Classes at River Knits

Instructor Amanda Gill teaches knitting in the round.

Please register for classes early. We reserve the right to cancel a class one week before the class date if minimum enrollment is not reached. Don't wait to sign up!
Class Policy

Classes at River Knits are designed to teach one or more new techniques. Sometimes classes are technique based only and the objective of the class is simply to learn and practice a new technique, such as cables or entrelac. Sometimes the instructor will choose to use a commercially available pattern or design one herself to highlight the technique(s) being taught in that specific class, such as learning Fair Isle by making a 2-color hat. Some classes are one session classes while others may be 4 or even more sessions in length.

Private Lessons Also Available
Private Lessons currently are available through Michlle Ogden, River Knits instructor.

**Knitting Survival Kit – In addition to the specific materials required for your class, it is helpful to bring a “basic knitting kit” with you to most classes beyond Knit Basics. This kit should include a small pair of scissors, stitch markers, stitch holders, a crochet hook, a darning needle, pencil and “post-its”, and a tape measure. Having these basic supplies on hand before class starts helps you have more time to learn from the instructor during class.** (Your teachers really like the following too: Amanda – York Peppermint Patties; Michelle – dark chocolate covered cherries; Heather – Cheetos.)

Course River Knits

Knitting Crash Course at River Knits

*Materials for classes taught at River Knits must be purchased at River Knits*
765-742-KNIT

2008 River Knits Mystery Shawl
Mondays, January 21, February 4, March 3, April 7, May 5, June 2, 7-9 pm
Instructor: Amanda Gill
There’s something appealing, exciting and irresistible about knitting without knowing what the ultimate end result will be. Here’s what I can tell you: we will be knitting a square shawl. The pattern is written for lace weight, fingering weight and sport weight yarns. You choose which you’d prefer. When you sign up, you will be provided with a swatch chart and some other basic information. Each month, you will receive the next set of instructions. Because this class is set up as a knit-along, there are some prerequisites. Those wishing to participate must have knit lace before or must have taken the Lace Crash Course, with enrollment at the instructor’s discretion. If you have any questions, please email amanda@gaea-creations.com .
Materials: Information on exact yarn amounts will be available by January 4.
Cost: $60 Traditional Class Attendance option (limit 15 people)

APRIL CLASSES
Scandinavian Knitting Club

April 19, 1-3pm

Instructor: Sheryl Krohne

This is a club and not a class. Members must be able to knit in the round, and knit with 2 or more colors by carrying the yarn (stranding). You don't have to be an expert to join, and working on hats, wristwarmers (pulsewarmers), mittens, and scarves is a traditional and fun way to start knitting Nordic! Adult and children's sweaters are also lots of fun. You can look at patterns and other club members’ projects for inspiration. Help will be provided for special techniques such as steeking, making gauge, fit, and traditional seaming.

Cost: This club is free of charge, but the participants should use yarn purchased at River Knits.

Sock Club

April 26, 1-3pm

A meeting of sock minded people. There will be a featured pattern every two months but knitting it is optional. Come and knit socks with us. This fun club is not a class. Participants should have knit at least one sock successfully before attending this group. Free of charge, but participants should use yarn purchased at River Knits.

March/April socks will be Celtic Denim Socks by Judy Sumner featuring Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock

Yarn Tasting Event!
Join us, Tuesday, April 29, 7-9pm
at the Buttery Shelf
(across the street from River Knits).
Sample new and interesting yarns, with tips for usage and enjoy a light buffet, and conversation with other knitters. You will receive a take home box with mini samples.
Cost $20

MAY CLASSES

Help Session
May 3,10am-12pm
Instructor: Heather Wenig
Need help with a project? Bring it in and we will help you out. Would you like to start a new project but there is no class for it.? Get all the help you need to jump in! Pre-register to reserve your spot, as with any other class. Cost: $15

Spinning 101

Tuesday, May 6; 7-9pm

Instructor: Amanda Gill

Learn the basics of spinning yarn using your wheel or a hand spindle. We'll talk about different types of fiber you might encounter as well as the different types of wheels and spindles.

Materials: spinning wheel or spindle, wool roving, lots of patience. Cost: $15

Scandinavian Knitting Club

May 7, 7-9pm

Instructor: Sheryl Krohne

Cost: This club is free of charge, but the participants should use yarn purchased at River Knits.

Beginning Socks

Saturdays, May 10, 17, 24, 31 1-3 pm

Instructor: Heather Wenig

Join the sock knitters! So many knitters are enjoying or discovering the joys of sock knitting…and you should be one of them! Socks are portable, inexpensive, wearable and great fun to knit.

