Members Share the Talent
Saturday, May 9, 1:00–4:00 PM
Check-in begins at 12:30 PM
New York Society for Ethical Culture (Social Hall)
2 West 64th Street at Central Park West
This year’s Members Share the Talent (MSTT) roster features 14 terrific workshops, taught by generous BAKG members who have volunteered to share their knitting knowhow. Take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity to learn something new. Register for your class now. See the listings below for details of each workshop, including homework and/or needed materials.
MSTT is open only to BAKG members. Click here to become a member! Each member may register for only one class. If the class you selected is full, you may join the waitlist. You may only register once (i.e., either one class or one waitlist, but not both).
Registration opens on Sunday, April 12, at 12:30 pm.
Workshops
YARN HUGGERS!
Create a Hand-Sewn Yarn Cozy
Instructor: Anjanette Cooper-Mitchell
Your yarn deserves a little hug!
Are you ready to add a little handmade charm to your project bag? In this fun and relaxed workshop, you’ll learn to hand sew a yarn cozy—a soft, stylish wrap that will keep your yarn neat, tangle-free, and totally cute.
In this beginner-friendly class, you’ll learn a few simple sewing techniques as you make a mini cozy. Once you know all the steps, you will begin to work on a regular-size cozy (will accommodate up to a worsted-weight yarn cake) to be finished at home.
We will discuss customization with colors, buttons, pockets, patches, and/or fabric paint, for a bit of flair, because our yarn deserves to travel in style!
No sewing machine skill required. This session is all about hand stitching and hands-on fun. Perfect for knitters looking for a low-stress creative escape.
Level: All skill levels welcome.
Homework: None.
Materials For You to Bring:
- Tape measure or ruler, scissors, pen or pencil, and paper.
- Handout and stretchy fabric suitable for the project will be provided.
You Will Learn: Basic hand sewing skills, pattern cutting and assembly, tips for customizing your cozy for different sizes of yarn balls or yarn cakes.
Introduction to Knitting Vintage
Instructor: Billie Elias
Are you tired of knitting the same sweaters as everyone else? Step back with me to a place where patterns are free (but exist in only one size) and garments are knit in multiple pieces that are seamed together! We’ll delve into the peculiarities of vintage patterns and explore techniques for adapting those patterns to fit you, including creating a custom template to take with you.
Homework: None.
Materials For You to Bring: Tape measure, pencil, scissors, large brown paper shopping bags, scotch tape. (Extra paper bags will be available for students who don’t have their own.)
Loom Knitting for Beginners
Instructor: Cathy Anderson
Loom knitting is a way to create knitted items without knitting needles. (Whoah!) The yarn is wrapped around pegs and loops are lifted over one another to create stitches. In this class, you will learn to cast on, knit, purl, and bind off on a knitting loom.
Looms come in different shapes and sizes. Choose one that appeals to you—loom kits are available at Michaels and other craft stores—and get ready for fun!
Homework: None.
Materials For You to Bring:
- Loom(s) with all tools included in kit
- #4 (worsted-weight) yarn.
Introduction to knitCompanion
Instructor: Debby Scheinholtz
The knitCompanion knitting app is an amazing tool that can improve your knitting experience and help you to keep track of your work and your patterns.
Homework: Preload knitCompanion onto the device you will bring (preferably an iPad). To get the full benefit out of this session, the paid version of knitCompanion is preferable, but the free version can also be used.
Note any specific questions about knitCompanion that you would like to have answered.
Materials For You to Bring:
- Device (preferably an iPad) preloaded with knitCompanion.
- (Optional) a pattern on your iPad in Ravelry, the cloud, or DropBox that you would like to set up in knitCompanion.
You Will Learn to:
- Save patterns in knitCompanion
- Highlight the size and other important information for your project and include helpful notes
- Use “Scribble” to mark patterns
- Keep track of stitch counts in colorwork patterns (no more counting each little square!)
- Colorize charts to match your yarn
- Use “Magic Markers” to keep track of lace, cables, and colors in charts
- Join two charts or pages from different patterns together
- Annotate charts with written instructions
- Keep track of pattern and row repeats
- Add video tutorials right into a pattern
- Use built-in calculators to create evenly spaced increases and decreases, or to size sleeves or blankets
Magic Loop Knitting
Instructor: Francesca Heller
Are you frustrated with your current methods of knitting in the round? Do you struggle with double-pointed needles or need to buy new circular needles with the right cord length for each new project? Yes? Then Magic Loop Knitting is for you!
