Taught by:

Offered:

Sunday, September 13
(FULL / CLOSED)

Monday, September 14

Experience level: This class is open to advanced beginners. Students should be comfortable casting on, knitting, and working basic decreases. Previous experience with picking up stitches is helpful but not required; the technique will be demonstrated in class.

The Magical Blanket began as a hand-pieced fabric design Margaret created for a group quilt project. Realizing that the design had interesting possibilities as knitted fabric, she translated it into knitting, experimenting with the arrangement of light and dark colors to reveal new patterns within the repeating motifs. Image above is for the large blanket.

The result is a modular, no-sew knitted blanket constructed using very basic knitting techniques. The simple pattern stitches are quickly memorized, while changing the colors keeps the knitting engaging—you are always curious to see what pattern will emerge as the next piece is added.

In this workshop, students will work on the small 36″ × 36″ version of the blanket (image below). They will learn the construction and techniques needed to create the blanket and will have the opportunity to practice them in class. Students will also receive the pattern for the full-size blanket so they can continue the project at home.

The class will cover:

• Mattress stitch for seaming garter stitch
• Invisible weaving of ends
• Modular construction
• How the arrangement of light and dark colors creates visual patterns
• Insights into the geometry underlying knitted designs

Kit fee: 0

Materials:

HOMEWORK

There is homework for this class. HERE is the download PDF with all the details: Magical Class Homework It includes a link to a helpful step-by-step video. It is important that students complete the homework before the beginning of class so that we can make the most of our workshop time.

MATERIALS

Yarn:
The 36″ square blanket requires approximately 2,000 yards of DK-weight (#3) yarn in a minimum of 5 colors. One color will be the dominant color and should be either the lightest or darkest color in the collection. Approximately 400 yards of the dominant color are required to complete the project.

For the remaining colors, students may use smaller quantities of leftover yarn, provided that all the yarn is approximately the same thickness. Because there will not be enough time during the workshop to knit the entire blanket, students may bring only some of the colors they plan to use, including the dominant color, and leave the remainder at home.

Needles:
Using your chosen yarn, you will want to do a small garter stitch swatch, evaluate the density and drape and then decide if they want a larger or smaller needle, and bring those needles.
US 5 and 6 straight or circular needles may be the best choice.

Notions:
Tapestry needle (Susan Bates Finishing Needles are recommended), 8 removable or locking stitch markers, small scissors (blunt-nose scissors or nail clippers are fine), and a few safety pins.

Teacher will provide:
A printed copy of the pattern.