Hand knitting for beginners

What is the course about?

The basics and beyond of hand knitting. You will be taught a variety of hand knit techniques and make practice swatches of each for reference. The course will cover pattern reading and abbreviations on patterns and terminology.

What students liked most about this course run in 2015/16:

"This course has given me a lot of new ideas about knitting."

What will we cover?

- You will be taken through a variety of basic stitches using 5mm needles and basic cream yarn (casting on and off, knit, purl, rib in all its variation, fancy ribs, increasing and decreasing).

- You will learn how to stripe, sew up knitted pieces, play with the basic knit and purl stitches, read patterns and be encouraged to begin to knit a project from a pattern.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

- Demonstrate knowledge of basic hand knitting techniques
- Demonstrate confidence in working with hand knitting
- Develop and produce several sample swatches of the basic techniques.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

The course is ideal for beginners, no knowledge of knitting is required. You know the very basic knitting stitches having learnt it years ago and would like to refresh your skills.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion. You should be able to make basic measurements and calculations.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

This course is practical, with learning achieved through repetition and practicing the basic techniques of hand knitting. You will be taken through the techniques with a group demonstration and then individually when necessary to produce your samples.
Each student is encouraged to begin a knitting techniques folder or book in which to keep samples, swatches and, any note taking you find useful.
There will be recommendations for relevant books and shops and a resources list to help you develop your skills outside the class. Students are encouraged to practice each new technique throughout the week in between every class to ensure progression. Advice will be given on other courses and classes to develop skills learnt.

The course is supported by Google classroom as an e-learning virtual environment where handouts, and usefulinformation will be stored. Details on how you can access the portal will be provided before the course starts.
You will need to login into our Google classroom before our sessions starts where all course materials will be stored. Details on how to access this will be provided in advance.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

Access to basic materials and resources are available as part of this course however, you are encouraged to bring along any needles or yarns you may wish to use. Advice will be given during the course. You are asked to bring a pair of 5mm needles and a ball of cream wool (correct thickness for needle size).
Sketch books and/or a folder are also advisable so you can collect visual information, store swatches, record any new techniques and collect handouts.
Digital cameras will be useful to record any new stitches/fabric and mark making created during the course.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

This course naturally leads onto Hand Knitting for Improvers which is an ideal progression if you wish to continue developing this craft.

Please browse the website for upcoming courses.
General information and advice on courses at City Lit is available from the Student Centre and Library on Monday to Friday from 12:00 – 14:00 the 16:00 – 18:00.