Materials: Knitting Pure & Simple pattern “Beginners Midweight Socks”, 350-400 yards of sport weight yarn, set of 4 or 5 size 2 double pointed needles, smooth cotton waste yarn, row counter, post it notes, tapestry needle. Cost: $60

Continental Knitting

Tuesday, May 13; 7-9 pm

Instructor: Amanda Gill

Add this technique to your repertoire. Some say that holding the yarn in your left hand is faster and requires less movement. Others claim that it results in a more even fabric with less variation in tension. Come find out if any of this is true for you!

Materials: Worsted weight yarn and size 8 needles.

Cost: $15

Afterthought Heels

Wednesday, May 14 6-8 pm

Instructor: Heather Wenig

The afterthought technique is great for people who:

Want to keep the sock knitting “mindless” for longer or are somewhere with their sock where it would be inconvenient to use the heel flap technique
Want an alternative to the heel flap technique, but are not comfortable with the short row heel
Are using self striping yarn, and don’t want to disrupt the pattern

Come and learn this useful technique...it’s fun with just a dash of daring!

Materials: a sock in progress, worked to where you’d like to place the heel, smooth cotton scrao yarn, tapestry needle, scissors

Cost: $15

Butterfly Jacket

Tuesdays, May 20, 27 and June 3; 7-9 pm

Instructor: Amanda Gill

Help us celebrate the 50years of Schoolhouse Press and the wonderful designs brought to us by Elizabeth Zimmermann and her daughter, Meg Swansen. This jacket, which hasn’t been seen since 1956, is a wonderful example of EZ’s knitting genius and of her ability to take plain garter stitch and make it look fabulous. Even though the original was published 52 years ago, it will still be a timelessly stylish addition to your wardrobe.

Materials: March 2008 Wool Gathering, yarn and needles as specified in the pattern.

Cost: $45

Sock Club

May 31, 1-3pm

May/June socks will be Chain of Hearts Socks pattern from Fiber Trends designed by Evelyn Clark featuring Panda Silk

JUNE CLASSES

Learn to Crochet

Tuesday June 10, 7-9pm

Instructor: Amanda Gill

Crochet is more popular now than it’s been in years! Join the fun and learn how to do it yourself. In this class, you’ll learn the basics, including several different stitches. Then, you’ll start your own crocheted sampler scarf.

Materials: 100g to 200g smooth, soft worsted weight yarn, size H crochet hook.

Cost: $15

Help Session
June 11, 6-8pm Instructor: Heather Wenig
Need help with a project? Bring it in and we will help you out. Would you like to start a new project but there is no class for it.? Get all the help you need to jump in! Pre-register to reserve your spot, as with any other class. Cost: $15

Beginning Knitting
Instructor: Heather Wenig
June 14, 12-3pm

Join us to learn the basics of knitting…and start a beautiful scarf! We’ll learn the casting on, the knit stitch, the purl stitch and binding off to get you started, how to read a pattern and how to choose yarn and needles for your projects.
Materials: How to Knit booklet, your choice of wool yarn to begin a scarf, bamboo needles in a size appropriate for your yarn choice (your yarn label should tell you which sizes work best with that particular yarn)
Cost $20

Fair Isle Hat

Tuesday, June 17, 24; 7-9 pm

Instructor: Amanda Gill

Fair Isle (also called two-color or stranded) knitting is a wonderful way to add a little more interest to any knitted project. What better way to learn than with a wonderful hat?

Materials: Gaea Creations Fair Isle Hat pattern, yarn and needles as stated in pattern, stitch marker.

Homework: With 16” circular needles: Child’s Size: Cast on 88 sts. Adult Size: Cast on 100 sts. Join in the round and work K1, P1 rib for 1”. (It is imperative that homework be completed prior to the first class.)

Cost: $30

Sock Club

June 28, 1-3pm

May/June socks will be Chain of Hearts Socks pattern from Fiber Trends designed by Evelyn Clark featuring Panda Silk

JULY CLASSES

Felt Christmas Ornaments

Tuesday, July 1; 7-9 pm

Instructor: Amanda Gill

Kick off Christmas in July with these fun, fast, and fabulous felted ornaments. Start now and you’ll have enough to cover your tree! These also make great gifts.

Materials: Fiber Trends Felted Christmas Ornaments pattern, yarn and needles as stated in pattern.

Cost: $15

Help Session
July 2, 6-8pm

Instructor: Heather Wenig
Need help with a project? Bring it in and we will help you out. Would you like to start a new project but there is no class for it.? Get all the help you need to jump in! Pre-register to reserve your spot, as with any other class. Cost: $15

Seven Single-Skein Scarves

Tuesday, July 8, 7-9 pm

Instructor: Amanda Gill

More Christmas in July! Everyone needs a warm scarf for winter, and because each one is knit with just one skein, these make fabulous, economical gifts. You won't find any novelty yarn scarves here. We'll take you into the world of stitch patterns and various methods of scarf construction. This is an excellent way to experiment with yarn because each scarf only requires one skein.

