In the past couple of years, we’ve invited new knitters to the Men’s Spring Knitting Retreat and offered two workshops specifically for them (as well as individual tutoring).

Beginner and Beyond Beginner Knitting

The “Beginner Knitting” course is relatively straightforward, teaching newbie knitters about tools, casting on, knitting and maybe purling.  And depending on how they progress, maybe start them on their first simple project.

But what would you include in the agenda for a “Beyond Beginner” workshop.

To give some context, usually 2 or 3 guys have spent 3 hours on Friday morning learning how to knit and then Saturday afternoon, I need to expand their skills.

I imagine the workshop will have to adapt to their needs and how far they’ve progressed in a day of knitting, but I want to make sure I have at least one or two topics I can pass on to them, without overwhelming them.

Here’s what I’m thinking:

• Reviewing the basics (especially for areas where they’re struggling)
• Reading a pattern
• Ripping out or Tinking
• Increases and Decreases

Anything else you’d add to the agenda?  Any work aids that you’d include?

Love to hear any feedback.

Current Knitting

I was able to finish all the knitting on the Cabled Gloves pattern from Aaron and I can’t say enough about this pattern.

The gloves fit extremely well and the joins of the fingers to the hand are very organic and natural feeling.  Plus they’re snug and warm and based on the density of the knitted fabric, Thaddeus tells me they are very water resistant when he was shoveling snow and clearing my car of snow and ice.

I do still have a few ends to weave in (which I cleverly hid in the first photo…but that goes pretty quickly for me.

I also started the latest “niece blanket” using the Seasons yarn I bought last week.

Loving the color striping and think the blanket will turn out very well…I’m making it completely reversible so there will be no wrong side…even with a cable down the center of the blanket.