March 11, 2023 – Helen Sharp
Short Row Shaping and the Garter Bar
Helen is the owner of The Knitting School, and has over 40 years’ experience working in the sweater industry as a designer, teacher and trend forecaster in England, Scotland, Italy and the United States.
Her design work has sold to companies such as Ralph Lauren, J Crew, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein and many more.
She is a leading resource for machine knitting education and has taught Knitwear Design at Lincoln University, Derby University and Leicester University in the ’80’s in England and more recently Knitwear Design and Construction at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
Her work has appeared in British Vogue, British Elle, Vogue Knitting and Rowan Knitting Books. She has published a book on Linking Knitwear for Machine Knitters.
Helen will discuss short rowing and using the garter bar. She is what we all want to be when we grow up as machine knitters!
Visit Helen on her multiple platforms…
The Knitting School at: https://www.theknittingschool.online/
Ravelry at: https://www.ravelry.com/designers/helen-sharp
LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-sharp-7938537
Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/theknittingschool/?hl=en
February 11, 2023 – Ria Burns
Natural Dyeing of Yarns and Machine Knitting
Ria designs and knits sustainable knitwear.
Using small batch, artisanal clothes from local, traceable wool, she hand-dyes all of her garments with native plants. Her garments are knitted to be long-lasting and unique products that work with, not against, the environment. Everything she makes is “born” in her home county of Bristol.
Ria is committed to regenerative agricultural practices that go beyond sustainability. She is all about supporting what is local and what benefits the climate; she’s into “slow fashion.” She follows the Fibreshed approach of creating soil-to-soil textiles – meaning her knitwear is made from natural fibers and is totally biodegradable. At the end of its life as a garment, the wool can be composted, returning its nutrients to the soil.
Once Ria’s wool has been grown, sheared, sorted, scoured, spun, and dyed, it makes its way to her knitting machine – of course one that is completely hand-powered – no electricity needed. Ria is an analogue woman making her way in a digital world.
Ria has a BA in Fashion Design from the Batley School of Art and an MA in Textile Design from Bath Spa University. She developed her own brand of botanically-dyed wool during her graduate studies, and launched her brand in September 2018.
Ria lectures and teaches natural dyeing classes in academic and private settings, and she sells limited edition creations through her website. Check out her webpage at: riaburns.co.uk and on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/riaburnsknit/
January 14, 2023 – Sarah Etchison
Shawls and Cover-ups
Sarah Etchison began machine knitting in 1977. She soon started teaching knitting machine classes in the Seattle area. Long-affiliated with the Knitting Machine Center in Washington State, she has been a freelance instructor for more than 35 years. Sarah is a rarity in machine knitting these days, as she has expertise in all brands of machines, including Brother, Singer/Studio/Silver Reed, PASSAP, and Superba/White.
Sarah, an admitted software nerd, also provides instruction on Cochenille Design Software (Garment Designer and Stitch Painter), as well as Design-A-Knit (DAK). Sarah enjoys playing with texture and teasing out the maximum capabilities of a knitting machine.
For her January 14, 2023, session, Sarah will show us how to create beautiful shawls and cover-ups. Sarah never disappoints; you will learn new ways of thinking, as well as new ways of knitting.
Contact Sarah at queenknitter@gmail.com to schedule a private lesson. She is also available to help you gain expertise using your design software.
December 10, 2022 – Irene Woods
Making Sweaters with Yokes on the Knitting Machine
Irene’s grandmother taught her to crochet at six years of age, then, at eight, she learned to knit. She got her first knitting machine, a Brother KH800, in the winter of 1973-74, and has been in love with the clickety-clicks of the knitting machine ever since.
She loved the machines so much that she was a Studio dealer for more than two decades. In addition to selling machines, she taught classes and seminars, creating an entire cohort of new machine knitters. She eventually closed her shop in 2001, and picked upsticks to Arizona, where she now lives as a fully retired yarn aficionado.
She continues to teach and design patterns, which are sold on her website, Clearwater Knits. Irene stays active in the online knitting community with several Facebook groups. She loves spending time with her family, all of whom have tolerated a room overflowing with machines and yarn since the beginning of time.
