Knitopia Las Vegas 2022

Now You See It, Now You Don't: Shadow Knitting with Franklin Habit

Color and texture meet and mingle with startling results in the subtle, intriguing fabrics created by shadow (also called “illusion”) knitting. Stripes, garter stitch, and stockinette combine to create patterns that appear or vanish depending upon the angle of view–perfect for hiding secret messages in your work. We will not only learn the technique (including simple chart reading), but will also investigate methods for designing  shadow patterns, and play with creating our own charts for custom projects. 

Chevron Shawl Shaping with Denise Bayron

The Moving Forward Wrap, as the name implies, is about making deliberate decisions to create the life of one’s dreams! 

This shawl design is shaped like a large arrow, a symbol of forward momentum. Students will make a small swatch in class to acquire the skills to make the full version at home. 

You will learn the following techniques: 

• German Twisted Cast On 
• Center Double Decrease 
• The essentials of lace Knitting 
• Directional / Mirrored increases and decreases

Pick Up Artist with Marie Greene

If you’ve ever struggled with finishing your sweaters, this class is for you! Learn Marie’s expert tricks for professional-looking button bands, perfect edges, and gorgeous necklines in this best-selling workshop where you’ll learn hands-on. 

You’ll never dread finishing again!

Introduction to the History, Methods, and Styles of Lace Knitting with Franklin Habit

In this three-hour session, we’ll examine the fundamental principles and techniques of knitting's grandest tradition. 

Students will learn about the history of lace knitting, and the development of the art in three parts of the world (Russia, Estonia, and the Shetland Islands) in which the craft was developed to the highest level of artistry. We will not only discuss, but will practice and play with some of the methods and motifs that distinguish each of these traditions, and view beautiful examples of lace both modern and antique.  Whether you are merely curious about lace or a devoted practitioner, there will be something for you to enjoy. 

Participants should be familiar with the basics of knitting (casting, binding off, knitting, purling, yarn over, decreasing); and able to work from charts. 

Rondo Jacket with Melissa Leapman

Named for the Esperanto word for "circle", Rondo is a showstopping jacket with a hypnotizing cabled medallion on the back.

In class, you'll learn all the skills needed to make this design, including a provisional cast on, cabling without a cable needle, short rows, grafting, and picking up stitches without muss or fuss.

Students will explore the essential techniques on an in-class swatch and will receive the complete knitting pattern for bust sizes         42 (46, 50, 54, 58, 62, and 66)".

Yarn Cocktails with Marie Greene

Welcome to the ultimate yarn stash cocktail party! Let’s shake up the old stash with expert pairings and sassy mixers that multiply your options!

 We’ll create gorgeous, marled fabrics, make-shift heathers, and mix and match yarn weights for awesome results. Let’s turn zeros to heroes in this super fun, gamified fiber cocktail party. 

We’ll knit in teams and race our needles for the most yarn miles covered in class! (There will be no actual running, because, well, #gross. But there MAY be chocolate. <grin>)

Materials Fee: $20

The Joy (No, Seriously) of Intarsia with Franklin Habit

Intarsia is a bold, powerful technique with a severe image problem. Some say it’s ugly. Others say it’s complicated. We disagree.

 When practiced properly and used with skill, intarsia is capable of creating fresh and beautiful multi-color fabrics unlike anything else in knitting. And it’s fun. Really.

In this eye- and mind-opening introductory session, we’ll learn and practice the fundamentals; and then begin to explore the possibilities that lie in playing with color, texture, fiber; and in designing your own charts.

Crochet 101 with Denise Bayron

Have you always wanted to learn to crochet? 

If you’re a knitter who wants to expand your craft skills, you may be surprised to learn that  you already have the skills needed to quickly learn how to crochet. 

There are many similarities between the two crafts: continental knitting and crochet.

Students will receive a simple hat pattern. By the end of class, students will have all the skills to complete the hat at home. 

Optional materials fee: $35 for the perfect project yarn and crochet hook

The Block Party Relay with Marie Greene

Learn the ins and outs of blocking from shawls to sweaters while we relay for prizes! We’ll cover both wet blocking and steam blocking (and when to use each), as well as tips and tricks for pinning your projects to get better results. We’ll also cover my favorite sneaky blocking trick – partial blocking – for checking your fit early on. Bonus: We’ll also cover how to re-block your skeins if you frog a blocked project and want to re-use your yarn! Earn points for your blocking skills for a chance to earn your very own Block Party embroidered badge! 

Materials fee: $20

Fun-tastic Mystery Throw with Melissa Leapman

Are you a curious knitter? Want to add to your skills? Spend 3 hours learning, laughing, and rolling dice (hey, it's Vegas, Baby!) while we knit a beautiful, game-ified mystery project.

Techniques will include the mitered square, mosaic knitting, cool circular cables, stranded fair isle, duplicate stitch, lace and more!

Knit a Buddy Blanket Knitting Game with Denise Bayron

The goal of the class is to create a safe and fun space for students to deepen a friendship or make a new friend through guided conversation and knitting. 

