workshop

dutch knitting festival 2019 Zwolle

The Dutch Knitting Festival Zwolle is the most popular knitting and crocheting event in the Netherlands. There will be more than 80 exhibitors, inspiring guests from the world of fiber crafts, over 30 classes and workshops, free yarn tastings, and demonstrations, and, of course, lots of opportunities to knit and crochet together. Perfect for inspiration-filled days with and among like-minded people. And parking is free!

At the upcoming edition in the IJsselhallen in Zwolle, on October 11 and 12, 2019, there will again be a surprising program. And I’ll be teaching a workshop on Friday the 11th on fixing mistakes in your knitting!

Fixing Knitting Mistakes with La Visch

You are knitting happily along when suddenly you notice it: a mistake in your knitting, 5 cm down in your project! Ripping it all out is a waste of time, that’s why you will learn in this workshop how to correct mistakes while the project is still on your needles. You will learn how to pick up fallen stitches (in the middle and at the edge of your work!) and how to correct a decrease or increase. You will also learn a good approach for repairing mistakes in a lace or cable pattern. If you have a project in time-out with such an error, do take it with you! In that case, a cushion in a light color and a pack of pins is also handy to have.

This workshop is suitable for a wide range of knitters; we all make mistakes when knitting. To get the most out of this workshop, it is, however, advisable to have already completed some knitting projects. These do not have to be very complex projects, but experience with simple decreases such as k2tog and ssk/skp, increases such as the yarn over and m1 as well as with simple lace knitting is useful.

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For more information on this workshop, visit the workshop page (in Dutch) on the Dutch Knitting Festival website.

  • Workshop fixing mistakes at the Dutch Knitting Festival Zwolle
  • Fixing a mistake in knitted lace with La Visch Designs

Early bird tickets for admission and this class are available through the workshop page from July 24th, 19.00 (GMT+1).

Will I see you at the Dutch Knitting Festival Zwolle? Do let me know if you plan on visiting. In case of questions or remarks regarding the workshop you’re, of course, also welcome to contact me. I’m very much looking forward to seeing there!

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inspiration: workshop Stephen West

Once in a while I very much enjoy following a workshop. To learn new techniques or to find out how other people do certain things. Recently I followed the “Colorplay the Westknits way!” workshop with Stephen West at Ja, Wol in Rotterdam. This is by the way a really lovely yarn store with a great assortment of natural fibers, handmade or hand-dyed yarns and fair trade yarns. Absolutely worth a visit!

If you are familiar with Stephens work, you know that he is a true master in combining color and texture into eccentric but wearable pieces. Gorgeous examples include Exploration Station, Color Craving, Esjan and the Askews Me Sweater. During this 4 hours workshop he explained us his philosophy and guided us in experimentation involving lots of color, lots of texture and combining yarns.

Stephen remarked very accurately that everybody has his own color preferences, colors that are often reached for first when planning or starting a project. In the same vein there are also lots of colors, textures etc. we often don’t even consider using and walk past quickly: “Not my color”, “to busy” etcetera. It is his goal to no longer say “no”, but to become a “yes” knitter.
A too bright color? Use it as an accent. Too wild texture? Use it sparingly for that something extra in your project. Something not “your” color? Double it up with another yarn to give a whole new effect!

Various techniques like knitting an i-cord / slipped stitch edge (striped!) and short rows were also reviewed.

What I personally find so interesting, is that this working from color and material is so much different from how I usually work. I get the idea about a design, work it out on paper and then knit my sample from this pattern. Stephen Wests approach is start with a whole selection of varying yarns, a general idea for a shape and then he starts knitting. Only during the project he decides what the item wants to be.

Not only subject makes this workshop so interesting. Stephen west is a very charismatic person, easily engrossing his public with the stories of his knitting adventures. Add the pleasant surroundings of Ja, wol, the lovely tea and brownies the owner of the yarn shop Saskia served and you have a wonderful recipe for a well spend Sunday morning.

One thing is sure: I now have plenty inspiration for many new designs!

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