Virtual Knitting Tour to Canada April 22-24, 2022

Introduction to Top-Down Seamless Garment Knitting Design 

with Kate Atherley

The top-down one-piece garment construction is very popular, particularly for babies’ and kids’ garments. Join master designer/editor Kate Atherley as she takes you through the construction and knitting of  a complete mini-sweater project, building all the skills and techniques you need. We’ll also address fit and yarn choice, which are crucial to the success of these types of patterns.

Tricky Tips and Tantalizing Tricks

with Holli Yeoh

We all know that the craft of knitting boils down to just knitting and purling. 

That said, how you finesse those stitches and keep track of them, how you make those stitches and care for them leads to the success or failure of your project.  Those little maneuvers also relate to how you feel about the entire knitting experience--those secret tricks along the way can add to your enjoyment factor. The more you enjoy it, the more you like the results, the more you want to knit. Bingo! Enjoyment and fulfillment are what it’s all about. 

In this workshop, learn special knitting tricks from a Canadian pro that will help you focus on the things you love about knitting.

 Gorgeous Gradients 

with Felicia Lo

Ever marveled at the magical colour transitions in a smooth, ombré fade project and wondered how to knit it? Handpainted and hand-dyed sock blanks make the process super fun and easy! In this workshop, Vancouver-based Felicia Lo, founder and creative director for SweetGeorgia Yarns and the School of SweetGeorgia, will explore the process of creating and using a hand-dyed sock blank.  Let Felicia lead you through all the steps involved in knitting your own beautiful gradient project using the limited-edition sock blank included in your goody box. 

 The Art of Planned Pooling: 

Knitting a Colour-Stacking Cowl

with Caroline Sommerfeld

Hand painted yarns offer many exciting knitting options, but some of the most exciting effects are obtained when we use their unique characteristics to create unusual colour patterns! 

In this session, learn how to intentionally make hand-painted yarns pool and stack  to create stripes, zig zags, and more while  knitting a custom cowl created just for you using the special hand-dyed yarn from Calgary's own Ancient Arts Yarns. 

End your hands-on adventure knowing how to analyze any hand paint yarn in order to create beautiful pooling effects in your knitted garments. 

A Lava Cake Bake

with Kate Gilbert

Professional Montreal-based baker and knitter Kate Gilbert joins us tonight to demonstrate how to make decadent French-inspired chocolate lava cakes.

As the creator and former editor of Twist Collective,  a favorite online knitting magazine from 2008-2018, Kate is an inspirational baker--and maker! You'll enjoy every minute of her session.

O Canada!

with Amy Singer

Born in the USA in the last century, and moved to Canada in the 1960s, dual citizen and Knitty Magazine founder/editor Amy Singer has long considered Canada her forever home. 

In this lively hour, Amy will reveal her favourite things about her adopted country, what it’s like to be an import to this occasionally frozen wasteland, and what things the US does better than Canada. 

She’ll also bust some popular myths about Canada and share her favourite fiber sources and destinations from coast to coast, almost all of which can be visited online.

Fission Knitting with Mary Martin

Do you love cables?  Are you ready to take it to the next level?  

Learn how to create different cable motifs in different colours on both sides of your fabric with Fission Knitting!  

Fission Knitting is a marled knitting technique developed by Toronto native Mary Martin that uses slipped stitch cabling to create truly reversible fabrics. 

In this class, you will be practicing all of the techniques used in Fission Knitting while creating a swatch with  different (!!!) cable motifs on each side.

Extra Bonus:  This amazing fabric becomes super squishy.  

Virtual Road Trip to Elk Island National Park

with Cynthia Hyslop and Barb Barone

Join Barb and Cynthia from popular Edmonton, Alberta, LYS River City Yarns for a refreshing trip to Elk Island National Park. 

They'll take us out-of-doors and deep into the forest to see bison, elk and possibly... moose. 

For one hour, enjoy an armchair view of  the big, blue sky and rustic Canadian landscape with fellow fiber fiends.

NOTE: To ensure good weather (and breathtaking views), this session will be a pre-taped video. 

Timeless Teachers:  The Importance of Indigenous Bead Artists  

with Malinda Gray 

 Indigenous people and their beadwork is a reflection of cultural and spiritual beliefs. Contemporary Indigenous bead artists are using modern techniques and motifs to express identity and a shared living experience. Join Malinda Gray, PhD Candidate from Trent University, as she discusses the importance of bead artists throughout Turtle Island.  A member of the Lac Seul Band, Malinda was born in Thunder Bay, ON and currently lives with her family in Nogojiwanong (Peterborough), ON. Malinda has been an avid beader for over 30 years and will inspire us with both her academic and practical experiences with the art form. 

Learn to Dye the Koigu Way

with Taiu Landra

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process inside the Koigu Shed!  In this session, owner/hand-dyer Taiu Landra will show us the inner workings of  the dye studio and will teach us how to paint yarn in the unique (and amazing!) Koigu method. 

Lucky for us, this Ontario-based artist will share the secrets to creating the signature yarn colors and the inspirational story behind Koigu's multi-generational yarn business.

Dinner and Knit-Together

with Melissa Leapman

After two full days learning and concentrating, let's spend a casual couple of hours making a special Canadian-inspired dinner! Join me in my NYC kitchen as we prepare  sweet and spicy chile maple  salmon together. You'll love the unexpected combination of flavors!

Coast Salish Knitting

with Sylvia Olsen

Tonight, we'll learn from exceptional knitter, designer, and historian Dr. Sylvia Olsen.

 After a comfortable, middle-class childhood in Victoria British Columbia, Sylvia moved to W̱JOȽEȽP, Tsartlip First Nation, where she lived, worked, and knitted for 35 years. 

This cross-cultural life experience has inspired her life-long work to close the gap between mainstream and First Nation communities.

Come be inspired by this cultural historian and learn all about Coast Salish Knitting!