Design Your Own Lace Workshop
9 hours (three 3-hour sessions, including beginning a project)
-or-
6 hours (one 6-hour session or two 3-hour sessions, without beginning a project)
Eskimo women in Alaska have been knitting qiviut (musk ox down) into lace since the 1960s. In this workshop, we will examine their unique pattern stitches, inspired by Eskimo artifacts, and learn how to chart our own custom lace patterns by adapting designs from other art forms. We will start by charting a basic diamond using yarn overs, then we will study several types of decreases and learn how each decrease works to create a different result with the same arrangement of yarn overs. We will also learn how to accentuate lace patterns with an outline stitch.
Each student will then design and chart several lace patterns, and knit a swatch of each to see what works and what doesn't work on the needles. Finally, we will review basic patterns for lace projects such as scarves, stoles, and ponchos, and each student will work on designing a project.
In the 9-hour workshop, each student will begin knitting a project.
For the intermediate to advanced knitter.
Morning / Session 1
Inspiration
Stitches used
How to draw charts
Chart 2-3 designs
Begin swatches
Afternoon / Session 2
Correct charts
Finish swatches
Design project
Session 3 (9-hr only)
Relax and knit
Q&A
Materials
Size 3 and 5 straight needles
50-100 yards of sport-weight and lace-weight yarn in any animal fiber, light colors are best
Stitch markers
Basic knitting tools
Pencil and eraser
Approx 300 yards of lace-weight yarn required for making a scarf.
Graph paper and handouts will be provided
