This was something I had never seen on Ravelry and I don’t even know if it’s a pattern, a tutorial, a class but I’m calling it “a knitting experience”.
This morning while trying to decide if I was going to get up (at 5 a.m.) or keep sleeping, I started reading the iPad. As usual, the first place I went was Ravelry and found something that caught my attention. By the way, I went back to sleep and slept til 7:30.
The Pattern:
The pattern (knitting experience) is called It Takes a Guild. They are calling it a tutorial on the pattern page but they’re also calling it a Knit Along. Again, I think “knitting experience” best describes how I feel about it.
The day the pattern was released, the 17th, it could be purchased for half price. Since I was seeing this at 5 a.m. the day after it was released, I couldn’t get it at half price and $25 for a pattern/tutorial/KAL . . I just couldn’t do it. So, I didn’t.
In conjunction with the “pattern”, you have to have the book, Knitter’s Handy Book of Top Down Sweaters: Basic Design in Multiple Sizes and Gauges, by Ann Budd. I told myself I would buy the book and figure it out on my own.
The Designer:
Do I call her the pattern designer? The KAL leader? The tutorial teacher? It probably doesn’t matter what I call her. I’m calling her the knitting experience lady! Her name is Suzanne Bryan. She is a Master Knitter. Suzanne has a YouTube channel with 24,000 subscribers and she has a knitting blog. She knows a lot!
All day I’ve thought about this. I’ve never had any knitting instructions. A friend in high school showed me how to knit and she had just learned how to do it. There’s probably more than I do wrong than I do right. Suzanne Bryan seems to be a really, super duper expert knitter.
Click on her blog or the Ravelry page for the pattern, to see the sweater we’re going to make and all we’re going to learn.
Obviously, I went back, paid my $25 and signed up for the “knitting experience” and I cannot wait to get started. The first lessons will be presented October 4. There are several projects (socks, shawl) I want to get finished before then. All I want to do is go diving through the stash to find a yarn to use for my project but I’m exercising a bit of self-discipline. Yes . . somewhere, deep within, I have a little of that.
Ava says
That sounds exciting to learn the right way. I’ve got so many things in progress what’s one more. I have two of Ann Budd’s, “The Knitter’s Handy book of” books and I’m pretty sure I’ve got sweater yarn.
Teri says
I wonder if you can get the pattern without the instructions…..
dezertsuz says
That sounds interesting, but judging by what you make, I think you may not learn as much as you think. Even if you don’t do everything the same way, what you do works and looks beautiful. I hope you do pick up some tips, though. =)
Sara S says
Judy, do you know about this lady? I really like her tutorials. She does KALs too. http://knitpurlhunter.com/blog/
Judy Laquidara says
Yes, I’m familiar with her. I have done some of her knit alongs.
Sandie says
Count me in! Not getting out of bed to go buy the class right now (it’s 2:30 in the morning!) but I will definitely be buying it tomorrow! I don’t know anyone else who knits, to give me guidance, and would love to get a little more confident. I’d like to do something a little more complicated than socks. I have the pieces of my Aran sweater all made, but need to block and seam them, before I can claim to have actually made it. (They’ve been done for a year and a half!)
Stephani in N. TX says
Thanks for the reference to knittingsuzanne. I’m doing more now with my knitting, stripes, mesh, smaller needles, finer yarn. It’s nice to have the information for doing all of it more easily and better. Can’t run to the knit shop every day of the week.