You can reach Irene on multiple platforms:
https://clearwaterknits.com (her website)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/431730810551554/ (where she discusses knitting yokes)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1730118823938866/ (where Irene talks about mid-gauge knitting machines)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1762618704041389/ (where she talks about using mid-gauge machines if you are an absolute beginner)
Via snail mail at:
Irene Woods Clearwater Knits PO Box 637 Wickenburg, AZ 85358Via e-mail at: irenewoods@clearwaterknits.com
Check out some of her lovely round yoke designs:
This top was created on an LK 150 basic knitting machine. The eyelets are hand transferred, and the ribbing is done by converting stockinet to ribbing, but can also be hand knit.
This sweater was worked while automatically stranding the colorwork by using either a punchcard or an electronic machine. The pattern is also available in chart form.
Using a basic Brother KX 350, Irene used cables and textured stitches to create this stunning cowl.
November 12, 2022 – Susan Plack — Knitting Socks in the Round
Susan Plack is the ultimate fiberologist. She has mastered cross stitching, crocheting, sewing, embroidery and crewel work, macramé, spinning and weaving, quilting, and finally, later in life, knitting. And oh what a knitter she has become! As a wife, mother, grandmother, and retired schoolteacher, she has lots of people who love her stitchwork.
Susan will show us how to knit socks in the round – using a knitting machine. Yes, it can be done!
Check out Susan’s Ravalry page at: https://www.ravelry.com/designers/susan-plack. She has a classic Pussy Hat design that has clothed an army of politically active women.
Her other hangout on social media is: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msplack/?hl=en
October 8, 2022
Nic Corrigan Presents Kurt Payne’s Recordings on Necklines
Nic Corrigan is the owner of Whitehall Studio. Check her out at: https://www.whitehallstudio.co.uk/nics-story.
Nic will present a recording of Kurt Payne’s seminar on necklines. Kurt will teach us how to create the perfect round and V necklines. These recordings are presented as a courtesy of the Machine Knitting Community.
Kurt is from Auckland, New Zealand where sheep outnumber humans 5-1. He has an intimate connection with textiles from the farm through to the finished product. Exploring and teaching in Australia, China, Scotland and the USA has inspired his creative and technical abilities leading to expertise in hand-spun hand knits, commercial knitwear production and pushing the boundaries of machine knitting.
Kurt is known for his immaculate finishing and ability to replicate yarns, designs and colors which is highly valued in the film industry. Although his personal style is quite conservative, he loves collaborating with other designers to create stunning pieces and is also motivated by show ribbon prizes.
A teacher of spinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing and design, Kurt loves to empower beginners with the best start on their fiber craft journey as well as give his students the inspiration and confidence that yes, they can do that too!
September 10, 2022
Claire Newberry
Our first speaker of the new Program Year will be Claire Newberry, all the way from the UK.
Claire graduated from the University of Central England, in Birmingham, in 1989, where she was awarded the prestigious Royal Society of Arts’ Young Designer Into Industry Award. She then worked for a number of years as a freelance knitwear designer, selling knitwear ideas to top fashion designers around the world. To further meet her creative itch, Claire began designing beautiful scarves for friends and family. These scarves became so popular that she developed a limited edition of these handmade jewels. The scarves in her collections are made using the finest yarns available, including the softest, extra fine merino from Italy and beautiful hand painted yarns from Wales.
When designing, Claire takes inspiration from a diverse range of sources: from the unpredictable world of animal markings to the rigid structures of manmade repeated forms. At times, the yarn will play a role in dictating how the final piece should evolve and at other times the finishing process will push the designs in exciting and unpredictable directions.
Claire regularly exhibits with the Northants Guild of Designer Craftsmen, in Northamptonshire, in Central England, and some of her designs are sold through galleries within the East Midlands area.
Visit Claire’s many platforms:
Website: http://knittingschool.co.uk/about-claire/
Blog: http://knittingschool.co.uk/blog/
Email: claire@knittingschool.co.uk
For her presentation to the Guild, Claire will be taking us on a trip through the intricacies of the Design-A-Knit (DAK) software. Bring you thinking caps, notebooks and pencils, and be prepared to be schooled!
May 14, 2022 — Carol Scott
Fabulous fabrics, hems, bands and trim
Carol Scott was one of those little girls who knew she could improve any garment, so, from a very early age she began knitting and sewing her outfits. Since retiring in 2007 from a 26-year career as a professor of fashion design, Carol has created a second career as teacher and muse for machine knitters throughout the country.
