Nautical Knitting Cruise 2021 : The Mexican Riviera

SHAWL ABCs ON THE HIGH SEAS: ASYMMETRICAL SHAWLS 

with Francoise Danoy

We will embark on a deep dive into the construction and modifications of a popular shawl shape, the Asymmetrical Shawl. We will learn the basic construction of the right leaning Asymmetrical shawl, how to modify it to make it left leaning, the types of increases and decreases that can be used to create different edges, and discover what shape comes out of putting a right and left leaning asymmetrical shawl together.

HIP TO BE SQUARE

with Melissa Leapman

Explore the possibilities of this simple designer's building block. 

Learn several versions using color, texture, and more! Best of all, since each successive square is built directly onto a previous one, no sewing is required. (Read that: You might actually finish a blanket rather than store individual blocks in a drawer for eternity.) 

Bonus: Mitered squares are ideal for stashbusting!

SHAWL ABCs ON THE HIGH SEAS:  

BASIC SHAWLS 

with Francoise Danoy 

 We will embark on a deep dive into the constructions and modifications of the Basic, or triangular shawl. We will learn the basic construction of a top-down triangular shawl, then how to modify to create a winged-triangular, 3/4 shawl ,and bottom up triangular shawl and learn how to master the garter-tab cast-on. We will also look into the different types of increases that can be used  to create different looks in the fabric.

HIP TO BE SQUARE: THE LACE EDITION

with Melissa Leapman

Do you have mitered motif mania? Take the next step and add openwork squares to your toolkit! In this hands-on workshop, knit a sampler of four different motifs that are built directly onto each other. No sewing is involved!

 SHAWL ABCs ON THE HIGH SEAS: CIRCULAR SHAWLS 

with Francoise Danoy
 

Let's embark on a deep dive into the constructions and modifications of shawls knit in the round! We will learn the cast-on technique of how to start a shawl in the round, then dive into knitting a square shawl. Then we will look at how to make modifications to create other types of shapes, such as the hexagon and Pi-Shawl.

KNITTING EVERY WHICH WAY

with Melissa Leapman

Up, down, side-to-side, and on the diagonal: Turn your knitting on its head and knit in all directions! In this hands-on workshop, explore the design and execution of these architecturally-interesting and figure-flattering fabrics.

CASTAWAYS MYSTERY SHAWL

with Francoise Danoy

Master designer Francoise Danoy has designed a special mystery shawl project just for our group. It's an amazing crescent shape  with mosaic knitting and textured elements.  

[Optional kit fee: $90; includes 3 hanks of non-superwash wool yarn custom-dyed just for us by Francoise using her botanical dyes.]

DESIGN-A-GRAM: YOUR DREAM SWEATER

with Melissa Leapman

Have you always wanted to design your own special sweater? Join expert author/designer Melissa Leapman as she walks you through the entire design process from beginning to end. Bring your daydreams as well as your calculator!

DEMYSTIFYING MARLS

with Melissa Leapman

Multi-stranded knitting isn't fun just because it's quick! In this hands-on session, use yarn instead of paint to experiment with color and today's popular gradients and fades. Learn to create one-of-a-kind knits and let the yarn do the work!

Kit fee: $29; includes oodles of wool-blend yarn for color play.

TRANSFORM YOUR YARN:

 KNITWEAR DESIGN 101

with Francoise Danoy

This class is for aspiring or beginning knitwear designers who want to transform their yarn into designs of their own making but don't know where to start. This workshop will set the foundations for designing and writing your first pattern, plus address common misconceptions and myths about what it means to be a designer and the nature of creativity. 

FAUX BRI-AUX

with Melissa Leapman

Do you love the look of brioche knitting 

but can’t keep your "brk" and "brp" stitches straight? In this three-hour hands-on workshop, learn how to work several super-squishy—and fun! —stitch patterns that look like brioche without the fuss! 

[Optional: kit fee: $87; includes three colors of Yarn Snob's hand-dyed A Mighty DK yarn and the pattern to make my Mistura infinity cowl in Faux Bri-aux.]

TUBULAR, DUDE!

with Francoise Danoy

Learn the basics of knitting a tubular cowl while knitting a mini! In this class, students will learn how to do the provisional cast-on, stranded knitting, and the kitchener stitch on a cuff piece, which will serve as a swatch for a full-sized headband that students will be able to begin in class and finish on their own time. 

[Optional:  kit fee: $60; includes enough of two colors of Aroha Knits' hand-dyed DK yarn for class swatches and finished project.]