet and cutting the steek, then covering the cut edges of the steek button band, and finishing the button band off with an I-cord finish. Knit either the thermos cozy or the cup cozy, whichever you can finish in time for class the next day. You will learn different ways to finish and conceal the steek.
Materials: Yarn will be provided 2 colors of DK yarn. Double-pointed needles, flexi-flips or magic loop. Crochet hook. Tapestry needle, fingering yarn for the steek (I will provide this), and 5 buttons.
In this class we will cover:
Long-tail cast on (and tips for estimating yarn needed)
Gauge
Yarn dominance
English knitting
Continental knitting
Catching floats
Knitting in colorwork
Setting up a steek.
K1K2tog bind off
Securing the steek
Cutting the steek.
Picking up stitches on the front and the back
I-cord bind off with buttonholes.
Hiding the steek
Sewing on buttons and finishing beautifully
Scandiwork Slipper Class – Knit Maine
Welcome to my Scandiwork slipper class. I love teaching this class because it is colorwork in a nutshell. You will learn and master all the skills you need to conquer any colorwork project. In this class, you will complete at least one slipper. You have the option of knitting an Ingeborg (the easiest), Hansdatter, Karen, Margaret, Lotta, Randi, Hansen slipper and a new Hans Christian Slipper that I am releasing this month. Pattern and Yarn included in class.
Material: 2 skeins (1 of each color) of either Raumastrikkegarn, Harrisville Watershed or Quince and Co Owl, double-pointed needles, crochet hook, tapestry needle, fingering-weight yarn for embroidery for Lotta only.
In this class we will cover:
Chart reading
Long-tail cast on (and estimating yarn for the tail)
Gauge and slipper fit
Yarn Dominance
English knitting (throwing)
Continental knitting (picking)
Carrying one yarn in each hand
Carrying 2 yarns in the left hand
Catching floats
Catching floats on the purl side
Catching floats on the knit side
Purling in colorwork
Knitting in colorwork
Decreases: SSK and K2tog
Increases: Backward loop, and two-color long-tail cast-on
Knitting in the round
Sewing the heal and weaving in the ends
Single crochet finish and embroidery
And a Latvian braid for Hans Christian
Continental Knitting- Knit Maine
I am super excited to share this new skill with you. In this class we will be learning how to knit and purl continentally. We will be making a pair of fingerless mitts. This class is for those new to knitting, or for those who know how to knit by throwing the yarn and would like to increase their knitting skills by learning to pick the yarn. Learning how to knit with this method may help you knit faster (not at first of course, but after practice) and knitting continentally can help you delve into the world of colorwork. Knitting with one color in each hand makes colorwork a snap. We will be focusing on muscle memory here, so we will be making a pair of adorable and versatile fingerless mitts knitting only continentally, and you will learn to knit and purl holding the yarn in your left hand. They are a quick fun knit for yourself or to gift and you will learn a new skill along the way.
Materials: One skein of worsted or DK yarn and knitting needles to match your yarn. For example, one skein of Harrisville Watershed, Woolfolk Får, or Quince Co Owl and needles between US 5-8.
Pattern and Yarn included in Class
In this class we will cover:
Holding the yarn
Long-tail cast-on
Tension
Norwegian continental knitting
German continental knitting
Continental purl
Norwegian purl
Increasing stitches
Binding off
Mattress Stitch
Yarn dominance
Colorwork preview
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.
Materials -- Yarn will be provided
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.
Kristin Drysdale Scandiwork