Beginning Knitting

We offer beginning knitting group lessons every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in La Plata and at 2 p.m. in Leonardtown.  We also offer group lessons Wednesday evenings from 7-9 p.m. in Leonardtown.  Beginning knitting classes are appropriate whether you need to start at the very beginning or just want a refresher on what you learned in elementary school.  Our skilled instructors will patiently show you how to cast on, knit, purl, bind off, and work stockinette. By the end of three lessons, you will be ready to begin your first project. A series of three 2-hour group lessons is $50.

Private Lessons

If none of our beginning classes works with your schedule, you might wan to consider private lessons.  In a half hour private lesson, you will have one on one time with an instructor who will teach you to cast on, knit, purl, bind off, and work stockinette stitch. Half-hour private lessons are $20.  A series of three private lessons is $50.

Fit and Finish

One of the most popular classes in the shop is Fit and Finish.  In this series of three lessons, you will learn to knit a garment that fits you exactly the way you want it to fit.  You'll learn how to adjust many aspects of the pattern to suit your individual shape and body proportions.  Once you know what you're doing, you'll find that it's actually pretty easy to make simple changes that ensure your garment fits you just right. 

In the first session we begin by taking an accurate set of body measurements.  We'll discuss the ways in which we prefer our garments to fit and where we might need to adjust the specific pattern we're using in that session.  You'll learn how to ensure that the shoulders fit you perfectly, that the sleeves will be the right length, and that the length and waist shaping are at the most flattering spot.

At the other end of the class is the finishing process.  Good finishing is the difference between a fine hand-tailored garment that makes people say, "Wow, where did you get that sweater!" and one that makes your friends nod knowingly and say, "I see you've taken up knitting..."  In the final session you'll learn how to make optimal shoulder seams, invisible side seams, perfectly set-in sleeves, and picked up stitches that lie smoothly and look beautiful.  

Look at the current weekly email to see our current fit and finish projects. 

Knit and Finish

A slightly different, yet equally popular alternative to the Fit and Finish is our new Knit and Finish class, which is geared to the beginning knitter who may not have any experience knitting a garment of any kind.    There are lots of ins and outs to making a garment that are not mentioned in the pattern, but an experienced knitter has learned through trial and error.  These little tricks make the difference between a successful project that's a joy to knit, is easy to finish, and looks professional, and one that's just not much fun at all. 

This class starts with the absolute basics, taking nothing for granted.  You'll learn exactly what to do where and why,  so that you learn not just to follow a pattern but understand it.  While this class will not focus on pattern alterations to the extent the Fit and Finish class does, we will show you how and where you can make minor adjustments to the garment.

At the final class, we will show you the same quality finishing techniques as in the Fit and Finish class - elegant shoulder joins, invisible side seams, perfectly set-in sleeves, and smooth picked up stitches. 

This class is the perfect, safe environment in which to knit your first sweater.  It's never too early to learn good knitting practices, so don't be afraid to join us.  We'll hold your had through the entire process, and your very first sweater can be a spectacular success!

See the current weekly email for Knit and Finish project classes now being offered.