You Can Knit at Duchy Square for Creativity, Princetown, Devon

Saturday 11th July - drop in session anytime between 11am and 3pm - suitable for complete beginners or anyone needing a refresher to get started again. No charge.

Knitting is a creative, sociable and relaxing craft, and with basic skills you can produce beautiful items for yourself, your family and your home. Pop in to this taster session and I will teach you the knitting basics of cast-on, knit stitch, purl stitch, and cast-off. There will be a range of different yarns for you to try, including cotton, mohair, silk, natural undyed wool and exciting multi-coloured yarns. Try different thicknesses from thin 4ply to big and bulky.

Saturday 25th July - workshop 10.30am to 4.30pm - suitable for complete beginners or knitters who have just begun. Fee charged.

The workshop will give you a thorough understanding of the basic knitting techniques so you feel confident to begin your first project.

Basic techniques include how to hold the needles and yarn, casting on and off, knit stitch and purl stitch. Other simple techniques that you can try include combining knit and purl to make different textures and ribbing, and increasing and decreasing stitches. You can also learn how to sew in the yarn ends neatly and sew seams. You can progress at your own pace, trying as many techniques as you wish.

I will supply yarn and needles so different fibres and thicknesses can be used. By the end of the workshop you will have made knitted squares to show each technique.

A small additional charge will be made if students wish to take home any needles and yarn used in the workshop. A kit of yarn and needles can be purchased to make either a lavender bag or a MP3/mobile phone cover using the techniques learnt in the workshop.

Contact Duchy Square for more details on 01822 890828 or visit their website for more details on all the workshops running this summer http://duchysquare.org

FIBRE FESTIVALS 2009

I will be at the following shows selling books and my range of knitting patterns for the creative knitter. Come along and say hello.

26th-27th June - Woolfest, Cockermouth, Cumbria - stand no. D80 - www.woolfest.co.uk

22nd-23rd August - Fibrefest, Coldharbour Mill, Uffculme, Devon - www.fibrefest.co.uk

11th-12th September - I Knit London Weekender, London - www.iknit.org.uk

Summer 2009 Knitting Workshops

My Spring/Summer workshops at Spin A Yarn in Bovey Tracey, Devon have now finished so a huge thank you to everyone who came along and made them so enjoyable. Big news - Joyce is moving premises to just up the road so there will be more room for us in the Autumn when workshops resume. Get yourself on the mailing list and keep an eye out for the workshop schedule.

Visit the Spin A Yarn website for details.