Besides her teaching career, Carol has designed knitwear for a New York children’s manufacturer, has produced multiple high level fashion shows, worked in retail and has been a personal wardrobe consultant. In other words, Carol has been involved in every aspect of the clothing industry.
She now has time to design and write patterns for books, yarn companies and Ravelry (visit her Ravelry shop at: https://www.ravelry.com/designers/carol-scott). An avid golfer and tennis player, Carol brings all of her knowledge of clothing design to her workshops, where she seeks to jump start the creative spirit of all yarn lovers, while helping us to hone our technical expertise.
A dead give-away of a “homemade,” handmade garment is poor quality finishing technique. Carol will give us a primer in polishing up our garment hems, trims and bands. This session promises to kick your machine knitting finishing techniques into high gear.
April 9, 2022 — Juan Alcantar
Shawl collars on single and double beds; Vertical buttonholes
Originally from Mexico, Juan brings all the flavor of that great nation to his machine knitting. An unbelievable knitwear designer, Juan learned how to machine knit when he was just 7 years old.
He runs his knitwear design and production studio from his garage in Los Angeles, working with major fashion houses on bespoke and small-run garments. He also teaches seminars and classes for machine knitting guilds across the United States. Check him out on Instagram at: juansknittingarage.
As we get more information about Juan’s presentation, it will be posted here.
March 12, 2022 — Sarah Etchison
Mosaic and Maze Knitting on the Knitting Machine
Sarah Etchison began machine knitting in 1977. She soon started teaching knitting machine classes in the Seattle area. Long-affiliated with the Knitting Machine Center in Washington State, she has been a freelance instructor for more than 35 years. Sarah is a rarity in machine knitting these days, as she has expertise in all brands of machines, including Brother, Singer/Studio/Silver Reed, PASSAP, and Superba/White.
Sarah, an admitted software nerd, also provides instruction on Cochenille Design Software (Garment Designer and Stitch Painter), as well as Design-A-Knit (DAK). Sarah enjoys playing with texture and teasing out the maximum capabilities of a knitting machine.
For her March 12, 2022, session with the Guild, Sarah will take a deep dive into MOSAIC and MAZE knitting on the machine. This presentation will cover an understanding of the differences between Mosaic and Maze patterns, how to use slip, tuck, and slip/tuck stitches to knit the patterns, and how to design mosaic patterns. You will find the design portion of this presentation most useful if you have pencil and paper handy so that you can work on some of your own designs as Sarah demonstrates.
Sarah never disappoints; you will learn new ways of thinking, as well as new ways of knitting.
Contact Sarah at queenknitter@gmail.com to schedule a private lesson. She is also available to help you gain expertise using your design software.
February 12, 2022 — Helen Kaye — Early Start time of 10:00
Sweater Design
Do you ever wonder where a knitwear designer gets her inspiration for the unique beauty she creates? For some, it’s derived from the colors of nature: the leaves of a tree, the ocean – anything of splendor. Some designers are inspired by emotions – the steely cold, gray feeling of the foggy Scottish Isles. For Helen Kaye, our February speaker, well, her exquisitely intricate pattern designs secretly just may be inspired by the London Underground: that City’s ENORMOUSLY complicated railway system. Helen uses multi-level transfers, backtracking to adjacent needles, loops to the other side; you can get wonderfully lost in the intricacies of her knitwear.
Helen is a 2018 graduate of Nottingham Trent University, where the famous School of Art and Design lives. As a student, Helen taught herself to use a knitting machine, and now owns two industrial machines located in her home knitting studio. She currently teaches at the world-renowned London College of Fashion, and she provides private lessons.
For her February 12, 2022, session with the Guild, Helen will provide a primer on sweater design, including swatching, blocking and construction. Then, she will demonstrate some of her high-wire stitches that use single and double-bedded tuck and lace patterns, increases, decreases, and the addition of trims. Finally, she’ll talk a bit about decision-making in the design process. This promises to be a very exciting session!!!!
Helen is on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/theeknitkid/?hl=en
She has a cool video on Vimeo at: https://vimeo.com/486320077
And here are a few samples of some of Helen’s design magic: