Special Note: Some of you have asked if you have to finish your sweater projects by the end of the multi-day classes. You are definitely NOT required to finish a project by the last day of the class. You will have received enough information to be able to complete the project on your own, but if you need additional help we are always here to help you at a later time if you have any questions.
Private Lessons: If you need help with an individual project or would like to learn a new technqiue on your own you can also schedule a private lesson with Rosanne or Mary.
We are starting a new series for 2013 called 12 Knits for the Holidays. Each month during the year we will be offering a class on a small project that can be knitted and then put away to use as either a gift for the winter holiday season or as a holiday decoration. There will be a second project during one month to make up for not starting this series until February. We plan to pick projects that can be knitted quickly and that include a new skill for you to learn. We started the series in February with Mary's Fair Isle Cowl and in March we did Susie's Reading Mitts. The April project is the Leaves in Winter lace capelet. We skipped May because of scheduling problems and the June project is the Blooming Liriope Scarf.
The Cunning Cotton Cover is another of Mary's lovely designs and she used Plymouth Kudo, one of our favorite yarns (a rayon-silk-cotton blend) to make it. The sweater is knit side-to-side so the stripes in Kudo create slimming vertical lines and there is very minimal finishing required. The scalloped border is knit as the body of the sweater is completed so once you join the shoulders and knit your sleeves you'll be ready to go. This versatile cardi is on display at the shop but Mary likes it so much that we have to give it back a couple of times this spring so she can wear it to special events! Pattern from Small - 5X included with the class. Materials: Yarn and needle information provided when you register. 10% discount on materials.
Top Down Socks
Date: Sunday, June 9, 2013, 1 to 4 p.m. OR
Tuesday, June 18, 2013, 1 to 4 p.m.
Fee: $50, fee includes a DVD for you to take home at the end of class
Instructor: Staff
In this three-hour class you'll learn how socks are constructed and you'll leave with a set of directions that you can use to knit any size sock with any weight of yarn. You'll knit a small practice sock so you can master the techniques needed to knit your own socks including heel flaps, turning the heel, and closing a toe using the Kitchener stitch. NOTE:You must know how to knit, purl, cast on, bind off, AND knit small round items prior to enrolling in this class. If you need to review your method of knitting small circular items please do so before coming to class. Our focus in this class is knitting socks. Materials: Smooth, light-colored worsted weight yarn in a solid color from your stash and size 4 or 5 needles of the type used in your method of knitting small circular projects. There will be minor homework required before you attend the class to ensure that we complete our practice sock during the class period. Details will be given after you register.
Introduction to Lace
Date: Saturday, June 15, 2013, 2 to 4 p.m.
Fee: $35
Instructor: Staff
Don’t let lace patterns and charts scare you away from creating beautiful scarves and shawls or tackling a sweater that includes a lace motif. Lace is created by combining a series of increases and decreases to form holes and patterns in your knitting. You don’t have to use tiny lace-weight yarns to create gorgeous lace items. Students will knit a lace sample and learn how to insert a lifeline, block lace, and read charts. But, you DO NOT have to use charts to knit most lace patterns since they usually also come with written instructions. Note: Please review increase and decrease techniques before coming to class. Materials: to be announced.
Blooming Liriope Scarf
Date: Saturday, June 29, 2013, 2 to 4 p.m.
Fee: $35
Instructor: Mary Gildersleeve
Next in our series of 12 Knits for the Holidays is this lovely lightweight scarf designed by Mary Gildersleeve that would make a great holiday gift or a stunning scarf to set off any outfit if you keep it for yourself. Liriopes are small herbs of the lily family and the leaf-like pattern in this scarf is also reminiscent of the Lily of the Valley that grows in so many of our gardens each spring.
If you took the Intro to Lace class earlier this month this is a nice first-project. Mary will give you confidence in your knitting as you begin your adventure in lace. But, if you have no lace experience Mary will cover what you need to know to knit this scarf. And, if you're a more advanced knitter, this is also a good pattern to use for your first beading efforts since you can easily place a row of beads along the spine of each leaf. Materials: Lightweight fingering yarn and US size 8 needles. 10% discount on items purchased for the class.
Tunisian Crochet
Date: Sunday, July 7, 2013, 1 to 3 p.m.
Fee: $35
Instructor: Staff
Tunisian Crochet, once known as afghan crochet, is sporting a new look to go along with its new name. Learn how to create a variety of stitches including one that you'd have a hard time distinguishing from the stockinette stitch done by knitters. Tunisian crochet is completed in a forward pass that adds loops to your hook and a return pass that works the loops back to just one. You will learn how to create a foundation row and how to do the Tunisian Simple Stitch, Tunisian Reverse Stitch, Tunisian Knit Stitch, Tunisian Purl stitch, and how to bind off your Tunisian Crochet.
Materials: There will be a small materials fee for the hook used in class. Bring worsted weight yarn from your stash or purchase yarn at the shop for the cowl/scarf pattern you will receive. Note: You need to know how to make a crochet chain and do single crochet before coming to this class.
Season Spanning Cardi
Season Spanning Cardi Saturdays, July 13 and 27, 2013, 2 to 4 p.m.
Fee: $55
Instructor: Mary Gildersleeve
This aptly named cardi truly spans the seasons and you'll be proud to wear it any time of the year. It is knit in one piece to the underarms and then the bodice pieces are continued individually. It finishes at the top with a lovely eyelet lace neck edging that incorporates the final buttonhole. The lace stitch used for the body naturally slims without looking boxy. There is minimal finishing required and this cardi presents the opportunity to learn how to create button holes and also how to knit-in the sleeves from the shoulder down. So, you'll learn to knit a seamless bottom-up cardigan with sleeves that look set in but that are really knit-in. Mary will show you how to make the cardi with either cap, short, or long sleeves. Materials: The pattern is included with the class. Other materials to be announced
Introduction to Weaving Sunday, July 14, 2013, 1 to 4 p.m.
Fee: $45 Instructor: Linda Witt
Multi-talented Linda Witt from Misty Mountain Farm is back with us for our first-ever Introduction to Weaving class. We will be using the 10" Schacht Cricket rigid heddle tabletop looms and looms will be provided for use during the class. You will learn weaving terminology, how to set up and warp a rigid heddle loom, how to select the type and amount of yarns needed, how to weave your project, and how to finish it off with a fringed edging. No weaving experience is needed for this class and you will quickly see how some of the yarns that have been languishing in your stash could be turned into quick and easy projects on this versatile and portable loom. Materials: provided by instructor. Note: At the end of the class you have the option of purchasing the loom that you used at a 10% discount.
10" Cricket Rigid Heddle Loom
Pervenche Lace Poncho Saturday, July 20, 2013, 2 to 4 p.m.
Fee: $35
Instructor: Mary Gildersleeve
This is another of Mary's designs and it combines the look of a lovely lace shawl with the convenience of a poncho. French for the little blue-purple periwinkle plant also known as vinca, Pervenche is made up of several flower motifs scattered throughout the lace. Toss it on to take the chill away on a cool summer evening, or keep it handy to turn an ordinary tee shirt into a stunning outfit that will take you from day to evening. In addition to a review of lace knitting skills, you will also learn how to attached a knitted lace border to a project as you bind off a previous section.
Materials: About 840 yards of a fingering weight yarn such as TOFUtsies and a US 4, 16 inch circular needle plus a US 6 circular needle in 16" and also 24" or longer. 10% discount given on materials purchased for this class.
Pervenche
Beginner Classes
The beginner knit and crochet classes will begin again in the fall. If you would like to start sooner, we offer private lessons or you can get a couple of friends together and ask us to schedule a class just for you. We also have excellent DVDs available for purchase that can help you learn to either knit or crochet.
Beginner Knitting Day Session: Tuesdays, February 19 and 26, March 5 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. OR Evening Session: Mondays, March 18 and 25, April 1 from 7 to 9 p.m. Fee: $65 Instructor: Staff Learn how to cast on stitches, knit and purl, and bind off. Class also covers knitting tools, knitting abbreviations, how to read basic patterns, yarn selection, fiber care, etc. Students learn enough skills to be able to complete simple projects such as scarves. At the conclusion of the course, each student will receive a DVD to take home that covers techniques they have learned plus a section on how to fix the most common knitting mistakes. If you are left-handed or a crocheter who has had trouble learning to knit, you'll be successful in this class. Needles included. Materials: One skein of light-colored Plymouth Encore or Plymouth Galway. Please purchase class materials at our shop. 10% discount on materials.
Beginner Crochet
Days: Tuesdays, April 16 and 23, 1:30 to 4 p.m. OR Nights: Mondays, February 25 and March 4, 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Fee: $45
Instructor: Staff
Learn to make a crochet chain and how to do a slip stitch and single, double, half-double, and triple crochet stitches. Includes basic crochet abbreviations, how to read patterns, yarn selection, and more. Students should know enough at the end of the second class to be able to crochet a scarf or other simple project. Crochet hook included. Please advise us when you register if you are left-handed. Materials: One skein light-colored Plymouth Encore or Plymouth Galway. Please purchase materials at our shop. 10% discount on materials.
Other Classes We Teach
Some of the classes listed below are not currently on the schedule but are among those that we often teach. If you are interested in one of them and see that we have not listed an upcoming month, please let us know so that we can add it to our schedule.
Introduction to Cables
Date: to be arranged
Fee: $35
Instructor: Staff
Learn the basics of knitting cables as you start your first cabled scarf or a knitted square that can easily be finished as a pillow front (project varies by class). Once you try knitting cables you’ll quickly see how easy most of them are. If you can knit and purl you can create cables. Class will also cover understanding charted cable patterns but you do not have to knit by charts for many popular cable projects.
Holden Shawlette
Knitting Lace Shawls
Date: to be arranged
Fee: $35
Instructor: staff
Whether you call them shawls, shoulder shawls, or shawlettes, the small shawls that often double as neckwear are quick to knit and fun to wear but they can be confusing if you don’t understand how they grow or decrease. Learn basic shawl construction techniques, how to start a top-down triangle with a garter stitch tab, how to knit shawls that contain short rows, basic pattern interpretation, and using lace charts. By the end of the class you should be comfortable knitting a variety of small shawls and we will make recommendations of some free patterns that are available on Ravelry such as the pretty Holden Shawlette shown in the photo. Materials: You may be asked to download some patterns to bring to class so that you can follow along on them with a discussion of their design. More information will be given prior to the class.
Toe Up Socks
Date: to be arranged
Fee: $45
Instructor: staff
Learn what makes this method so popular with sock knitters and how to get started using Judy’s Magic Cast On, how and where to increase for the perfect fit, work Cat Bordhi's sweet tomato heel, and more in this three hour class. You will knit a mini-sock during class and be able to go home and apply the techniques you learn to create your own full-size socks. NOTE: You must know how to knit, purl, cast on, bind off, AND knit small round items prior to enrolling in this class. Our focus is on sock knitting so if you need to review your method of knitting small circular items please do so before class or consider also enrolling in the Alternatives to Double Points class. Materials: Light-colored worsted weight yarn in a solid color from your stash and size 4 or 5 needles of the type used in your method of knitting small circular projects.
Beginner Wheel Spinning
Winter 2013 class completed. Next date tba.
Fee: $65
Instructor: Linda Witt from Misty Mountain Farm
Learn how to spin your own beautiful yarn with Linda Witt from Misty Moutain Farm. No experience is necessary for this beginner spinning class and you can either bring your own wheel or use one of ours or Linda's. If you're an advanced beginner you should also find this class useful because Linda will work with each of you depending on your interests and needs. Learn the terminology and functions of the various parts of a spinning wheel, proper treadling and drafting techniques, and how to ply your yarn and create a skein using a Niddy Noddy. Bring your lunch or purchase it at one of the nearby sandwich shops. Materials: included in class fee.
Intermediate Wheel Spinning
Next class: fall 2013
Fee: $45; Note: there is a materials fee with this class
Instructor: Melissa Yoder Ricks from Wild Hare Fiber Studio
Take your spinning to the next level! Learn to determine the best way to spin your fiber and how to adjust your wheel for maximum comfort and efficiency to create the yarn that you want, be it thick, thin, or thick and thin! Spinning techniques will include spinning across the web (good for creating striping yarns), spinning from the fold, spinning thick balanced singles, and chain plying (aka 'Navaho' plying). We will spin a variety of natural fibers and different fiber preparations including roving, batts and top so that you gain greater control and confidence in your spinning. Materials: Instructor will bring all fiber necessary for this class. Please pay $20 materials fee directly to instructor when you come to class.
Learn to Spin Using the Drop Spindle
Date: Not currently scheduled
Fee: $35
Instructor:
Using a spindle to create yarn from fiber preceded the use of the spinning wheel by centuries but this ancient art is still popular based on its portability, availability of fine fibers, and a beautiful array of handmade spindles. This class will take the mystery out of how to create beautiful yarn using a drop spindle. Materials: Class fee includes fiber and a simple practice spindle . You can also bring your own spindle if you have one. 10% off of spindles and fiber purchased in connection with class.
Magic Loop and Other Alternatives to Using Double Point Needles Date: to be arranged
Fee: $35 Instructor: Staff
Are you tired of fussing with Double Pointed Needles or just want to explore all the techniques that can be used for knitting small circular projects such as gloves, mittens, socks, and similar items? We will briefly cover DPNs before moving on to the Magic Loop technique that uses one 32 or 40 inch circular needle, the Two Circular needle method, and the use of short (9 and 12 inch) circular needles. By the end of the class you'll have a good feel for which method you prefer. Materials: Bring a light-colored worsted weight yarn (wool preferred) in a solid color. Needles will be available to use during the class.
Introduction to Entrelac
Date: Not currently scheduled
Fee: $45
Instructor: Staff
Have you seen all those great patterns where triangles, squares, or rectangles of yarn all interconnect in a gorgeous textured patchwork that resembles the weave on a basket? Welcome to Entrelac! You’ll learn to change directions by picking up stiches, follow the pattern sequence, and knit backwards as we start an entrelac scarf. 3 hours Materials: About 400 yds of color-changing worsted weight yarn such as Poems Silk, Big Trend, Boku, Mushishi, Kaleidoscope Worsted. Allergic or sensitive to wool? Try Kudo or Duo. Size 7, 8, or 9 needles
Making Kaleidoscopes With Yarn
Date: summer 2013
Fee: $35
Instructor: Mary Gildersleeve
Kaleidoscopes, those lovely geometric shapes made by broken glass and prisms, offer an endless variety of color combinations and shapes to delight the eye. Come discover how to translate those visions into your knitting. You’ll learn basic stranded knitting techniques while making Mary’s I ♥ Tam hat and she’ll show you how to use colored pencils, graph paper, and yarn for swatching to create your own colorful designs. If you don’t wear tams, Mary’s pattern can be translated into a gorgeous wall-hanging. Materials: Two colors of DK weight yarn and size 4 needles. Please purchase any supplies you don’t already have at our shop. 10% discount on materials.
I Heart Tam
Continental Knitting for Knitters Completed Winter 2013; Additional dates tba
Fee: $35 Instructor: Staff
Do you already know how to knit and purl but would like to become a more efficient knitter by learning the continental method? Learn to hold your yarn in your left hand and make stitches with a few simple movements instead of having to stop and wrap your needle with your right hand. Let the needles do most of the work and discover that yarnovers, ribbing, and seed stitch become a breeze. Because we do NOT teach the continental version where your left index finger is constantly wagging back and forth, this class may also be useful for any continental knitters who have been having problems with their purling. Note: this is not the beginner’s knitting class. This is a short class for knitters who want to learn a new way of knitting. Materials: Bring light colored worsted weight yarn from your stash and size 7, 8, or 9 needles.
Beyond Knits and Purls
Completed Winter 2013, next date tba
Fee: $35
Instructor: Staff
This is a good class for Advanced Beginners. You’ve learned to knit and purl and have made a few projects but now you’re ready to move on and gain confidence and new skills using techniques involving all those mysterious knitting abbreviations like SSK, SKP, CCD, KFB, M1 that add shape to your knitting projects and design in lace work through increasing and decreasing. We’ll also cover picking up stitches, blocking, basic yarn substitution, and how to correctly use gauge to ensure that you knit to fit. Materials: Bring light-colored worsted weight yarn (wool preferred) in a solid color and size 8 or 9 needles.
Beginnings and Endings
Date: not currently scheduled
Fee: $35
Instructor: Staff
Do you always cast-on and bind-off exactly the same way without considering if the technique is appropriate for your project? In this class you’ll learn several different ways of casting on and binding off and why you’d use them. Techniques will vary according to time, but cast-ons usually include at least knitted, cable, Old Norwegian (German Twisted), Judy Becker’s Magic Cast-On, Long Tail cast-on, and at least one provisional cast-on. Bind-offs include picot, I-cord, three needle, and several stretchy ones. You’ll knit small swatches in class to keep for a reference and we’ll show you how to knit a little gift bag using Judy’s Magic Cast On and an I-cord bind-off. Materials: Bring small amounts of light colored worsted weight yarn in a solid color (wool preferred) for the swatches and size 7, 8, or 9 needles.