Materials: Gaea Creations “Seven Single-Skein Scarves” pattern, yarn and needles as specified in pattern for the scarf you wish to knit.

Cost: $15

Crochet Snowflakes

Tuesday, July 15; 7-9 pm

Instructor: Amanda Gill

Continuing with our Christmas in July theme, these snowflake ornaments will look great on your tree or as a gift decoration. Hang them in your window. Work them in slightly thicker yarn and use them as coasters.

Materials: Fingering weight cotton or cotton blend yarn, size E hook. (pattern will be provided)

Cost: $15

Bathtime Blossoms

Tuesday, July 22; 7-9 pm

Instructor: Amanda Gill

Paired with lovely handmade soaps, these washcloths and soap sacks make great holiday gifts for teachers, daycare providers and other important people in your life.

Materials: Fiber Trends Bathtime Blossoms pattern, yarn and needles as specified in pattern.

Cost: $15

Entrelac Hat

Saturday, July 26 10 am-12 pm

Instructor: Heather Wenig

Learn to create knitting that looks like you have woven strips of color, when actually you are using a series of increases and decreases to create interconnected squares of knitting. Get a head start on your Christmas knitting and create one of these beautiful hats for a chilly person on your list!

Materials: Theresa Gaffey Designs pattern #146 “Malabrigo Entrelac Hat”, 1 skein each of 3 colors of worsted weight yarn, 16 inch circular needle size 8, 1 set of size 8 double pointed needles, row counter, tapestry needle, post it notes, homework assignment

Cost: $15

Sock Club

July 26; 1-3pm

Featured Pattern July/August - July/August
Elizabeth Socks designed by Amanda Gill featuring Gems Merino

Log Cabin Coasters, Placemats or Afghan

Tuesday, July 29; 7-9 pm

Instructor: Amanda Gill

Wrap up Christmas in July by knitting or crocheting these lovely coasters, placemats or afghans. Use holiday colors to perk up your place settings, or match them with your décor to make a cozy throw. Or wrap them up and put the under the tree for someone you love. Basic knitting or crochet skills required. Excellent for beginners and still fun for those with more experience.

Materials: Coasters and Placemats: sport weight yarn in several colors, size 5 needles or F hook. Coasters, Placemats or Afghan: Worsted weight yarn in several colors, size 7 needles or H hook. Quantity of yarn required varies. This is a great stash-busting project.

Cost: $15

AUGUST CLASSES

Socks on 2 Circular Needles

Saturdays, August 2, 9, 16, 23 1-3 pm

Instructor: Heather Wenig

Want an alternative to double pointed needles? People who knit socks on 2 circular needles say it if faster and less likely to leave “ladders” at the joins. A good alternative for mittens, sleeves and the tops of hats, too.

Materials: Knitting Pure & Simple pattern “Beginners Midweight Socks”, 350-400 yards of sport weight yarn, 2 24 inch size 2 addi turbo circular needles OR 1 16 inch and one 24 inch size 2 addi turbo, post it notes, row counter, tapestry needle

Cost: $60

Help Session
August 6, 6-8pm

Crochet Beyond Basics: Davis Corners

Tuesdays, August 12, 19; 7-9 pm

Instructor: Amanda Gill

For those who know the basics of crochet and are ready to move to the next level. Learn to crochet granny squares and use them to embellish a simple knitted scarf.

Materials: Davis Corners pattern, yarn and hook as specified in pattern.

Cost: $30

Beginning Knitting
Instructor: Heather Wenig
August 30; 12 - 3pm
Join us to learn the basics of knitting…and start a beautiful scarf! We’ll learn casting on, the knit stitch, the purl stitch and binding off to get you started, how to read a pattern and how to choose yarn and needles for your projects.
Materials: How to Knit booklet, your choice of wool yarn to begin a scarf, bamboo needles in a size appropriate for your yarn choice (your yarn label should tell you which sizes work best with that particular yarn)
Cost $20

Sock Club

August 30; 1-3pm

Featured Pattern July/August - July/August
Elizabeth Socks designed by Amanda Gill featuring Gems Merino

Future Sock Clubs
September/October
Toe-to-Cuff Lace Rib Socks from Heartstrings featuring JoJoland Rhythm

November/December
Christmas knitting
Optional Help for New Pathways for Sock Knitters by Cat Bordhi

*Materials for classes taught at River Knits must be purchased at River Knits*
765-742-KNIT

Private Lessons Also Available

CHECK BACK FOR FUTURE CLASSES

Please read our class policy