With this amazing (some would say magical!) technique, you can knit projects in any circumference using long-corded circular needles. You’ll discover how flexible Magic Loop Knitting can be as you work on the class project—a knitted cellphone sleeve.
Level: Experienced beginner and up.
Homework: In worsted-weight yarn, cast on 34 stitches. Work flat/back-and-forth in stockinette for 3 rows (knit one row, purl one row, knit one row).
Materials For You to Bring:
- Yarn—Smooth worsted-weight yarn in a medium to light color. Gauge: 4.5 stitches = 1 inch
- Needles—Circular needles (either fixed or interchangeable) with a 32” to 40” cord, in the size indicated on the yarn band. NOTE: Using needles with the right kind of cord makes all the difference in Magic Loop success. Choose flexible, “memory-free” cords. The curl in a “memory-free cord” relaxes easily when you take the needles out the package. If your cord doesn’t relax, soak it in warm water. For Magic Loop, a thinner cord can be better than a thicker one. Wrestling with thick, rigid cords is frustrating, but cords that are too thin do not retain the technique’s characteristic “figure 8” shape. (See photo.)Many knitters like the ChiaoGoo Red Lace needles with nylon-coated steel cords for Magic Loop.
- Locking stitch markers, scissors, and a yarn/tapestry needle.
- OPTIONAL: Cable needle
- Small amounts of contrasting yarn
- Booklet—Magic Loop – Working Around on One Needle, by Sarah Hauschka and Bev Galeskas, available at WEBS and other retailers.
Tubular Cast-On and Sewn Tubular Bind-Off for 1x1 Ribbing
Instructor: Helene Young
Have you ever wondered how to give your hat brims or sweater hems a professional, machine-knit appearance, where the stitches appear to roll over the edge seamlessly? Well, look no further. In this class, you will learn how to achieve that look by using the sewn tubular (sometimes called Italian) bind-off and tubular (Italian) cast-on—finishing and starting techniques, respectively—which create rounded, seamless, and elastic edges, ideal for 1×1 ribbing on hand-knitted pieces.
We will begin with the sewn tubular bind off, in which we will use a tapestry needle and a long yarn tail (from a 1×1 ribbing swatch prepared in advance) to graft stitches together in a manner similar to the Kitchener stitch. We will then proceed to the tubular cast on, also called the long-tail tubular cast on. With this technique, we will create foundation rows that separate stitches into two layers (front and back) to form a tube that flows directly into 1×1 ribbing, producing an edge that looks like a finished, rolled-over hem. The tubular cast on and sewn tubular bind off create matching edges with a professional finish.
Homework: Using a DK- or worsted-weight yarn (preferably light in color and smooth), cast on 48 stitches using the long-tail cast-on method. Use needles of the appropriate size for your yarn, either one long circular or two straight needles. Beginning with a knit stitch and ending with a purl stitch, work in 1×1 ribbing for about 2 to 2.5 inches, ending with a wrong-side row.
Materials For You to Bring:
For the sewn tubular bind-off
- The 1×1 ribbing swatch that you prepared before class, leaving the needle in place and the ball of yarn attached
- A tapestry needle in a size suitable for your yarn (bring several sizes, with both straight and curved tips, if you have them)
- Scissors
- Removable stitch markers.
For the tubular cast-on
- 50 to 75 yards of a DK- or worsted-weight yarn, preferably light in color and smooth (can be the same yarn that you used for your homework swatch)
- Two pairs of straight needles, one pair in a size appropriate for your yarn, and the other, one needle-size down. (Note: This cast-on is easier to perform on straight needles. But, if you prefer, you may instead bring two long circular needles in two sizes, one in a size appropriate for your yarn and the other, one needle-size down.)
How to Crochet the Hyperbolic Plane and What to Use It For
Instructor: Linda Gerstein
Learn to create the extreme curves of a hyperbolic plane by crocheting in rows and in the round.
Using a variety of yarns and thread, produce hyperbolic elements to create your own jewelry or decorative objects.
Homework: None. Practice working chains and single crochet using a hook one size smaller than usual.
Materials For You to Bring:
- Smooth yarn or thread in a variety of colors and sizes.
- Hooks that are one size smaller than usual.
- Optional: jewelry findings such as chains, clasps, jump rings, ear wires, and pliers if needed.
Master Hand Knitting Program
Instructor: Linda Kawecki
What is The Knitting Guild Association’s Master Hand Knitting Program? What’s Involved in becoming a Certified Master Hand Knitter? Why do it? How long does it take? Is it worth the effort? In this session, I’II answer these questions and many others.