The Perfect Finish
Winter 2013 class completed. Next date tba.
Fee: $35
Instructor: Mary Gildersleeve
Do you love to knit but are unsure of how to put it all together into a finished garment? Come learn the techniques used in garment assembly, how to pick up stitches, shape a neckline, create buttonholes, work bands and borders, attach sleeves, how to block, and more. Bring your unfinished garments and all your questions about finishing techniques. You will also need to knit a few swatches to bring to class. Details will be given after you register. Materials: Worsted weight yarn from your stash and size 8 or 9 needles.
Understanding and Using Knitting Charts Date: not currently scheduled
Fee: $35 Instructor: Mary Gildersleeve
Are you mystified by knitting charts? Charts make lace patterns, intarsia, colorwork knitting, cable designs and just about any knitting pattern easier to do because you can see what the final product should look like. Chart-reading isn't hard but there are some tricks that make the process much easier. We'll learn about symbology, chart-reading, tips for reading and creating your own charts, and the time-saving methods available. A resource list will be distributed in class. Bring a pattern or design that you're interested in and we'll translate it into a chart, or bring a charted pattern that you have questions about.
Knitter's First Aid: What Do I Do Now? Completed Winter 2013, next date TBA
Fee: $35 Instructor: Mary Gildersleeve
Is your knitting full of holes that shouldn’t be there, dropped stitches, ragged edges, twisted stitches, spiraling stripes, or one of those mysterious mistakes that you can’t seem to find or fix? Or did you make something that just doesn’t fit? We’ll cover the most common knitting mistakes and how to fix them and start you on the road to becoming a thinking knitter. Materials: Please bring your problem knits and all your questions plus needles and some worsted weight yarn from your stash.
Mosaic Slip Stitch Knitting
Anne will be back in the fall for those of you who missed our Winter 2013 class
Fee: $35
Instructor: Anne Nourse
Create beautiful mosaic slip stitch patterns that look far more difficult than they really are. Mosaic patterns use only one yarn at a time and we are fortunate to have long-time knitter Anne Nourse from Fredericksburg helping you learn the basic techniques. You will also learn to create your own designs. There will be a folder for each student that will include instructions for the mosaic design shown in the photo including information on how to turn it into a pillow. Other patterns will also be included. Materials: Worsted weight yarn in two contrasting colors and size 7 or 8 needles. 10% discount on materials Note: Students should be familiar with reading charted instructions but Anne will give a brief review at the beginning of the class.
Our classroom featurs a main table that expands to seat eight and we also have an additional table, a wagon seat bench, and portable chairs for group events.
Our Classroom
CLASS POLICIES
Pre-registration and payment are required to hold your seat in a class.
Discount coupons or any shop-wide discounts DO NOT apply to class fees.
For all knitting classes other than the beginner class, students must know how to cast on, knit, purl, and bind off before coming to class. Except for classes that call for small amounts of practice yarn, students are expected to purchase any class materials they don’t already have at our shop. Students receive a 10% discount on purchases made for the class.
Maximum class size is six students or permission of instructor. Minimum age of student: 12 years or permission of instructor. Classes with fewer than three students may be cancelled with 48 hours notice at the discretion of the shop/instructor. Full refunds will be given for any classes cancelled by the shop or instructor.
Students who withdraw from a class more than 72 hours before the start of the class will receive full credit toward a future class. Students who cancel with less than 72 hours notice forfeit their class fee unless there are special circumstances.
Class sessions canceled due to weather conditions will be rescheduled.
Please download a registration form (available at top of this page) and either mail it to our street address with your check or stop by the shop to register with cash, credit card, debit card that has a Visa or MasterCard symbol on the front, or check. Online registration will be coming soon. Note: We do NOT take credit card numbers over the telephone.
Dog House Yarns and More, 708 Sunset Lane, Culpeper, VA 22701, Phone 540-825-3585
Mailing Address: Dog House Yarns and More, P. O. Box 1595, Culpeper, VA 22701
Some of the graphics on this website are by Broken Box Designs,LLCor Scrappin Doodles. All images with the Dog House Yarns and More copyright are original images created for us by Broken Box Designs. They are protected by copyright laws and may not be used by others for any reason.