Students can register for the class with a friend or they can wait for class to be assigned a buddy. 

In this game-ified class, you'll will be working on Denise's amazing Wave of Change Blanket.  

As you knit, a buzzer will periodically sound,  telling each buddy pair to exchange blankets as they also privately answer conversation prompts. 

Will you trust your friend to knit on your blanket? Will you share your feelings with a friend? 

Materials Fee: $29. Kit will include a machine-washable yarn, enough to make a lap blanket as well as the complete pattern.

Size Matters with Marie Greene

 If you’ve ever been confused about choosing your sweater size, calculating ease or getting the right gauge, you will LOVE this sweater fit masterclass! 

We’ll demystify gauge, size adjustments, ease and so much more. 

Get the perfect fit for your actual human body (boobs! bellies! hips! arms!) - you’ll never struggle with sweater fit ever again!

Bavarian Twisted Stitch: An Introduction with Franklin Habit

The intriguing twisted stitch patterns ("strickmuster") of Southern Germany and Austria are known in their native German as a signature of “Bäuerliches Stricken”–“Peasant Knitting”–but their effect in knitted fabric is of unsurpassed richness. 

We will study and practice the twist maneuvers required of the technique, and also learn how to read the special charts in which the patterns have most often been recorded. 

Pre-requisites: Fluency in the basic techniques of knitting, including knitting in the round. Prior familiarity and comfort with working from charted patterns will be helpful.

Macrame 101 with Denise Bayron

Macrame is hot again! 

If you love the laid-back boho vibe of macrame in the home and garden, you will enjoy this beginner class! 

We will make a decorative wall hanging using three classic knots. 

Materials Fee: $26. Kit will include all the materials and tools needed to make the group project.

The Sweater Whisperer with Marie Greene

 From the cast-on edge to the bind-off (and everything in between) you’ll learn expert secrets for getting better results with your hand knit sweaters.

 Learn how to substitute yarn, learn why your technique matters, and learn how to anticipate trouble before it’s too late. 

Learn to be boss of your sweater knitting once and for all!

A Sense of Proportion: A Glorious Compendium of Methods for Knitting without Tapes and Rulers  with Franklin Habit 

A tape measure is a wonderful thing. So is a knitting pattern. But have you dreamt of being freed from both, and working your way from cast on to finished garment with neither one nor the other? You can. 

The history of knitting is full of time-tested and remarkably simple methods for using the proportions of the human body–and of the knitting itself–to determine stitch counts, shapings, and measurements to yield garments with a custom fit. 

Students will learn about useful relative proportions of the human body, as well as formulae and folk wisdom for hats, mittens, socks, scarves, and shawls. And yes, you’ll need a tape measure…but not for long.

Up Your Knitting Game Mystery Cowl with Melissa Leapman

Wanna add to your knitting backpack? In this class, we'll learn the provisional cast on, easy (and fun!) short rows, giant eyelets (on purpose!), cool slip stitch manipulations, Kitchener grafting, and more, as we knit a mini version of our mystery infinity cowl.

A sampler project like this one is the perfect opportunity to master new techniques.

Materials fee: $98 for three magnificent hanks of custom hand-dyed worsted weight superwash merino.

Knit a Buddy Blanket  Knitting Game with Denise Bayron

The goal of the class is to create a safe and fun space for students to deepen a friendship or make a new friend through guided conversation and knitting.  

 Students can register for the class with a friend or they can wait for class to be assigned a buddy.   In this game-ified class, you'll will be working on Denise's amazing Wave of Change Blanket.  

As you knit, a buzzer will periodically sound,  telling each buddy pair to exchange blankets as they also privately answer conversation prompts.   

Will you trust your friend to knit on your blanket? Will you share your feelings with a friend?   

Materials Fee: $29. Kit will include a machine-washable yarn, enough to make a lap blanket as well as the complete pattern. 

 We'll kick off the weekend with a super fun icebreaker (ask anyone who's ever traveled with me in the past) while you test your luck during our special gift swap!

Since it's a Melissa Leapman event, everyone gets a prize.

 Our weekend package includes premier orchestra seating for Cirque du Soleil's amazing evening performance of MYSTERE! 

An intense sensory experience, Mystère features constant motion, high-energy acrobatics, evocative dances, colorful costumes and vivid lighting.

Its website says that the show's motto is "Laugh along with Life". Sounds like good advice!

Paris: The Fabric of a City

For more than three centuries, Paris has been synonymous with beautiful clothes–designing them, making them, and wearing them.

Fashion changes, but the city remains a haven for those who are passionate about needlework in all its forms. 

In this lavishly illustrated presentation, beloved American expat and Paris resident Franklin Habit will give you an insider’s view of how the city (and the nation) are seeking to preserve noble textile traditions while also innovating to survive in the modern world. 

Find out where the locals hunt for the best yarns and fabrics (at the best prices); see the neighborhood where hidden workshops–some a century old–still produce samples that appear on runways and in showrooms; and learn about which French spinners, dyers, and pattern designers you’ll definitely want to watch out for.