See my workbooks and the projects I submitted when I was enrolled in the program. Get the inside scoop about the recent revamp. Ask me anything!
Homework: None.
Materials For You to Bring: None.
Wow! I'm a Designer
Instructor: Marcia Rudnitsky
Learn how to design an original rectangular, infinity, or tubular scarf or cowl. This technique can also be applied to shawls and will work in any weight yarn.
Level: Intermediate knitter or above. Can read (interpret) a stitch pattern and understand gauge.
Homework: Cast on 56 stitches. Work in garter stitch for 3 inches. Leave stitches on the needle.
Materials For You to Bring:
- 200 to 300 yards worsted-weight yarn in light or medium tone (avoid dark-colored and variegated yarns. tonal yarns are fine)
- Straight or circular needles in the appropriate size for your yarn
- Paper and pencil
- Tape measure
- Stitch markers
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
- Crochet hook
- Calculator
- Stitch dictionary (optional)
Image from The Woolly Brew
Short-Row Toe for Toe-Up Socks
Instructor: Nancy Livak
There are many different ways to knit the toes of toe-up socks. In this workshop, we will look at one technique that does that does not require the Turkish cast on. Using only two needles, we will use a provisional cast on and German short rows to create a toe. Familiarity with a provisional cast on and German short rows is helpful but not required.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Homework: None.
Materials For You to Bring:
- Yarn—Generally, fingering-weight yarn is used for socks. But dk- or worsted-weight yarn can also be used. Heavier-weight yarn yields a bigger and thicker sock.
- Needles—Bring a size that is appropriate size for your yarn. The needles should be the kind you use for small-circumference knitting (for example, dpns, small circulars, addi flexi, or Magic Loop). But note, in this class we will only be focusing on the toe, which is not knit in the round.
- Waste yarn in a contrasting color and similar weight to knitting yarn
- Crochet hook
Tunisian Crochet
Instructor: Shari White
Learn how to create knit and purl stitches with a crochet hook.
Homework: None.
Materials For You to Bring:
- A G or H Tunisian crochet hook
- Worsted-weight yarn. No dark colors!
How to Become a More Organized Knitter
Instructor: Sherri Hill
Sorting and Culling… Storage Options… Inventory Methods… Strategies for Locating the Perfect Pattern… Documenting Your Knitting Progress… Stash-Busting Patterns and Examples… In this workshop, we will discuss various options for each of these activities. So, whether you are right-brained or left-brained, you can choose an option that works best for your knitting lifestyle.
In anticipation of this session, I put my own stash through all of the above steps and processes and, believe me, the benefits of getting to the other side were worth the effort: No more hours spent digging through containers and project bags. No more doomscrolling for ideas on Ravelry, Etsy, and Pinterest. Oh, the satisfaction you’ll get from revisiting your accomplishments and planning for the next project!
Homework: Bring a rough idea of how much and what type of yarn you have for the type of garments you make.
Materials For You to Bring:
- Materials for taking notes.
- If you have an iPad or iPhone, I can help you download Notes, a free spreadsheet program (sort of like Excel-lite).
Basic Cables
Instructor: Suellen Galish
Learn how to make basic cable stitches, including:
- Understanding basic cable symbols
- Reading cable charts
- Using a cable hook
Homework: In DK or heavier weight yarn, on appropriate-size needles, cast on 30 stitches and work 6 rows as follows:
- Row 1 (and all odd numbered rows): K5, P4, K6, P4, K6, P4, K5
- Row 2 (and all even numbered rows): K9, P6, K4, P6, K9
- Leave needles and yarn attached.
Materials For You to Bring:
- Homework swatch with needles and attached ball of yarn
- Cable hook
- Row counter, optional
Weaving In Ends
Instructor: Susie Simon
The class will include techniques for weaving in ends on the most popular types of knitted fabric, as follows:
Stockinette Stitch
- Duplicate Stitch (on the right side)
- On the vertical (on the right side)
- Duplicate Stitch (on the wrong side)
- On the diagonal (on the wrong side)
- Duplicate Stitch
- On the horizontal
- On the diagonal
- On the vertical
Homework: Using worsted-weight yarn, make one swatch large enough to include sections of stockinette, garter stitch, and ribbing, or make several separate swatches (one for each type of stitch).
Materials For You to Bring:
- Your swatch(es)
- Worsted-weight yarn in a contrasting color
- Tapestry needle
- Paper and pen/pencil.