Working with Traditional Dyes - Ancient and Modern

Instructor Darlene Hayes 1 class 6 hours $60.00 & $35.00 materials Fee

Nature-based dyes have been used for millenia to bring color to the world of textiles. After a century of declining use, these dyes are increasingly being taken up by textile dyers that want to work with the multifaceted colors produced by nature and also lessen their impact on the environment.
In this workshop participants will learn the basics of using nature dyes including extracting color from various materials, shifting colors with minerals, acids and bases, and identifying new dye sources. We will work with a variety of traditional plant and insect dyes as well as discuss local plants that can be used as sources of color. Each student will go home with a detailed handout to guide their future dyeing experiments and 9 full skeins of brightly color yarn. (Students end up with a lot of usable yarn - 9 50g skeins)

Darlene Hayes is the owner and creative brain behind Hand Jive (www.handjiveknits.com), a small company specializing in naturally-dyed yarns. This is her third career, after working as a reserach moledular biologist and an intellectual property attorney. She started experimenting with natural dyes more than 30 years ago, particularly those that are local to Northern California, and has made them the focal point of her current business. Sold under the brand name Nature’s Palette®, Darlene’s yarns can be found in shops throughout the US, Canada, and Europe and appear in such books as The Natural Knitter by Barbara Albright, The Yarn Lovers Guide to Hand Dyeing by Linda Labelle, Son of a Stitch and Bitch by Debbie Stoller, New Pathways for Sock Knitters: Book One by Cat Bordhi, Sock Innovation: Knitting Techniques & Patterns for One-of-a-Kind Socks by Cookie A, and More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson and Anna Williams (coming in September 2010) and in a variety of magazines (including some really stunning cuffs desined by Nancy Bush for Piecework in 2006). She continues to be amazed at the magic that comes out of the dye pots!

Ana,Instructor 3 classes (the first three Saturdays of each month) $60.00
For those who have never held knitting needles or those who learned many years ago. We will master four basic stitches: cast on, knit, purl, cast off and complete three projects. We will also learn about yarn, needles, and start pattern reading.
Materials list for first class: size 7 or 8 needles and 1 skein of fantasy natural cotton or second time cotton

Limit: 8 students

Instructor: Sandi 2 classes $40.00

The beanie is the classic cool weather accessory and perfect gift idea. Everyone need at least one, or maybe two… Choose a classic or slouchy fit.

Materials: approximately 125 yards for classic fit, 150ish for slouchy fit of worsted weight yarn, size 6 and 7 16″ circular needles, size 7 DPN’s

Instructor: Cheryl 2 class meetings, $40.00
Expand your knitting skills by making this small wrap that can also be worn as a scarf. You will learn a rib stitch with a twist, short row shaping by creating and picking up wraps and turns, and a lace edging. The leaf edging is a 14 row repeat that is added perpendicular to the body of the wrap. If you’ve wanted to knit on fingering weight yarn, but not on a size 0-3 needle this is the project for you.
Materials: Approximately 400 yards of fingering or sport weight yarn, 24+” US #6 or #7 circular needle, DPN for edging, 2 removable stitch markers.

Instructor: Shelli 1 class on-going $20.00
First we’ll start with the Tank/Vest on the cover.
I’ve made this super cute little top out of the yarn called for in the pattern “sprout” and decided it soo cute that in we should do a winter version with some of the groovy new Anny Blatt yarns, it looks amazing! The pattern calls for heavy worsted weight yarn so keep that in mind for combining yarns like Habu or something sport weight with a mohair added, anything goes!
We’ll keep this class going doing the slippers next with Shelli or Paige, stay tuned…

Instructor: Sandi, one class meeting, $25.

Learn to make the prefect light, yet cozy scarf. It looks complicated, but is really quite simple. By combining a few simple stitches and mixing and matching as your mood strikes, you will create a fun and unique signature look. This is a great project for those who want to knit with out having to depend on a pattern.

Materials: One skein Koigu or Noro sock yarn or other fingering weight yarn, size 9 or 10 needles. Optional (for extra softness and texture), a carry along yarn such as a lace weight mohair or cashmere.

Instructor: Julie Weisenberger/cocoknits 1 class $30
*fleecing (also called “extreme thrumming)

in this class we will work on a removable, fleeced sole to line slippers so students should have a finished product by the end of class! Julie shows show you how to work the fleece in as you knit and then full it so that it looks like lambswool lining!

Instructor: Julie Weisenberger 1 class $30

Everyone chooses a cocoknits pattern and we all shop for the yarn for the project (if necessary). Then go over each pattern to discuss required techniques or issues that will come up during knitting. This is fun because everyone can hear about everyone else’s patterns and probably learn something vicariously! Julie will also have all the sweaters with her so you can try on your sweater for fit and see up front how their finished project will look.

Instructor:Julie Weisenberger of CoCo Knits 1class $35.00
*sweater construction featuring seamless, set-in sleeves with English Tailored shoulders*

This is how Julie designs most of her sweaters and she’ll go over the pros and cons and the how-tos. Julie will also discuss how to translate a seamed sweater pattern into a seamless one.

Third Thursday of every month something is 30% off and we’re open late (10am to 8pm).
Well it’s summer, I think, bit hard to tell in the mornings with all this fog, so in honor of summer…. cotton is on sale this “Third Thursday”
All cotton and cotton blends, yipeee!